The Birth of a Legend isn't going to push the boundaries of Hollywood biopics. No, in fact it's going to strip the genre down to the most pedestrian indie roots. But, in those roots there is some honesty, goodness, and a damn fine story..
Pistol Pete Maravich was a true outsider who became much more than just a play maker Maravich became iconic. When I was young there was John Havlichech (sp?) in the pros and Pistol Pete playing for LSU. Other than these two guys, and maybe Lew Alcindor,, I was oblivious to basketball superstars. What made Maravich more prescient was that he was a kid who another kid could relate to.
Let me preface my review. I was a kid in junior high school when Pete was making his name at LSU. I wasn't particularly good, but I could relate to Pete because he was everything a kid wanted to be.. He gave me hope and I was an instant fan.
Birth of a Legend is, often, noticeably, a shoe-string budget film. More often than not, however, it rises above it's humbleness and delivers. Not unlike the subject it weaves the story of. This movie has it's heart in exactly th right place, and the special period in which it all transpires somehow is lovingly brought to life. This was a transitional period in basketball. The old guard ruled, but the brashness, later exemplified by those born out of urban playgrounds, was just peaking it's head. And in all places this was happening with a very structured, and coached, player with uncanny natural instincts. Pete Maravich had something otherworldly. He had amazing ball handling talent to be sure, but he had a knack for amazing assists brought about by making amazing passes to open players never seen before. Maravich could literally score using another player to actually make the basket simply by making an impossible, and totally unexpected, pass only he could see as possible. Maravich invented a new style of basketball which was, at the time, almost impossible to defend. e of what this magic was all about. For all others I'd simply say see this humble film. It gets the "high points" right and has it's heart in exactly the right place. Pete Maravich was simply a other wordily player whose flame cast a long shadow. It bears mention that even in much smaller physical stature the young man playing Pistol Pete was amazing in this movie. That an the portrayal of his father deserve special mention. "The Birth of a Legend" transcends it's money-strapped simple roots and delivers a bigger message. A recommended watch.
As a high school basketball player I must say I saw a bit of the magic that was Pistol Pete when a player named David Hall transferred from Indiana to our north Alabama rural team school when I was in the ninth grade. A player who could pass like no other and make those impossible hip shots. I caught a glimpse of this ethereal talent. For all others I simply say see this film.
Pistol Pete Maravich was a true outsider who became much more than just a play maker Maravich became iconic. When I was young there was John Havlichech (sp?) in the pros and Pistol Pete playing for LSU. Other than these two guys, and maybe Lew Alcindor,, I was oblivious to basketball superstars. What made Maravich more prescient was that he was a kid who another kid could relate to.
Let me preface my review. I was a kid in junior high school when Pete was making his name at LSU. I wasn't particularly good, but I could relate to Pete because he was everything a kid wanted to be.. He gave me hope and I was an instant fan.
Birth of a Legend is, often, noticeably, a shoe-string budget film. More often than not, however, it rises above it's humbleness and delivers. Not unlike the subject it weaves the story of. This movie has it's heart in exactly th right place, and the special period in which it all transpires somehow is lovingly brought to life. This was a transitional period in basketball. The old guard ruled, but the brashness, later exemplified by those born out of urban playgrounds, was just peaking it's head. And in all places this was happening with a very structured, and coached, player with uncanny natural instincts. Pete Maravich had something otherworldly. He had amazing ball handling talent to be sure, but he had a knack for amazing assists brought about by making amazing passes to open players never seen before. Maravich could literally score using another player to actually make the basket simply by making an impossible, and totally unexpected, pass only he could see as possible. Maravich invented a new style of basketball which was, at the time, almost impossible to defend. e of what this magic was all about. For all others I'd simply say see this humble film. It gets the "high points" right and has it's heart in exactly the right place. Pete Maravich was simply a other wordily player whose flame cast a long shadow. It bears mention that even in much smaller physical stature the young man playing Pistol Pete was amazing in this movie. That an the portrayal of his father deserve special mention. "The Birth of a Legend" transcends it's money-strapped simple roots and delivers a bigger message. A recommended watch.
As a high school basketball player I must say I saw a bit of the magic that was Pistol Pete when a player named David Hall transferred from Indiana to our north Alabama rural team school when I was in the ninth grade. A player who could pass like no other and make those impossible hip shots. I caught a glimpse of this ethereal talent. For all others I simply say see this film.