30 for 30: Bernie and Ernie (2013)
*** (out of 4)
Good entry in the ESPN series takes a look at friends Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld as the two would become stars at the University of Tennessee before both would end up in the NBA but going in different directions. This documentary covers the two men from their childhood in New York all the way to their current positions in life. The main focus of the film is King and his various troubles including being a black man in a part of Tennessee where he just wasn't excepted. In one of the film's most dramatic moments, King recalls an incident with a police officer who ended up hitting him over the head with his gun. Just seeing the pain and anger in King's eyes from this incident from nearly forty-years ago was quite sad to watch. The film also goes into detail about the troubles King got into early in his NBA career but things eventually turned around for him and the two friends were reunited for their run with the New York Knicks. Fans who actually remember the two playing at Tennessee are certainly going to enjoy seeing the video clips but I'm sure they'll also be ashamed of some of the stuff that happened to King while there. Overall the documentary does a very good job at highlighting these two men's careers but also what made their friendship so special.
*** (out of 4)
Good entry in the ESPN series takes a look at friends Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld as the two would become stars at the University of Tennessee before both would end up in the NBA but going in different directions. This documentary covers the two men from their childhood in New York all the way to their current positions in life. The main focus of the film is King and his various troubles including being a black man in a part of Tennessee where he just wasn't excepted. In one of the film's most dramatic moments, King recalls an incident with a police officer who ended up hitting him over the head with his gun. Just seeing the pain and anger in King's eyes from this incident from nearly forty-years ago was quite sad to watch. The film also goes into detail about the troubles King got into early in his NBA career but things eventually turned around for him and the two friends were reunited for their run with the New York Knicks. Fans who actually remember the two playing at Tennessee are certainly going to enjoy seeing the video clips but I'm sure they'll also be ashamed of some of the stuff that happened to King while there. Overall the documentary does a very good job at highlighting these two men's careers but also what made their friendship so special.