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By Nomadic Chris, 11 Feb 2010
Tag Line – “The incredible true story of LeBron James and the Akron Fab Five”
Everyone knows Lebron James, global NBA superstar, but how did his story begin and how important were his high school team mates to his eventual success?
How important is the bond of friendship for a sports team to be successful?
"More than a Game" is a documentary film directed by Kristopher Belman and written by Belman and Brad Hogan. Set in Akron, Ohio (USA), this piece tells how destiny brought a social team of youngsters ‘The Shooting Stars” together. This team grew up and evolved together and all ended up going to the same high school, St Mary St Vincent (The Fighting Irish).
The main characters featured are: LeBron James, Dru Joyce III, Sian Cotton, Willie McGee who dubbed themselves the ‘Fab Four’. Coach Dru Joyce II would coach the boys and another important player, Romeo Travis would join later. At St Mary St Vincent, the lives of the boys would transform forever and the school would never be the same again! The boys just kept winning games by a large margin and soon become big news in their state and then nationally!
Each of the boys in the starting team had a divergent set of personalities and it was a challenge for Coach Joyce II to both constantly coach and motivate the boys to fulfill their potential. Sports fans will enjoy the on court action as the boys go from the highs of state championships wins to the lows of crucial defeats. Everyone else will enjoy the raw intensity of the real life drama as the boys suddenly become household names while attending school classes at the sametime! Lebron James is the stand out player and it is fascinating to watch him as he copes with being labelled (back then) ‘The next big thing’. It is a fascinating insight into US celebrity culture.
As the documentary progresses, you learn more about the boys and their motivations. You gain an insight into Lebron James early life struggles as he describes moving around with his single mother from home to home. Viewers learn how the discipline of sports and the comfort of ‘real’ friendship helped save some of the boys from a going down the wrong route of crime, drugs and jail.
Far from your average sports documentary, "More than a Game" is an interesting insight into friendship, loyalty, high school sports, celebrity culture, family relationships and life itself.
Basketball is what connects the boys through their individual growing pains but friendship and a deep loyalty to each other is what keeps them together through their collective highs and lows.
'More than a Game' has the hallmarks of another ground breaking documentary ‘Hoop Dreams’. Both films cover young high school basketball players chasing their dreams of a better life. Unlike 'Hoop Dreams', "More than a Game" ends on a much happier note. 'King' James is doing pretty well for himself right now.
A must for sports fans but everyone will enjoy watching the boys grow up right infront of their eyes. Dramatic, raw and intense and of course...real.
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