Kobe Doin' Work...

[Doctor Z]

fucking sucks.

First of all, it's shot in shaky-cam, which I can't fucking stand. It's nauseating.

Secondly, I thought this was gonna be a documentary. Spike Lee + Basketball + Documentary = Me Being Pretty Psyched. But what is it? It's a basketball game with DVD commentary. That's it. That's what this entire movie is. I'm watching a DVR'd basketball game with Kobe Bryant voiceover.

Give me a camera crew, and I could make this movie. C'mon Spike, you're better than that.

[TheMojoPin]

Yeah, this was boring as hell. Spike Lee is usually a lock for a great documentary but this was just meh at best.

[paulisded]

I like what ESPN's Bill Simmons says about it here (http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=4137488):

...You get the idea. We learn nothing from today's superstars beyond the spin. Take Spike Lee's upcoming Kobe Doin' Work, which could be headed for an Oscar next year -- not for best documentary but for best actor. Blanketed by 30 cameras covering his every move during a 2008 game, Kobe tries to be funny, supportive, helpful, charming … really, there hasn't been a performance so convincing since There Will Be Blood. I nearly impaled myself with a Twizzler near the end, when Kobe jokes on the bench with Pau Gasol (who has an "I didn't even know Kobe knew my name!" look on his face), followed by Spike's cutting to Kobe's kids holding MVP signs. I had to take a postmovie shower.

Then again, kudos to Kobe Day-Lewis. This is how you use the media. Control the access, provide your own filter, say nothing profound, play a part, derive the benefits. Nowadays, teams routinely break news on their websites. The Patriots announced each 2009 draft pick on Twitter. Curt Schilling retired from baseball on his blog. Hundreds of athletes keep in touch with fans digitally. We're getting close to a day when players save postgame quotes for their own blogs. Wanna know why I'm limping? Check out my website, sponsored by Bob's Discount Furniture!...

[Doctor Z]

You can always count on Bill Simmons for a jaded, bitter, Boston-skewed opinion.

[underdog]

You can always count on Bill Simmons for a jaded, bitter, Boston-skewed opinion.

I just like that he's been in Cali forever and still remembers Bob's Discount Furniture.

[TheMojoPin]

Simmons is pretty spot-on here.

That's what bugged me the most is that it all seemed so forced. Half those guys on the team were acting like Kobe never talked to them in their lives and he's trying to act like he's just one of the guys.