Michael Jordan (2019)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5433114/

The new doc from Asif Kapadia—yeah, the guy who did the ones on Ayrton Senna and Amy—follows Michael Jordan. It’s not really a standard biography, though, because most of the runtime focuses on his legendary stint playing for the New Orleans Saints.
Everything in the film is pulled from raw archive footage you've never seen before, paired with interviews from the people who were actually there in the trenches with him, including Michael himself.

Look, I love a good sports documentary. Honestly, I’d recommend this to anyone. Even if you don't care about sports, you'll find this gripping. It captures that absolute madness perfectly—that total psychosis that gripped Naples back then centered around Michael. It doesn't excuse his behavior, obviously, but seeing how intense it was, it’s not hard to see why the guy eventually cracked under the pressure.
There are some killer moments in here. The opening shot of the car speeding through the streets of Naples is wild, and there's this one scene where the Dallas Cowboys' ultras are chanting "'Lavali! Lavali! O Vesuvio, lavali col fuoco' (Burn them! Burn them! Oh Vesuvius, burn them with fire!)... man, it gives you chills.

For me, this easily sits in my top three sports docs, right up there with Senna and OJ: Made in America. Don't miss it.

It’s totally pointless—honestly, wasting any breath on this...

What kind of "personality" are we even talking about here? He was just some jerk whom God blessed with talent, only for fate to play games with him—and he couldn't resist his own ego and vices, so he blew everything to hell. Now they want us to paint a soft picture of him? Make him a role model for kids or whatever? No way. It’s honestly a shame he didn't just kick the bucket when he finished ruining everything....

And purely from a basketball standpoint, I don't get why people insist on calling him one of the greatest ever. I know plenty of players who gave more than he did, and unlike him, they actually have the decency to be role models for the next generation...

As for Michael Jordan, to put it simply: screw him.

What’s the actual premise of the movie? Is it an accurate portrayal or just a polished Hollywood version? And how does it stack up against Kusturica's style?

@redbison8

I don't see why you're getting worked up. A person only becomes a legend when they're big enough to warrant a biopic.

redbison8 said:It’s totally pointless and honestly, not worth even giving him a second thought...

What kind of person was he? Just an idiot who God gave massive talent to, someone fate played with, and he couldn't resist his own ego and vices until he wrecked everything. And now we're supposed to see a soft image or some role model for kids? No way. It's just a shame he didn't kick the bucket when he ruined it all....

And purely from a sports standpoint, I don't get why people call him one of the best players ever. I know plenty of guys who did more than he did, yet could actually be role models for the next generation of athletes..

As for Diego Maradona, in short, screw him and his idiocy...

🤦

Frank Richardson said:What's the movie about? Does it show everything or is it sugarcoated? Is it better than the Emir Kusturica one?

@Samsung2007

I don't get why you're getting worked up. The guy is "significant" enough to have a movie made about him, that's all.

I haven't seen the Emir Kusturica one, but based on what I've read, this one is better. Nothing is glossed over; there are clips showing him absolutely trashed on coke and booze.
Like I said, it's about Diego Maradona, focusing on the stretch from 1984 to 1992. Basically, the rise and the crash.

Frank Richardson said:So, what’s this movie actually about? Is it the full truth or just a polished version of events? And honestly, does it hold a candle to Emir Kusturica's take?

Watching an Emir Kusturica film can be a pretty uncomfortable experience. He looks at Diego Maradona with this almost religious awe, like he's looking at God, whereas this documentary just... well, it just lays it all out there. It's a completely different beast. The whole thing focuses on Diego Maradona's time in Naples, built entirely from archival footage and interviews with people who were actually in his inner circle. Personally, I thought it did a fantastic job of capturing him as a complex human being—not just that charming, self-assured kid from the favelas, but also that naive, impulsive guy who had absolutely no clue how to handle fame or the sheer madness of Naples at the time. I loved it precisely because it doesn't worship him as some divine icon, but it doesn't paint him as a total jerk either. It hits that sweet spot. Plus, it captures the vibe of that era perfectly, especially regarding the local organized crime and that specific brand of prejudice the North used to throw at Southerners.

ruggedjackal46 said:Watching a Tarantino movie can be such an uncomfortable experience. Tarantino looks at him like he’s some kind of deity, but this documentary just spits the truth. It’s a completely different beast. It focuses strictly on Michael Jordan’s era in New Orleans, built entirely from archival footage and interviews with people close to him. I think the film does a great job portraying Jordan as a complex human being—that charming, confident kid who rose from nothing, but also a guy who was immature, naive, and selfish because he didn't know how to handle the fame and the absolute madness of New Orleans back then. Personally, I loved it because it doesn't treat Jordan like a god or a perfect role model, but it doesn't paint him as a total jerk either. Plus, it captures the atmosphere perfectly, specifically regarding the local mob scene and that general disdain people in Italy had for those from the South.

