This gets you really inside the huddle: Kobe Bryant & Zinedine Zidane

A couple of years ago while on a vacation abroad, I was browsing through the sports section of HMV's DVDs when I saw Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait. It was the only copy left and I picked up but kind of hedged initially because of the price (don't ask how much). When I finally got to watch the 91-minute film (same length as a football match including injury time), I was enthralled by it. I had never seen anything like it. Filmmakers Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno trained 17 cameras on Zizou during a Real Madrid-Villareal match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. He was miked throughout and the only noises you can hear are the occasional conversations between players, Zidane's grunts, and the sound of his boot crushing the grass. The music of Scottish experimental band Mogwai plays softly in the background. The film has its high and lows because for one, the pitch being larger, it's harder for any real conversation to be heard. And just when you think Zizou is going to do something spectacular he doesn't either because the shot missed or what. Nevertheless, I thought it was intriguing. 

Then last night, while wondering how to write about the Ateneo-La Salle game, my column, and some work stuff while still battling the flu, I decided to take a break and plop in Spike Lee's Kobe Doin' Work DVD. Spike, said that the Zidane film was an inspiration for this and he took it a level higher. Lee trained 30 cameras on Bryant for one game of the LA Lakers against the San Antonio Spurs and the smaller setting makes for more soundbytes. And watching this, you see how much Phil Jackson transferred what he had in Chicago with the Lakers. Right down to the "Game time.. huuuu."

It's a great film to watch whether you're a Kobe fan or not. To hear his thoughts on bungled shots, Bruce Bowen, Pau Gasol, Phil Jackson etc... it's a treat for the basketball fan. 

Try checking it out.