More Than A Game (2009/Basketball Documentary/Lionsgate DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Documentary: C+
The test
of a documentary is if it can get you interested in its subject matter, even if
you usually do not like the subject presented.
Kristopher Belman’s More Than A
Game (2009) is about baseball and the amazing story of how a group of five
friends became major successes in the NBA, lead by the phenomenal success of
LeBron James. The 108 minutes tell the
story chronologically and it has interesting information, especially for
non-fans or those not in the know, yet there seems to be so much more to say
and show.
Budget
notwithstanding, it is sufficient in telling the story, but is obviously not
going to be so daring as to question anything going on except to say that these
players had the talent and used it to get where they wanted to go. Not that I was expecting some shocking
revelation or wanted to see anything go wrong, but I did want to find out more
about what made these young men and their talent tick. I don’t think we get that to the detriment of
all, but that is the deeper story here and despite a good job, the lack of
going all the way makes this seem restricted and even the extras don’t offset
that.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is derived from a range of video
sources, including old home video analog tape, analog TV sources (local and
national) and newer digital and High Definition sources that are edited as best
they can be, making for an uneven visual presentation. However, the sources seem to be transferred
the best they can be, though the newest footage has some motion blur. The Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 mixes differ
little in that except for music (which can be awkward and distractingly placed)
often has old monophonic, dated archival sound, while the newer sound can have
location dropouts all the way to professional NBA footage. Extras include three featurettes: More Than A Game, Winning Ways
and Behind The Music.
- Nicholas Sheffo
