Movie spotlight
Fast Break
Evoking a cinema verite feel not found in most sports documentaries, Fast Break examines the 1977 Portland Trailblazers basketball team in a surprisingly personal and compelling fashion. Inter-cutting excerpts from the 1977 playoff / championship season, the film steps outside of the basketball court, and into the everyday lives of the Trailblazers, as well as their coach Jack Ramsey. Whether it’s biking the Oregon coast with star center Bill Walton, hosting a kids basketball camp with Dave Twardzik, or joking with Maurice Lucas at the pool – Fast Break lets the players speak for themselves: about basketball, life and playing in Portland. Fast Break, a film documentary about Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers winning the 1976-77 NBA title and the aftermath of their accomplishment, is the greatest movie I have ever seen on the subject of professional team sports, basketball as a metaphor for life, and the perfect practice of Zen Buddhism in American society.
Insights
Plot Summary
A washed-up basketball player and coach, desperate for money, assembles a ragtag team of former college stars and misfits for a lucrative exhibition game. The team faces numerous challenges, including their own lack of cohesion and the interference of a ruthless promoter, as they attempt to pull off the improbable victory.
Critical Reception
Fast Break was met with a largely indifferent reception from critics, with many finding its comedic elements and plot predictable. Audiences generally regarded it as a lighthearted, albeit forgettable, sports comedy.
What Reviewers Say
The film struggles to find a consistent comedic tone.
The basketball action is often uninspired, lacking dynamic choreography.
Despite a game cast, the plot feels formulaic and predictable.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce, but those available suggest a mixed to negative reception, with comments often pointing to a weak script and uninspired direction.
Fun Fact
The film features an early acting role for Carl Weathers, who would later achieve widespread fame as Apollo Creed in the 'Rocky' film series.
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