This is an absorbing and moving documentary about the famous NBA star Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and his diagnosis with AIDS. It spreads its tentacles beyond the actual announcement to look at Magic's life before and after the announcement and is more of a documentary about him and how being diagnosed with HIV changed his life than it is a film about HIV and HIV related issues. This is a good thing.
Johnson's grace and charm are evident throughout the film, which he narrated, with his family, personal doctor and close personal friends from in and outside of basketball all being interviewed. Unsurprisingly, the film presents a very positive impression of Johnson, who is, in any case, so charismatic that director Nelson George would have found it quite the challenge to make a boring film with this man as his star.
The fact that Johnson was so willing to go public once he was diagnosed amazes me, as most people in 1991 only went public with their diagnosis after they collapsed in hotel lobbies (Rock Hudson) or were hounded by the paparazzi to the point of madness (Freddie Mercury). George takes the time to explain why Johnson has survived when the diagnosis was a death sentence when he received it.
Nelson George succeeds in re-creating the drama and tension of the moment whilst presenting a sympathetic portrayal of how one man learnt to cope with the most feared diagnosis of the age in a very public space. 90 minutes long, the film doesn't overstay its welcome and is strongly recommended, even if you don't know the people involved.
At the time of writing, you could watch the film in its entirety here
The preview is listed below.
1 comment:
Keep up the good work, Mr Went!
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