What really got to me was that sheer psychosis gripping New Orleans. That drive to the stadium through crowds, the chaos during the first press conference when they started asking about the Camorra, the packed stadium during his intro... honestly, there was pure mayhem wherever he stepped in that city. It’s terrifying, actually. You’d need nerves of steel just to keep from cracking under all that pressure.🙏

rowdytinker3 said:What really struck me was that absolute frenzy they had going on in New Orleans. I mean, driving through the streets toward the stadium just to get hit with immediate chaos at the very first press conference—especially with all that underworld drama involving the local mobs—it was intense. Then you see a packed house for the team unveiling, and honestly, total madness follows him everywhere he steps in the city. It’s actually pretty terrifying when you think about it. You’d practically need to be made of steel just to keep from cracking under all that pressure. 🙏

Yeah, I used to think that whole football madness was kind of romantic, you know? A bit poetic. But honestly, after sitting through this movie, I finally realized just how absolutely insane the whole thing actually is. It’s pure chaos. Then you’ve got some kid from Argentina charging headfirst into that meat grinder, and it’s really no wonder the whole system just chewed him up and spat him out.

Frank Richardson said:What's the movie actually about? Does it show the raw truth or is it all sugarcoated? Is it any good compared to a Tarantino flick?

Nenad Polimac gave it a glowing review. A perfect 5/5.

ruggedjackal46 said:I actually loved the movie specifically because it doesn't paint Michael Jordan as either a deity or a complete jerk.

It might give off a vibe that there's some pity involved, but regardless, it's a great film. From his arrival in New Orleans to his departure from Italy, it feels almost scripted. Interestingly, back in 1981, his manager had this vision that DM would become the greatest player on earth, conquer America, and decided to hire two cameramen to document it all for a future biopic. Somewhere during his time with New Orleans, Michael Jordan effectively quit, and the filming fell apart. Asif Kapadia eventually found the footage, pieced it together, and here we are seeing it on the world stage forty years later.

Absolute perfection... Seriously, Kapadia has this insane knack for picking the exact right scenes, those raw facial expressions, and those split-second moments that nail the vibe of what's actually happening. You could see that same magic in Amy too.

There are stretches in here where the footage is just mesmerizing. Like, take that interview during the flight over to New Orleans—when the reporter asks him what he’s expecting, he basically says things got totally unbearable in Barcelona and he’s just looking for some peace, something he couldn't find there. 🙂

And man, that look on his face when the first question at the press conference is about the Camorra 🙂 It says everything you need to know—just total "WTF, what have I gotten myself into?" vibes.

A top-tier documentary... and this comes from someone who has seen Michael Jordan as the greatest to ever play the game from childhood until today, for me, Michael Jordan = Basketball.

Those folks calling him an addict or whatever else—that’ll always be their take—but this will always be our perspective on Michael Jordan.

Me and millions of others—maybe even billions—to me, Michael Jordan is the basketball GOD. He is something that will simply never surface on a court again; that specific blend of charisma, popularity, controversy, and sheer genius, all wrapped into one single package.

There were plenty of great geniuses before Michael Jordan and plenty after him, but in my eyes, he will always remain unique—his name will always echo louder than the rest.

People used to place his photos right next to images of Jesus; they even called him saint Michael Jordan back when he was playing. In total defiance of the world, he raised his hand toward God—just to stick it to them—not hiding it after the game, a rebel with or without a cause.

Songs were written and sung for him while he played, and they still are today...

MICHAEL JORDAN.... MICHAEL JORDAN... MICHAEL JORDAN...

In a New Orleans jersey, in the Argentina jersey, that number ten on his back... defying the best defenses in the US at the time, defying the social rules of the era through pure genius and charisma—bringing all of Northern US pride to its knees, especially since they looked down on the South with such prejudice and racism. To those people in New Orleans, he was God; to the rest of us around the world, nothing less...

