The first 20 minutes or so I was uncertain if I would end up enjoying this show due to the amount of 4th wall breaks. However, after those 20 minutes it definitely dials them down quite a bit and delivers fantastic acting, directing, and pacing.
Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (TV Series)
The Swan (2022)
User Reviews
Review this title7 Reviews
The start of Showtime! As Jerry buys the Lakers, and Magic is drafted!
blanbrn10 March 2022
Finally the "HBO" limited sports drama anthology "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" has premiered and the first episode "The Swan" scores with a slam dunk! It's 1979 out in sunny southern California and the Lakers are a lackluster team in the city of angels, as the "NBA" is a very unpopular league that can't sell tickets or fill seats the association is almost in the red. Well near "Hollywood" playboy type and outspoken businessman Jerry Buss a hard drinker and womanizer (in a fine turn from John C. Reilly) decides to purchase the struggling franchise and get into the action. As Buss feels that basketball and sex should mix! It's like the Lakers should have a "Playboy" style image and a "Showtime" type feel. Yet the drama and doubt is felt as current coach and ex "Lakers" legend Jerry West is unhappy and feels the team should make better choices. Buss feels by drafting Michigan State star "Ervin Magic Johnson" first after winning the lottery coin toss that will solve all of the "L. A. Lakers" woes, only current point guard Norm Nixon doesn't take well to Magic moving in and gives the Magic man a cold shoulder plus Kareem the other Lakers superstar has his doubts while still acting in movies on the side and with his downtime. Great super start to a series that looks at classic times of a legendary sports team, each episode should score more points.
Even better than expected
samzimm7 March 2022
The first episode was truly a treat to watch. From the practical effects to make it FEEL like the 70s, to the performances by Jerry West and Magic Johnson, This show seems to have the makings of an instant classic and next week cannot get here soon enough!
What an Amazing Start
pachys7 March 2022
This episode blew me away. I was not expecting this to be as amazing as I thought it was. John C. Reilly is an amazing casting choice to play Jerry Buss. The directing and the script was great was well. Bravo. I am excited to see the rest of the series.
Exceeded my expectation already
juan_buenafe7 March 2022
Wow, I had high hopes from the trailer but this looks to be better than I even imagined. The direction, script and visuals are all just superb. It feels like I'm watching "Boogie Nights" mixed with basketball. The acting were all great too, can't wait for next week.
Sunny California
lovemichaeljordan12 March 2022
The Swan
Prismark1029 March 2022
I am a big fan of Adam McKay's Oscar winning, The Big Short.
This series is about businessman Dr Jerry Buss attempting to buy the LA Lakers in 1979. Then a struggling team that had not won anything of consequence.
Also Buss was courting rising rookie Earvin 'Magic' Johnson to sign for the Lakers. Johnson and Larry Bird were the hottest tickets from college basketball.
The first episode of Winning Time has McKay using some of the same tricks from The Big Short. Characters talking to the camera, captions on screen. Off the wall and cynical humour.
It quickly informs you of the difference between Bird and Johnson and why Bird was so highly regarded. He was white.
However by the second half of the first episode. It becomes clear all that trickery cannot sustain a ten part serial. Even things like recreating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's turn in the movie Airplane feels like a gimmick.
Events have to be fictionalised to fit in with the television serial format. Johnson has doubts whether to sign for the Lakers after an encounter with starting point guard Norm Nixon at a party.
It slows the momentum down as the series has to be stretched out. It was still an interesting first episode with John C Reilly being the lynchpin as the crafty Jerry Buss.
This series is about businessman Dr Jerry Buss attempting to buy the LA Lakers in 1979. Then a struggling team that had not won anything of consequence.
Also Buss was courting rising rookie Earvin 'Magic' Johnson to sign for the Lakers. Johnson and Larry Bird were the hottest tickets from college basketball.
The first episode of Winning Time has McKay using some of the same tricks from The Big Short. Characters talking to the camera, captions on screen. Off the wall and cynical humour.
It quickly informs you of the difference between Bird and Johnson and why Bird was so highly regarded. He was white.
However by the second half of the first episode. It becomes clear all that trickery cannot sustain a ten part serial. Even things like recreating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's turn in the movie Airplane feels like a gimmick.
Events have to be fictionalised to fit in with the television serial format. Johnson has doubts whether to sign for the Lakers after an encounter with starting point guard Norm Nixon at a party.
It slows the momentum down as the series has to be stretched out. It was still an interesting first episode with John C Reilly being the lynchpin as the crafty Jerry Buss.
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