I also end up watching this great documentary because I’m curious with its rave reviews. I need to find it out. After almost 3 hours of footage, I can say, it’s one of the best documentaries ever! It’s also well one of the best or I can say the best basketball documentary! The documentary has a simple plot, it’s about 2 promising basketball players pursuing their dreams of being pro through going well NCAA division 1 school. It starts from freshman until they graduated high school. The two prospects namely William Gates and Arthur Agee. William is already a star point guard of St. Joseph’s high school, while Arthur is just entering St. Joseph’s as a freshman and making tryouts to be included at the varsity team.
The story goes from there and for 3 hours, it gave a real picture on how basketball recruitment works from HS to college. It also show the real stories behind these process and how it affects their families and friends.
Let’s go what I did not like or some flaws of the film. Actually, I can’t think of any. That’s how great of this film, but maybe one. Hmmm it’s maybe the unknown leads. I mean unknown HS basketball players lead this film. It’s not really a flaw but if you are only a simple basketball fan and looking for known star, you won’t find in this film. You’ll find great cameos but not really a known HS player at that time. That’s all I can think of.
First great thing about this film is the sheer realism of basketball story. I mean not only you’ll see a lot of basketball footages such as practices, and real games summary but also the process of recruiting, the family background of the players and of course, how basketball really embodied in the lives of the players. Real competitors and they risk everything just to play ball. There are scenes that you can’t believe they really prioritize basketball above family events or simple get together. How about even they are injured, they don’t think of rest but still want to play. Absurd but well, it’s the truth.
Another great factor in this film, is the drama showing in the film. Intense drama all through out. One scene there was the practice of William’s team. That coach is going nuts in just one mistake. Geez, how are you going to be motivated by that. Actually all the practices showing there is kinda intense and thought provoking. I’m thinking, I do have a lot of patience but when you have that kind of rigid practice, my patience will run out. Soon. I am sad with Arthur’s side of story, I mean, her Mom doing everything to survive with her kids, raising them alone at one point. Then, it shows how Arthur got affected from his dropping out from St. Joseph plus the suddenly arrest and separation of his dad, whom the one taught him basketball. It’s really a grim feeling at that point of the film. At William’s side, well, kinda sad that he went through 2 knee surgeries that kinda lower his game, especially as the movie comes along. But great thing, he’s lucky and still played going through pain and high pressure as he is a star player.
What surprised me in this film was the cameos. Michigan’s fab five was here, Bobby Knight, Coach K of Duke, then Isiah Thomas because of William’s coach. The summer camp part, and the NCAA recruitment process as well. I’m thinking that those things show, it really gave you a glimpse of how basketball players work up to being great recruit in college then going pro. I love the part when the coach of Marquette is explaining the player how the system works, plus his future goals such as if not NBA, the player might end up playing in Europe. It’s realistic and optimistic at the same time. I still love that summer camp which all the players staying at one room and it’s like camp. You go up early, warm up and play ball. Show the best what you got especially coaches from different universities are scouting for you. How lucky is William? Darn, every big NCAA college division 1 has sent him tryout, letters just to come to them. Wow.. That happened before he got injured.
What I really love in this film is the flow of it. I mean, this film was able to deliver great flow despite 2 main characters were moving at the same time. One was on the rise, then another falls first but redeemed at the end. One indeed was on the rise, fallen due to injuries but well, he still got the same result. I really love Arthur’s story as despite dropping out then father left him but returned, it was difficult for him. That also affects his playing ball, but great thing, through adversity, his team was not good.. But in the latter part, they became strong, underdogs and played great in their state championship. Despite losing in the final game, they played great. They won hearts of many as underdogs and unranked in their state.
Don’t forget the jazz musical score used in the film. I mean, it’s weird right? Basketball usually has hip hop/rap musical score but in this film, it’s sax and jazz. It worked actually. Great score.
Despite it ran for 3 hours, I wanted for more because you want to know their stories in college but with the effective epilogue, that’s fine. Enough fitting for an ending.
You see as you going through the film, no question, William has talent but his development was not right for him. I could say, I’ll blame the coach as he tried to pattern his star point guard to Isiah Thomas which I don’t think its right. William’s skill looks like he’s more of a SG, than PG. Arthur’s game was better, I mean despite little development, he never stopped improving and playing as a leader in both ends of the court which made him better in the end. He has also not only became better, but also stronger because he endured a lot while playing. Great thing, he was not injured.
Unfortunately, when you searched in wiki, both of them did not make it to NBA, even in Europe. But both of them became stars because of this documentary, and became successful in different endeavors. William became a pastor in his church but also graduated college. Arthur despite better chance of going pro, he became a successful businessman and motivational speaker now.
There were other stars of the film, simply the family members/friends shown in the film. William’s side has more upbringing and calm. Arthur side is more fun yet serious, well especially they were on the other side of financial slide. Film shows the diversity, in everything such as race, social and even schools.
Anyway, I want to watch this again sometime in the future. It gives you really thinking that all the basketball players on how they grow. Come to think of it, with a lot of players coming the NBA and NCAA not making it big or all star, what went wrong to them? Or what they do when dreams not reach or worse fade.. What is life after not reaching the dream?
In reaching hoop dreams, it’s not only talent/skill but also how to deal, working in a team and yes..
A bit of luck.
Keep being a playa!
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