30 for 30 running thread

[terrier]

Probably the best sports documentary I've seen since Kevin MacDonald's "One Day in September" in 1999.

Just saw it last week, and big word. One forkup piled on top of another - just think of the heck those American athletes coming back late at night have to live with. And the room still gets dusty when Jim McKay says, "They're all gone."
Back to last night...some observations:
* Not only was this pre-Internet, it was also pre-MSNBC and FNC. I wonder if the entire chase would've been pawned off to MSNBC.
* The shots of Costas being made up looked just as creepy as those of Bush Administration officials over the opening credits of "Fahrenheit 911."
* Something changed in society that day, maybe just as much as 9/11. We became voyeurs. We made 24-hour cable news tabloidization and Nancy Grace possible that day.
* If Tiger Woods ever watches this, it will frost his cookies that OJ got all the love from the public that he didn't.

 

[Bubbler]

I remember not giving two forks about O.J. It just never resonated with me at all.

 

[DanOregon]

I remember a shot of Costas getting consoled by Dr. J. Costas is trying to do the broadcast, his colleague, if not friend, is in the back of a Bronco threatening to kill himself. Crazy.
It's easy to think about it now, but in one week the story went from OJ's ex-wife killed, no hint that he was the guy, to an arrest warrant.
Maybe Barkley isn't good enough, maybe someone like Terry Bradshaw or Howie Long being accused of murder.

 

[Det. Jimmy McNulty]

The Kardashian daughters owe their dad for their notoriety, btw

To say the least. Without him, those three whores would be nothing more than dime-a-dozen, run-of-the-mill sluts.

 

[poindexter]

You know who hasn't aged in 16 years? Jeremy Schap. (or is it schapp?)

He reported the OJ thing, and I saw him later that night from South Africa. Hasn't aged in 16 years.

 

[sgreenwell]

I loveddddd the 1994 documentary. It's probably my favorite of the series so far, edging out the Ali-Holmes doc. (Note: I've missed a couple, like the Raiders and Ricky Williams docs, unfortunately.)

I was 10 when all of the stuff with OJ was going around, so I didn't realize at the time what a monumental sports day it was. I thought it was a great dramatic effect, mixing up the coverage with that and letting it blend into the other segments.

And I agree with someone who said earlier that the "inside broadcasting" material, with Costas preparing for the broadcast, added depth to the film. That, and the hostage negotiation calls with OJ, were the most gripping parts to me. I had never heard them before.

 

[Lugnuts]

I was wondering how having no narration would work, but after watching it now I wonder how having narration would work. It was pulled off beautifully.

I just saw it. Not only was there no narration... there were no interviews. No sound bites. The whole thing was like an hour long music video, and I agree-- it was pulled off.

In fact, I think the score of the film was very important-- the music was the narrator.

As for Costas... he does something that drives every producer crazy-- it's a prime example of "talent trying to produce from the set." Ughhh. Why is he talking about single shots and double boxes?! That said, Costas is worth the trouble... because when the red light goes on, he is FLAWLESS.

Interesting film.

 

[Smash Williams]

I was too young to know much about Pablo Escobar at the time, and I just vaguely remember hearing about Andres Escobar being murdered, but watching even just the early part of The Two Escobars is just astounding me at how ruthless (Pablo) Escobar was and how just messed up that whole country was at the time, right now to the corruption infiltrating the soccer leagues.

 

[Brian]

This is fantastic. The last two (1994 and the Escobars) have moved this series up a whole notch.

ESPN gets grilled, deservedly, for much of what is has done. But I hope they keep this sort of filmmaking and storytelling a permanent fixture of the network. They are the only ones with this sort of money to pay top filmmakers to produce films of this quality.

Sure beats Brian Dennehy playing Bob Knight and Barry Pepper miming Dale Earnhardt.

 

[slappy4428]

This is fantastic. The last two (1994 and the Escobars) have moved this series up a whole notch.

ESPN gets grilled, deservedly, for much of what is has done. But I hope they keep this sort of filmmaking and storytelling a permanent fixture of the network. They are the only ones with this sort of money to pay top filmmakers to produce films of this quality.

Sure beats Brian Dennehy playing Bob Knight and Barry Pepper miming Dale Earnhardt.

I'd miss the Junction Boys for this.. .Escobar is pretty good.

 

[Smash Williams]

This is propos of nothing and probably far too light hearted for the tragic turn all this will take at the end, but those were some ugly American uniforms.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

This is propos of nothing and probably far too light hearted for the tragic turn all this will take at the end, but those were some ugly American uniforms.

Those star jerseys were collectors items. If I could find one in good condition and in my size, I'd have one. Instantly.

Back on topic: Fantastic work. It's so easy to say I was worried for Andres Escobar given what happened, but I was. I lived in the Third World for a few years, but it was Paradise compared to Colombia at that time.