30 for 30: Broke (2012)
*** (out of 4)
The first in a new lineup of "30 FOR 30" films takes a look at how athletes make millions of dollars during their playing careers but soon after retirement they find themselves dead broke and no hope for the future. Bernie Kosar, Keith McCants, Jamal Mashburn, Andre Rison, Cliff Floyd, Curt Schilling and various others are interviewed as they discuss all the great times that came with making millions of dollars but also what led them to losing it all. This is director Billy Corben's second venture into this series and it's funny that he also did THE U, about the Miami football program, because both films pretty much dealt with athletes, greed, a rise and a fall. BROKE is certainly an interesting story simply because you actually get to see so many familiar faces and I'm not sure to feel bad for them for being broke or jealous because they did have years of great success and riches. I think the biggest problem with the movie is that structure because we pretty much get each person sitting in a chair, looking at the camera and telling their story. The stories are broken up from their bonus deals, the first big item they bought, money blown, strippers, bad investments, baby mamas and of course what finally put the nail in their coffin. The lack of a real story structure hurt the film somewhat as certain segments just seem to go on way too long and after a while it's clear the viewer gets the point yet the same stories keep coming. Still, this is still worth watching but it's no where near the best the series has had to offer.
*** (out of 4)
The first in a new lineup of "30 FOR 30" films takes a look at how athletes make millions of dollars during their playing careers but soon after retirement they find themselves dead broke and no hope for the future. Bernie Kosar, Keith McCants, Jamal Mashburn, Andre Rison, Cliff Floyd, Curt Schilling and various others are interviewed as they discuss all the great times that came with making millions of dollars but also what led them to losing it all. This is director Billy Corben's second venture into this series and it's funny that he also did THE U, about the Miami football program, because both films pretty much dealt with athletes, greed, a rise and a fall. BROKE is certainly an interesting story simply because you actually get to see so many familiar faces and I'm not sure to feel bad for them for being broke or jealous because they did have years of great success and riches. I think the biggest problem with the movie is that structure because we pretty much get each person sitting in a chair, looking at the camera and telling their story. The stories are broken up from their bonus deals, the first big item they bought, money blown, strippers, bad investments, baby mamas and of course what finally put the nail in their coffin. The lack of a real story structure hurt the film somewhat as certain segments just seem to go on way too long and after a while it's clear the viewer gets the point yet the same stories keep coming. Still, this is still worth watching but it's no where near the best the series has had to offer.