Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.9
Fantastic documentary! ESPN and the UFC really show off their collective talent for depth and flair in this one. We all knew things got crazy on fight island, but not THIS crazy. The macro themes of business operations playing out overlapping the incredibly personal stories of the fighters and their loved ones. Sold me on the genius and gusto of Dana White and his faithful followers in and around the UFC. Well worth all 4 parts.
9.4
Damn…
Old school ESPN on full display. F-bombs and all. The rawness of competition, the camaraderie of team, and the price of greatness. One of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, and worth every minute of the 10 hour runtime. Guaranteed to emotionally move you every episode. You’ll not only learn about the team members themselves at a deeper level than ever thought possible, but also shed a tear over a United Center security guard at one point. Perfect pacing, great archival footage, and a willingness by the interviewees to truly bear themselves publicly in a way that not many are willing to. Hopefully a sign of things to come from ESPN in the future. A return to THE sports network. Until then… 6 titles in 8 years will stand the test of time as one of the all time greatest sports runs in history.
An experience these last 5 weeks that shows the beauty of sports as a communal experience that unites people. Perfect timing, on top of everything else.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 