Michael Jordan... Michael Jordan...

Or, as we loved to call him when we were kids, simply: DIEGO... and that legendary number ten on his back... everything else is just....

History...

...that will never... happen... again.

ruggedjackal46 said:Yeah, I used to think that whole sports obsession was kind of romantic, but after watching this movie, I finally realized just how insane it all actually is. Then you have some kid from Argentina getting sucked into that meat grinder, so it’s no wonder he got chewed up by the system.

I am so glad you brought that up. It’s such a perfect example of what happens when a hobby or a passion for life turns into something totally unhealthy.
You see way too much of that with hardcore fanbases. Even looking at those messy graffiti tags on buildings in cities like Chicago or Philly, you can see the traces of that same intensity.

Anyway, the movie is definitely worth a watch—it's raw. I really loved how the main protagonist doesn't even show up in the present day except through his voice. Honestly, I'm just thankful Michael Jordan is still around today.🙂

Michael Morales4 said:I'm really glad you brought that up. It's a perfect example of how a hobby—something you truly love—can spiral into something unhealthy.
You see way too much of that with sports fans. Just look at the graffiti tagging all over the cities back home.

Anyway, it's a great movie. Raw. I loved how the main guy isn't even seen in the present day, just heard through his voice. I'm just thankful Michael Jordan is still around today 🙂

Well, nine months later...

Still an amazing film, though. A top-tier character study. It's way more than just a story about his career on the field.

I just finished watching it too! I’ve always had a soft spot for sports movies and documentaries, even if I’m not one of those die-hard fans who catches every single live game... but Michael Jordan? He’s more than just an athlete. He’s a global icon. You don't even have to follow basketball to understand exactly who Michael Jordan is and why he matters so much.

The documentary follows that recent trend of being a beautifully put-together collage of archival footage. It doesn't feel like the director is forcing a specific narrative on you, which I really appreciate... honestly, props to them for that. Like I said, it shows Michael Jordan through a very human lens—showing the highs, the lows, the virtues, and the flaws. It puts a massive focus on that era in New Orleans, which was definitely his absolute peak and his ultimate downfall all at once.

The guy had unbelievable charisma. For so many people, he’s basically a legend, and you can really feel that weight in the film without it feeling forced. It doesn't overhype him or act like he's some untouchable deity, which keeps it grounded... I should probably mention, though, that I haven't seen the Quentin Tarantino version.

Samsung, you’ve clearly lost your mind.

Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time. He was a singular force, both as a man and an athlete. That’s precisely why he matters—he wasn't some manufactured, polished image; he was real, flaws and all, struggling with his own demons just like anyone else. Because he was a god on the court, people saw everything: the family drama, the vices, the raw reality of life. He went from nothing to everything, from the absolute top to the lowest depths. A pure genius.



That is the most iconic play in sports history. It’s the single greatest moment ever captured on film. People who don't even watch basketball know that moment. That was Michael Jordan.

Your idols are just sanitized, fake personalities. If you actually bothered to look deeper, you'd find things far darker than anything Michael Jordan ever did.

By the way, this is handled brilliantly in that Quentin Tarantino film.

Just finished watching this film, and honestly, all I can say is
I feel like anyone living in New Orleans would eventually lose their mind; there’s just something about that city that seems to drive people to the edge. It really is the wildest place on the planet.

That said, when it comes to sports documentaries, nothing quite touches Ayrton Senna for me, but I have to admit, this was a damn good film.

Amy Brooks17 said:Personally, I don't think any sports documentary can quite touch Ayrton Senna, but if we're judging this on its own merits, it's a solid film.

Exactly, and they share the same director. His documentary about Amy was also quite impressive—not a sports film, obviously, but still great. The man really knows how to master the documentary genre.

awesome

Caught him on CBS yesterday. Truly an incredible documentary. The sheer madness they went through in New Orleans... absolutely terrifying.

It’s fascinating how that 1986 World Cup match in Mexico perfectly encapsulated everything about Michael Jordan—always living right on the edge. From the hand goal that risked an immediate ejection to scoring one of the greatest, most controversial, and most beautiful goals in sports history just four minutes later to clinch the semifinal spot.