Jim Brown: All-American (2002)
Review by Doc Ezra
Film:
DVD:

Directed by Spike Lee
Starring Jim Brown

Features:

• Running audio commentary with director Lee
  

Released by: HBO Video
Region: 1
Rating: NR
Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: Rent it.

Among the pantheon of sports demigods, few are as recognizable or as legendary as Jim Brown. From his collegiate play at Syracuse to his all-too-brief nine years with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL, he excelled in such startling fashion as to essentially redefine what could be expected from a running back. To this day, his name appears in the top ten lists of several rushing records, and many consider him to be the finest runner to ever play the game of football.

This is not, however, all there is to Jim Brown. In this documentary, Spike Lee presents a portrait of Jim Brown that runs the gamut, from his athletic career to his acting career and all his political activism. And while this is primarily a film made with respect and admiration for the subject, Lee doesn't flinch away from some of the darker aspects of Brown's life, including his numerous run-ins with the law because of his legendary temper and his friendship and subsequent falling out with Richard Pryor over their production company and Pryor's drug habit.

Lee has a light touch as a documentarian, knowing how to simply get out of his subject's way and let Brown speak for himself. He also puts together a complete "It's Your Life" roll call of Brown's family, former coaches and teammates, and business associates. There are also numerous interviews with a variety of sports writers, some of whom were around in Brown's heyday, but most of whom actually grew up watching his performances on the field. The only weak points in the testimonial sections of the documentary come from a couple of the culture-studies academics, who insist that racism is and was nothing more than fear of the black penis, a hypothesis that I can't stop laughing at long enough to seriously consider.

Those familiar only with Brown's athletic achievements or off-field run-ins with the justice system might be surprised to learn of his efforts to encourage African-American filmmakers in the 70s and 80s, or his attempt to broker a peace between the Crips and Bloods in the 90s. Brown is a firm believer in encouraging people to take responsibility for themselves, and his "Amer-I-Can" program, created to help gang members and prisoners learn the necessary skills to get by in everyday life, is built on that foundation. Brown has been an agitator for social change since his days at Syracuse--when he flaunted a racist coach's restrictions against dating white girls--and remains so today.

This is an excellent documentary for those interested in the sports legends or civil rights figures. While Brown isn't quite in the same league as people like King or X, he most certainly attempted to capitalize on his fame and success to speak out against social injustice. It's also interesting to see Lee working in the documentary form, though he's so hands-off in approach that one wouldn't ever know it was a Spike Lee Joint if it weren't advertised on the case or the director's commentary (incidentally the only special feature to be found on the disc).

The only huge missed opportunity here is in the dearth of features. As a sports figure, many of Brown's crowning achivements are chronicled on film somewhere, and it would have been an excellent thing to see on the disc. His NFL Hall of Fame induction speech, perhaps. Or the day he broke the career rushing yardage record. Or even just a text bio with some salient statistics (four-time league MVP, nine Pro Bowl nominations in nine years, rookie of the year in 1957, etc.). It just seems a shame to ignore readily available resources in assembling the DVD, particularly when it would have likely made the difference between a rental and a must-own.

As it stands, sports fans and those wanting to know more should rent. Only hardcore fans should drop the coin necessary to own.