I haven't done a sports movie review on this blog yet, but after what I saw last night, I feel the need to. ESPN's 30 For 30 series, which is maybe the only thing I can't criticize about them, showed a documentary last night that brought tears to my eyes. A couple other ones I've seen there have done the same, but I won't get into that right now.
Benji is the story of Ben "Benji" Wilson, the finest player on the South Side of Chicago, straight outta Simeon High. He had started high school as a 5'10" kid, but within 2 years, had grown to 6'7", a state champion, and the #1 recruit in the country. The movie begins by explaining a bit of his background, his childhood, and his early interests in basketball, then goes on to explain his work ethic and his rise, both figuratively (people noticing his talent) and literally (the growth spurt in his sophmore year). In the fall of 1984, Benji seemingly had his whole future ahead of him, as he had risen to #1 in the national recruiting rankings, was being recruited by such schools as DePaul, Indiana, and Illinois, and was preparing to lead Simeon in defense of his state title. Further adding to his determination was the fact his girlfriend had a son, who, according to his friends and family, further motivated him to succeed, so that he could provide for him some day. Then, on the afternoon of November 20, 1984, just one day before the start of his senior season, two shots ended his hopes and dreams, and he became the 669th murder victim that year in Chicago.
I thought it was a well-made and excellent film that alternately tells a story of promise and hope, as well as a story of violence, and I thought the directors Coodie and Chike did a very good job at balancing the two. In this film, you get interviews from Benji's friends and family, and other notable figures from Chicago, such as Nick Anderson, his close friend and who would've been his teammate had he lived, Juwan Howard, Scoop Jackson, Common, and R. Kelly, who actually played on a club team with him. All in all, the interviews provide the insight that those unfamiliar with the story of Benji, which is many of us outside of Chicago, need. I thought it was interesting that they talked to the shooter, and I had mixed feelings about it. To be honest, though, I can't really blame them for doing that. For me, the most heartbreaking part of the film was when Benji's friends and family retold their reactions to Benji's death (Warning: Have a box of tissues ready for that part). The game footage shown of Benji was excellent, and I got the impression that he reminds me a bit of Kevin Durant in that he was a tall, skinny dude who had a nice jumper. I also think they did a great job in showing the impact of his death on the city, and what he meant to people. The footage of his funeral, and how many people lined the streets and showed up at the cemetery, and the fact it was being reported on the national news, spoke volumes about how much he meant. A particularly touching moment was towards the end, where they show Derrick Rose wearing Benji's old #25 and leading Simeon to the state championship, as well as Jabari Parker, who currently plays for Simeon, has won state championships, and is today the #1 high school player in the nation, much like Benji was nearly 30 years ago, and how they honored his memory. Overall, it is a very touching movie that will make even the toughest, most badass dude cry, and I seemed to get this basic message out of it: Benji may not be here anymore, but he never really died, since he lives on in Chicago's heart. There is a Benji in every city, and it is especially relevant now, particularly in Chicago's case.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 4)
Great article that talks about Benji: http://www.slamonline.com/online/the-magazine/features/2009/11/original-old-school-nuthin-but-love/
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