Release: Friday, September 21, 2018 (ESPN) →ESPN Directed by: Kirby Bradley When ESPN Films announced they would be making a documentary about Junior Seau, the megastar linebacker who played for over a decade for the San Diego Chargers and who tragically took his own life in 2012, I figured pretty much right then and there … Continue reading 30 for 30: Seau
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Month in Review: September ’18
To encourage a bit more variety in my blogging posts and to help distance this site from the one of old, I’m installing this monthly post where I summarize the previous month’s activity in a wraparound that will hopefully give people the chance to go back and find stuff they might have missed, as well as … Continue reading Month in Review: September ’18
30-for-30: Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?
Release: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 [Netflix] Directed by: Mike Tollin When Donald Trump made the 'small potatoes' remark it was after he had wrapped up an interview with the director for this very documentary. He was referring to his dalliance with sports team ownership, his dismissiveness hinting at days that were so far in the rearview he couldn't even see them anymore. He … Continue reading 30-for-30: Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?
30-for-30: Four Falls of Buffalo
Release: Saturday, December 12, 2015 [Netflix] Directed by: Ken Rodgers It's easy to see why Ken Rodgers' retrospective has been described as a love letter, not just to sports fanatics but to the city of Buffalo itself. Pro football has a certain stigma attached to it in this part of the country. The Bills are more freely … Continue reading 30-for-30: Four Falls of Buffalo
30-for-30: The ’85 Bears
Release: Thursday, February 4, 2016 [Netflix] Directed by: Jason Hehir There will never be another quite like the 1985 Chicago Bears defense. Or their offense. Or their coach(es). Or their cult of personality. If you're from the area you probably don't need the reminding, but Jason Hehir's surprisingly moving documentary makes it abundantly clear to the outside observer … Continue reading 30-for-30: The ’85 Bears
30-for-30: Believeland
Release: Saturday, May 14, 2016 [Netflix] Directed by: Andy Billman Imagine growing up in a city where you're taught, almost assuredly from at least the eighth grade onward, that losing is a reality you must accept, simply based on some silly geographic lottery that you were thrust into at birth. Surprise! You're from Cleveland, and your acclimatization to watching … Continue reading 30-for-30: Believeland
Concussion
Release: Christmas Day 2015 [Theater] Written by: Peter Landesman Directed by: Peter Landesman Concussion is the kind of movie one watches because they want to get that warm and fuzzy feeling of seeing the big bad corporation that is the NFL taken down a peg or two. They watch it and are glad to see they're not the … Continue reading Concussion
30-for-30: Trojan War
Release: Tuesday, October 13, 2015 [Netflix] Directed by: Aaron Rahsaan Thomas Another story lamenting how the mighty have fallen. That's how Trojan War will look to anyone not familiar with the University of Southern California, Pete Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks . . . or really American football in general. Carroll and his Seahawks have long been associated with some of the … Continue reading 30-for-30: Trojan War
McFarland USA
Release: Friday, February 20, 2015 [Theater] Written by: Christopher Cleveland; Bettina Gilois; Grant Thompson Directed by: Niki Caro Is this the part where I openly admit to becoming teary-eyed watching a Disney film? Or is that just way too honest? . . . . . hello . . . ? Guys . . . . . . ? Ah … Continue reading McFarland USA
When the Game Stands Tall
Release: Friday, August 22, 2014 [Theater] Dignity and courage. Those are two words you cannot separate out of any sports movie, good, bad or ugly. Whether handled delicately or with blunt force, there comes a point where the film either shoehorns in these values or cleverly suggests them through a combination of strong writing and impassioned performance. When the Game Stands Tall is … Continue reading When the Game Stands Tall
