Gunnin' for That #1 Spot

Maybe it's the fact that I'm notoriously klutzy and nonathletic, but I couldn't get excited during Gunnin' for That #1 Spot. There were certainly feats that had the basketball lover in me (I swear she's in there somewhere) standing and cheering, but for the most part, I was checking my watch, hoping for the clock to run out. Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys fame directs this documentary, and it shows plenty of the style he honed as helmer of the group's music videos such as "Shadrach" and "Intergalactic." But even though the film has style in spades (an achievement for a sports doc), none of the slow-motion shots or graphics did anything for me. It's not a bad film; it's merely a fine one, a film to add to the end of the Netflix queue if you're a fan of the band or the sport.

Gunnin' for That #1 Spot does take an interesting approach to the sports film. One of the hallmarks of the genre is to have the audience cheering for the underdog, but the players featured here are all high schoolers playing in an all-star game at Harlem's historic Rucker Park. And therein lies the problem with Gunnin': its lack of suspense. Most of them aren't old enough to vote, but they each perform moves that most college players would covet. There's little doubt that, barring injury or a rather surprising breakdown, that each of these players will go on to fame and fortune. And that fact was confirmed when several of the featured players were drafted by NBA teams this year. If it doesn't make for a compelling film, it'll certainly lead to a nice post script or an extra when the DVD is released...