The Great American Documentary -- Roger Ebert

Hoop Dreams, which Ebert claims as the best movie of the 90's, observed its 15 anniversary this past Wednesday at the Gene Siskel Center. I remember watching it when it first came out. I was very eager to because I had become a huge basketball fan by that time. I had elevated basketball to mythical proportion. I was obsessed with street ball, with high school basketball, professional basketball (but for some reason not college basketball).

I weaved what I heard, saw, and experienced into epic battles of skills, talents, and personalities. My teammates and I became larger-than-life characters struggling to work together to triumph over common enemies. In the professional arena, the sudden retirement of Michael Jordan left a power vaccuum to be filled by those all-stars who until then had been denied championship glory by number 23.

Such was my state of mind when I watched Hoop Dreams as a 14-15 year-old. Although I felt it was long, I knew right away it was a tremendous film. During the same time, I began to develop a social consciousness, so I was keenly aware of the social context this story took place under. I didn't realize it then, but perhaps this movie served as a companion piece to Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, the most important novel I read in high school.

These are the thoughts triggered by Ebert's blog post about Hoop Dreams. I feel as if I just ran into a good friend I haven't seen in a long time.

For Ebert's post, here.

Purpose of Filmmaking

A couple of days ago, someone challenged me to figure out why I make movies. She said there are two types of filmmakers. One makes movies in order to entertain. Their movies can be highly artistic, but attracting and satisfying audience is at the central core. Another type of filmmakers make movies in order to express and educate. They have a strong need to communicate their ideas as a way to change intellectual discourses. Filmmaking, perceived primarily as a form of entertainment, might not support the latter type's goals and aspirations. They may be better off utilizing other means to publicize their ideas.