"Dear Basketball" is a 6-minute animated short film from 2017 that unites successful Disney animator Glen Keane with defining score composer John Williams and a poem written by basketball legend Kobe Bryant on the occasion of the end of his career. The outcome is this award-winning short that is also a contender at the Oscars this year, actually even in the leading position right now. And while I think this was a competently crafted work here, I still don't really think it is a particularly good watch for non-basketball fans and I would be surprised if it really takes home the Academy Award soon. If it does, it is owed to the three big names I mentioned earlier and I am pretty curious what Shaq is thinking with his movie career about Kobe's success here. Still it is not by any means a weak film, let alone a failure, but in terms of contents and execution I would say that the nomination is already (more than) enough. I have seen 4 of the five nominees so far I think and I'd put it in third spot from these alone. Pixar may be my personal favorite next to Revolting Rhymes. Back to this one here: One reason why I am not too big on it is because aside from the sports component, the nostalgia factor with animated young Kobe is not as effective, touching and memorable as it attempts to be, at least not to me. A cautious thumbs-up for this one. Worth checking out, but not a must-see for anybody other than lifetime Lakers fans.
Review of Dear Basketball
