1 hour 9 minutes
Emotional. Engaging. Enlightening.
The point of this blog is to let you know what documentaries are worth watching. 'Malice at the Palace' (Episode One of 'Untold') is a firm ‘Yes’. As a viewer who doesn’t follow basketball, but is nevertheless exposed to it occasionally, the first episode in this series captivated me for the whole hour and nine minutes. I didn't once check my phone. It is worth commenting that I believe this is truly the optimal length of documentaries. This episode is part of the ‘Untold’ series, the rest of which will also cover sporting events and figures. Focusing more than just on the events of November 19th 2004 (knowledge of which is definitely not a prerequisite for enjoying this documentary), it teaches lessons of communication, teamwork and maturity. It also is an important contribution to the conversation about athletes' mental health and anti-blackness in sports reporting. Having done some brief Twitter research, something I believe is worth noting is that Tim Donaghy, titled as ‘NBA Referee’, is a controversial figure, having been found guilty for gambling on games he officiated. Debate about his inclusion and lack of reference to his past is bound to lead to fascinating conversation surrounding this documentary series, and raises questions about the filmmakers’ choices.
Comments