Allow me to assist you in your own a** whoopin'
It’s not very often that I am blown away by a documentary film but last night I watched an amazing film by Ken Burns. If you are bored by history or PBS stop reading now.
Unforgivable Blackness
The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
This film was presented in typical Burns style archival footage mixed with narration and comments made by famous writers, scholars and boxing historians. The film follows the life of Jack Johnson the fist black heavy weight champion of the world. Starting with Part one beginning with his post reconstruction era south early years to his fight for the championship. In part two we see the rapid fall of Johnson due to racism and hard drinking and hard living. Burns is able to not just make it a movie about one man or even boxing. Burns is able to place Jack Johnson’s life in context with turn of the century American, dealing with racism, sports and the roll of the press. The photos and old movie reels of Johnson’s fights are beautiful. Wynton Marsalis should also be congratulated on his musical arrangements. The music like in all Burns movies provides that extra element that draws the viewer into the story.
I recommend this movie to any sports fan. You won’t be disappointed in the life and times of Jack Johnson. He was the original big time prize fighter who flaunted his lifestyle in the face of whites. He drove fast cars, cavorted with white woman, lived in white neighborhoods and dominated a sport which was all white. Most white boxers wouldn’t even recognize him and refused to fight him. Johnson was an imposing figure who the press called “The Ethiopian”. He revolutionized a controlled defensive fighting style which wore down his opponent considering the average fight went 20 three minute rounds. Johnson was a tragic figure who should be remembered for his struggles and triumphs and for the intolerance of progressive era America.
The film taps great voices like Keith David, Sam Jackson and Jeffery Wright. Burt Sugar the boxing historian is amazing in his knowledge of early boxing. James Earl Jones is also shockingly candid about Johnson. Jones played the role of Jack in the 1970 film The Great White Hope, an often overlooked film which deals with Johnson’s struggles against racism stemming from boxing and his marriage to a white woman.
Johnson is a man who should be remembered and Burns does an excellent job in telling the rise and fall of a champion.
I recommend this movie to any sports fan. You won’t be disappointed in the life and times of Jack Johnson. He was the original big time prize fighter who flaunted his lifestyle in the face of whites. He drove fast cars, cavorted with white woman, lived in white neighborhoods and dominated a sport which was all white. Most white boxers wouldn’t even recognize him and refused to fight him. Johnson was an imposing figure who the press called “The Ethiopian”. He revolutionized a controlled defensive fighting style which wore down his opponent considering the average fight went 20 three minute rounds. Johnson was a tragic figure who should be remembered for his struggles and triumphs and for the intolerance of progressive era America.
The film taps great voices like Keith David, Sam Jackson and Jeffery Wright. Burt Sugar the boxing historian is amazing in his knowledge of early boxing. James Earl Jones is also shockingly candid about Johnson. Jones played the role of Jack in the 1970 film The Great White Hope, an often overlooked film which deals with Johnson’s struggles against racism stemming from boxing and his marriage to a white woman.
Johnson is a man who should be remembered and Burns does an excellent job in telling the rise and fall of a champion.
_______________________________________
This film also brought to mind a new game that is coming out this week from EA Sports that might just be the NCAA off season Lodge PS2 game –Friday Night Round 3. Pugilism at it’s pixilated best. Take Ali vs. Frazier Hagler vs. Leonard
The Dude and I went a few rounds while stopping in at the local Game Crazy last Saturday and could have stayed there all night. I really can’t think of a better mix then some PBR and the Lodge going toe to toe in the virtual realm. Think of it as the ultimate test for lodge masculinity minus the cuts and swelling…
I think it might be a nice investment. Thoughts?
The Dude and I went a few rounds while stopping in at the local Game Crazy last Saturday and could have stayed there all night. I really can’t think of a better mix then some PBR and the Lodge going toe to toe in the virtual realm. Think of it as the ultimate test for lodge masculinity minus the cuts and swelling…
I think it might be a nice investment. Thoughts?
posted by Train at 9:40 AM
14 Comments:
sentimental post of the week by Train: check...
I like the idea...I'm a little pissed that Drago isn't included, oh well looks like you can create him...oh and Xbox 360 looks f'n sweet
yeah, I am seriously considering the move to Xbox but I gotta wait until the PS3 comes out. Jayne what are your thoughts on the systems?
I've seen most of the Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson doc. Very good stuff. Super long, so when I was watching it back in the day, I fast forwarded through some of the slower commentators. Good review, Train. Although you centered the entire post.
I'm not a game consol owner, so I can't comment on the X-Box 360... except that I'm in on a Target team here at Amazon.com, and Target was having an ass-load of problems when the new system was dropping back before Christmas. The demand was unbelievable. The hits on the item detail page (Target pre-sold a number of units) was way more than any other Target product in the weeks leading up to it's release.
Thanks for the Target update buddy and I centered everything cause that's how I do business.
touche...touche
I thought it was nice that Train was centered for once....
As for being on the "Target" team.
Why dont you let us know when you make the Victoria Secrets team .Then we know you will have arrived.
Goose you do know how to make a nice enterance...
Goose at the plate...and WHAMMY!
"Goose here. I'm all about havin' fun. You know, start a fire in someone's kitchen, maybe go to SeaWorld, take my pants off..."
When you walk into a room. People should know you are there.
Nice Champ quote MCP.
and not because of the smell or the fact you are wearing a "Serenity" Tshirt. Capish?
Hey now...my Serenity shirt is really cool, and chicks dig the smell of Beef Jerkey and banaca
The funny thing is, Unforgivable Blackness isn't even the best boxing documentary that I've seen. When We Were Kings wins that bout easily. It's a doc about the 1974 heavyweight championship match in Zaire, famously labeled, "The Rumble in the Jungle", between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. To see George Foreman before he became a father of 18 kids named George is extraordinary. He was one bad motha. Scary. Great watch.
Agreed. I loved Kings too and think they are both on the same level with Blackness being hindered a little due to the time period ie: no real footage of fights and sound bites but the interviews make up for that loss.
Post a Comment
<< Home