Catching Hell (30 for 30) by Luke Enno

Catching Hell (30 for 30)

2011

If you are a Cubs fan, you will love this documentary. If you are a baseball fan, you also will enjoy this documentary if nothing more than to understand what it must be like to be a Cubs fan with all of the suffering. The idea behind this documentary is truly clever and focuses on Steve Bartman leading up to his famous attempt to catch a foul ball and the post-script after he deflected the ball away from the glove of Moises Alou.

I have watched dozens of 30 for 30 documentaries. This one is the best of the lot in my view. If you only watch one documentary, Catching Hell is the one to see. You gain a substantial insight into what baseball means to Cub diehards and perhaps how unrealistic the average Cubs fan views his/her life within the context of the team's failings. When Bartman did what he did (and it is debatable exactly what he did and how much it impacted everything else within that NLCS), you gain insight into the dark side of fandom.

Ultimately, this documentary will stand the test of time because it encapsulates an infamous play. I give it a 5 star rating with the understanding that you would need to be a baseball fan or at least a sports fan to appreciate it. If you are not into baseball at all, you may not be so interested in this documentary. But the core focus of the documentary is on Steve Bartman, the fan, during that fateful night.

5 stars

Copyright 2016 - Luke Enno

Run Ricky Run (30 for 30) by Luke Enno

Run Ricky Run (30 for 30)

2010

Ricky Williams was a legendary college running back at the University of Texas. He then embarked on an up and down NFL career which included a number of marijuana-related excursions out of the league up to Canada and back again. This documentary attempts to track the later half of his career while he played with the Miami Dolphins.

On the whole, I was expecting more but I don't know exactly what. The documentary is not particularly memorable as far as 30 for 30s are concerned. I've watched it multiple times but I have not been able to gain much from it other than Ricky enjoyed(s) smoking dope and in that habit he had a number of issues with fitting in to normal society. I can relate to that feeling certainly. Not all of us are square pegs fitting into square holes. Ricky elicits a certain amount of sympathy since he is a searcher, someone looking for something deeper and more meaningful than fame or fortune.

That said, I came away not understanding much more about Ricky Williams than I knew before watching this documentary. As someone who really enjoyed watching him while he was at Texas and wanted him to succeed at the NFL level, I am left to wonder what could have been if Ricky would have stayed clean at the NFL. For these reasons, I would rate this 30 for 30 a 2 star. It came my interest the first time I watched it in the hopes that I was going to gain substantial insight but that is about all.

2 stars

Copyright 2016 - Luke Enno

Cartel Land Review by Luke Enno

Cartel Land

2015

This documentary came out in 2015 and has been nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary. I did not know how acclaimed it was before seeing it however. I do understand now though how come it is looked upon with favor. The story unfolds and concludes at the same location. In between, there is a heavy emphasis on 2 vigilante groups, one in Mexico and one in Arizona. Frankly, although the Arizona vigilante group adds an interesting angle to the documentary, what is taking place in the heart of Mexico was far more interesting and engaging.

I would rate this documentary 4.5 stars out of 5 stars only for the fact that I wish more clarity would have been added to the Arizona vigilante group or else de-emphasized. Following the Mexican vigilante group with its ups and downs was what made this documentary tick. That along with the final few minutes when the documentary climaxes with an important piece of information which ties up everything nicely in my opinion. Although the documentary is 100 minutes long and jumps back and forth periodically between the 2 unrelated vigilante groups, you are able to stay with what is happening almost the entire time.

On the whole, after watching the documentary, I came away feeling angry about the lack of security at our borders within the United States and about how politicians south of the border are in all likelihood "sleeping with" the drug dealers. I get the impression that political powers that be on both sides of the border are not too worked up over the drug issue within the U.S. If there was no drug problem, we would not need nearly as many judges, lawyers, police officers, prison guards, border patrol, DEA agents or other security officers. So to keep all of these fine folks employed and busy, we should keep the flow of drugs going. That may be a crass and cynical look at life. However, there has to be truth in it as well.

4.5 stars

Copyright 2016 - Luke Enno

Into the Wind (30 for 30) Review by Luke Enno

Into the Wind (30 for 30)

2010

I first saw this documentary soon after it came out. Overall, there is nothing negative to say about it. Not being from Canada, I knew nothing about its subject, Terry Fox. Apparently from watching the documentary, one comes to learn that Terry Fox is a national hero in Canada and for good reason. Although he wasn't a war hero or some famous politician or rock star, he embodied how many Canadians feel about themselves. Terry was dealt a serious blow physically as a result of cancer. But he refused to let limitations stop him from making a difference in other people's lives.

Among the many ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries out there and I've watched most of them several times, I have a special place in my heart for this one. When I first watched it, I had little expectation as far as what I would learn. Most of the 30 for 30 subjects are familiar to your average sports fan. There is not much I would have added or done differently with respect to how this documentary was done. Since it is only 51 minutes in length, there is not a lot of wiggle room available. For that reason, I do give it a 5 star rating.

5 stars

Copyright 2016 - Luke Enno

Knuckleball! Review by Luke Enno

Knuckleball!

2012 

In 2012, a unique documentary focused on a small fraternity of pitchers who throw or have thrown the knuckleball pitch as their primary/exclusive pitch. Specifically, the lives of Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey are centralized to reveal the struggles and triumphs associated with being knuckleball pitchers. Past knuckleballers, including Wilbur Wood, Charlie Hough, Phil Niekro and Jim Bouton, interject their thoughts on this subject.

I had heard about this documentary when it came out during the year that R.A. Dickey went on to win the NL Cy Young Award. Overall, it is a slick production. The cinematography is very nice. The interviews are well done. The story arcs of Wakefield and Dickey are engaging and inspiring. Interweaving their respective personal/family lives into the fold also humanizes these two pitchers to show that it is not all glamour reaching and staying in the Big Leagues.

As far as a documentary, I would rate it 5 stars. I was not bored or disinterested at any point even though I generally knew the Big League stories of both Wakefield and Dickey. I did not know much about either pitchers rise to the Majors and for that part, I think it made all the difference. Both pitchers largely can credit any professional baseball success to mastering the knuckleball and relying upon that one pitch to become Major Leaguers. Without knowing how to throw the knuckleball pitch and being in organizations that have the patience to work with either of them, it is very doubtful Wakefield or Dickey see a day in the Majors.

5 stars

Copyright 2016 - Luke Enno