Doin’ It in the Park Documentary

#every1watch review from the every1plays.org web Archive going back to April 18, 2015.

#every1watch
Doin’ It in the Park
@DOINITINTHEPARK Documentary
by @koolboblove & @AsfaltCronicles

Last weekend I scrolled through the Roku Netflix looking for an afternoon flick for Queen Luz, my youngest brother, and me.  In “My List” I got a catalog of flicks I’ve saved over the years for whenever time opens up.  Now that I can access Netflix on my phone app I’m constantly adding flicks, sometimes catching one during the lunch hour… I’m a big documentary fan, and with Netflix, I’m constantly adding em’ in.  As I watch one, another four or five will pop up that I’ve never heard of before.  Needless to say, “My List” will probably outlive me as there are just too many movies I want to see.  Just now, I remembered that I’m also signed up to receive the DVDs.  I forgot the package was in between a set of books… in it another documentary… the Thrilla in Manila flick.  If you’re into sports, Netflix is where it’s at.  An educational archive of tons of cinema.

So last weekend, a few members of my family and I decided to finally lock into a documentary I’ve been wanting to watch since learning about it two years ago…Doin’ It In the Park.

This is one of the best basketball and overall documentary films I’ve ever seen.  It’s an incredible document into New York’s basketball culture and a reflection piece for anybody that spent a lot of time outside playing hoop.  Going on walks with my mother I rarely see it as much in my neighborhood anymore.  Hearing a ball bounce when I was a kid was like our door bell ring to come out and play.  Most of us had a court on our front drive way or a portable set up curb side underneath the street light.  Earlier this week, I walked by houses with courts that looked like they hadn’t been shot at in years.  A lot of drive way courts and streets with no bodies.

I loved everything about the film, especially the cinematography and the incredible collage of photographs throughout.  And with Bobbito, the soundtrack is 100% guaranteed to be dope.  I enjoyed every minute, every image, every sound of this film and highly recommend for every1.

I especially encourage local libraries to carry this film.   Would make for a great screening at a City Parks & Rec, maybe to encourage a dialogue about black tops in the city… open up opportunities for youth leagues to have more access, especially on school grounds if possible.  This is where a majority of our courts can be found in the city… Great spaces for hosting practices, weekend tournaments for youth or adult leagues during the summer or for after school activity during the school year.

One of my favorite parts of the film is the break down on 21!  That was the game right there.

For more information on the film, please visit doinitinthepark.com

You can also add them on Facebook at facebook.com/doinitinthepark

And they’re also on Twitter… twitter.com/DOINITINTHEPARK

Other links to the filmmakers are included in the subject line of this post.

Support the film, request at your library/store, purchase from the website or as a gift for an athlete, for your coach, a team… also pass the word on the Netflix link and watch it today!

every1watch Doin’ It In the Park.

-BB.Lee

#every1watch Life of a King

Life of a King

"Think Before You Move"

This was a good film.  Greater is the story it represents... it's about Eugene Brown, depicted in the film by Cuba Gooding, Jr. and a community chess program Brown started in Washington, DC, the Big Chair Chess Club.  It's also just as much a story about re-entry, beginning the day before Brown gets out of prison after several years incarcerated.  It begins with his chess mentor, Searcy, played by Dennis Haysbert, sharing his advice through the principles of the game as Brown prepared for his return back home.  

What was unique about this film from others that follow similar "save the school" narratives is the success of the program actually doesn't develop from within the institution.  It's a move or two away from most "high school gone bad" flicks where the "cool educator hero" comes in and saves the entire class with an academic blazer for a cape.  Instead, it highlights the disconnection of school from community as Brown takes his vision for a Chess Club off  school grounds and into a community chess house on 4322 Sheriff Road.  

The first film I saw starring Gooding was Boyz in the Hood, his first major role... I've enjoyed just about every movie I've seen with Gooding since.  He's amongst my generations greatest actors, and films like this speak for that.  More so, I appreciate the life it represents and promotes.  The flick inspired me to look up more information on the real Eugene Brown to learn more about the Big Chair Chess Club from his words.  Several videos are posted on YouTube as well as text interviews that will appear once you type "Eugene Brown" and "chess" into a search engine.   

Definitely recommend this film to everyone.  The cast of young upcoming actors is great too.  It's one to add for a Chess filmography, right along with my other favorites such as Fresh, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Brooklyn Castle, Game Over Kasparov and the Machine and several others.

You can catch Life of a King on Netflix.

For more information on the Big Chair Chess Club check out bigchairchessclub.org.

Keywords + Tag= Life of a King | Eugene Brown | Washington, DC | Big Chair Chess Club | Fresh | Searching for Bobby Fischer | Brooklyn Castle | Game Over Kasparov and the Machine | Cuba Gooding, Jr. | Animus Film | chess | chess club | queen | king | bishop | rook | pawn | knight | checkmate

#every1watch Review Doin' It In the Park

Doin' It In the Park Documentary

#every1watch

What's up world, check out our #every1watch review about Doin' It in the Park at every1plays.org.  #every1watch is what we'll be referring to film reviews on our site!  Peace.

-BB.Lee