Basketball’s popularity in the U.K. sucks. I need to mention this as a British writer composing a review about the late basketball great Bill Russell. I may be asking for a small modicum of forgiveness for a possible lack of realization. A glance at his honors and I quickly realize just how stacked his career highlights are. Russell isn’t just considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time for the publicity. His award haul is an embarrassment of riches. Without him, there is no Boston Celtics dynasty. Like many similar documentaries, the opening of “Bill Russell: Legend” delivers a montage of talking heads emphasizing Russell’s credentials. But while such medleys are often seen, you can feel the amount of admiration in the voice of the interviewees. Russell’s prowess is formidable.
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The Netflix documentary “Bill Russell: Legend” does a solid job is painting an entertaining portrait of the man. Not only one of the first black basketball icons but a true iconoclast of the sport and beyond. The fierce protection of his privacy still rings true through this two-part documentary. There’s still an inkling that we are getting the story that Bill felt needed to be told. His civil rights activism features heavily throughout. His will to win seems to hold no bounds. The narrative leans heavily on his first marriage, with no mention of his second or third wives. Contributions from his fourth wife, Jeanne, are sprinkled into the mixture. A strong example of a film is not just about what we see on screen but also what is removed from the frame: a basketball star who is frequently noted as unapologetically black, with three of his marriages with white women. As someone also in an interracial relationship, one would truly love to gain insight into Russell’s challenges in the same position.
‘Legend’s prime focus is Bill Russell’s status as one of the best ball players ever to grace a basketball court. Possibly more so than the more recent players that we all know the names of. Not to cause arguments about whether Russell was better than Michael Jordan. However, ‘Legend’ does a pretty good job of establishing the idea that without Russell, we don’t get Jordan. At one point, Russell is described as The Big Bang. Interestingly, it’s hard not to feel that ‘Legend’s release is almost a response to The Last Dance. A slickly produced telling of the story of how the drafting of Russell became key in building what became the Boston Celtic dynasty. However, where “The Last Dance” has ten episodes to tell its richly layered story of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, Legend has a more complex subject. Jordan’s lack of political engagement stood large within “The Last Dance.” Here, with ‘Legend,’ politics is inescapable. Indeed, some of ‘Legend’s strongest moments come from when it takes from Russell’s own words and finds parallels between his position as a defensive center and the volatile attacks of racism coming from all sides.
The first half of the documentary delves into Russell’s background. From his humble roots, growing up only two generations removed from slavery. The film details the type of touchstones one would expect from such a biographical documentary. It notes his passion for learning the moment he enters his first library at age 10. An amusing story about the ice capades being involved in Russell’s draft to the Celtics is the kind of charming detail that the film captures well. All quite light. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary. ‘Legend’ often talks about Russell’s seriousness and intensity. However, the tone remains consistently lighter than the words. An interesting balancing act.
The second episode delves a lot more into Russell’s activism and his entertaining rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain (although they were friends off the court) and tries to dig deeper into a sportsman who was a deeply complex thinker. Director Sam Pollard (“MLK/FBI”) doesn’t manage to give us much that isn’t already out there. Much that is said could be found with a swift glance at one of the well-written obituaries penned about the man. A large volume of stock footage and audio recordings accompany all the topics discussed, and Russell’s campaigning for civil rights is, at times, deeply humbling. Comparisons to the more recent trials of Colin Kaepernick aren’t just for show. It’s no surprise that the NFL quarterback is mentioned.
The issue, if any, is whether the film will provide those knowledgeable with more detail. And to be quite honest, it probably will not. ‘Legend’ works well for those who know little about basketball or Russell. Watching the rudimentary talk about tactics and the “fast break” transition is fascinating to perhaps Premier League Soccer fans who are witnessing a lot of similar talk and tactics being mentioned around the game. However, this is possibly bread and butter to those who are aware. The conversations about race are poignant and revealing. Including a small story about Russell’s grandfather breaking down at the mere sight of two players of different skin colors sharing a shower after a game. Something so commonplace now yet so alien only a few decades ago.
For people new to Russell, ‘Legend’ is a solid recommendation to watch during America’s black history month. The rich, vibrant words from Russell’s books are beautifully narrated by Jeffery Wright. The myriad of famous personalities who appear in the film talk so passionately about Russell it’s difficult not to get whipped up into enthusiasm. Listening to Shaq exclaim that every current player owes Russell a slice of their salary or Stephen Curry wishing to own the manuscript of Russell’s second wind are small notable asides. Building on the powerful imagery of Russell standing together with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King, and Barrack Obama. “Bill Russell: Legend” will not say anything new to well-versed basketball heads. However, it’s a worthy watch for those who want to get to grips with one of the greatest players of all time. [B]