My two favorite movies were both directed by Spike Lee. The first is Do the Right Thing, a saucy mix about class and race that takes place on a steamy day in an uber-jingoistic ethnic New York neighborhood. The second is Malcolm X, starring Denzel Washington as the myopic and later repentant black nationalist leader.
They, like many other Lee films, were beautiful pieces of art that influenced numerous people, particularly African-Americans. Lee would go on to become one of the most influential directors in movie history and make other splendid films.
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| It's a shame Spike Lee had to lower himself to being an outlet for Kobe Bryant. (Getty Images) |
Kobe Doin' Work is basically an infomercial disguised as a movie. It's an infomovie. It's an embarrassing promotional vehicle for Kobe Bryant, an effort to portray one of the most wonderfully talented but disgustingly selfish players in league history as a good old dude, ya'll.
Promotional isn't the word. Lee's movie is the film version of what Monica Lewinsky did to Bill Clinton.
Lee clearly made a simple accounting transaction: portray Bryant as blemish-free St. Kobe -- not the Shaq backstabber and egomaniac that he truly is -- and in return Lee would get valuable access to the Los Angeles Lakers star. The movie, to me, looks like a straight up quid pro Ko.
It's sad, really, to see one of the grittiest, most talented people in a generation in Lee get utterly used by Bryant.
One of the strands throughout Lee's films is fearlessness. In the movie biography he did several years ago on the life of runner Jim Brown -- one of the best sports movies of all time -- Lee was able to get Brown to publicly engage in discussing his flaws, such as his strained relationship with family members and notoriously horrid temper with women. The previously impenetrable Brown told Lee things he hadn't told his own family. It was a jaw-dropping, three-dimensional portrait of the Hall of Fame running back.
This? This view of Bryant is basically one giant Hallmark card written and signed by Bryant.
Bryant provides a voiceover for the infomovie, and basically his dialogue comes down to this: I'm Kobe, look how good I am; look how talented I am; I'm so smart; I'm such a great teammate; I'm really the coach, not Phil Jackson. Me, me, me.
After the first half hour or so of Bryant laughing at his own jokes or fracturing his elbow joint patting himself on the back, Lee's movie almost becomes impossible to watch without feeling digestive juices engaging at full reverse.
Indeed, if I were Jackson, I would be damn angry at Bryant. The film portrays Bryant as the real coach and Jackson as the testicle-less lieutenant. For those who've long criticized Jackson as blessed with talents like Jordan and Shaq and Bryant, more figurehead than actual coach, this movie provides lots of ammunition.
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dhobiwalla: "A Game In the Life" "Kobe Doing Work". It wasn't meant to be a biography people. It was meant to be exactly what it was: a portrayal of a game from Kobe's perspective.
Does Kobe love his wife. Who Cares? If the movie was called "Kobe Bein' at Home" nobody would have watched it. Because we don't care about that. And really, did you expect Kobe to let anyone do an expose on him? Would Jordan talk about his gambling issues, or his extramarital affairs? Would Magic talk about how and when he got HIV? Would Shawn Kemp talk about his 7 illigitemate children? No, of course not. |
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| Mike Freeman: I don't expect, dhobiwalla, Bryant to allow an expose on himself. I do, however, expect Lee to retain some sort of editorial control, as he did with the Jim Brown movie. The Bryant movie was also definitely somewhat biographical allowing Bryant at very times to discuss his past, his love of family, etc. Of course Bryant is going to love this movie -- as are Lakers fans -- but my disagreement is more with Lee than Bryant. |
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Jackson isn't alone in serving as Bryant backdrop. Bryant sticks everyone -- Lakers teammates, coaches and even ESPN -- on his own personal PR trimaran, and treats them all like deckhands. Just hold the spotlight on me and get out of the way mates, Bryant basically says in Lee's work.
At one point in the movie cameras show Bryant blowing a kiss to his wife and kids and remarks how much he loves them. I'm certain that's true but both Lee and Bryant both act like we're supposed to forget that some years ago Bryant, at best, cheated on his wife and family.
There was a recent New York Post report that at the last minute Bryant demanded creative control of the film or he wouldn't cooperate. Lee has vehemently denied this and I tended to believe Lee. After seeing Lee's movie, however, I find the Post story difficult not to believe.
Full disclosure: When I was writing a book about Brown several years ago, I contacted Lee's representative and asked for an interview with Lee and was told one would be forthcoming but I never heard from Lee. That has nothing to do with my opinion of this movie. I wanted to like it because Lee is a hero to me and always will be.
Lee possesses a perdurable legacy and while this movie won't injure it significantly, there is still a sense of shock seeing Bryant get over on the seasoned director.
Next time, Mr. Lee, just remember: You're the true piece of history, not Bryant.
