Reggie documents the tumultuous career of one of baseball’s first and most influential megastars, who fought for his place and dignity in a world rife with racism and resistance for any black person daring to defy the status quo.
Story
Through interviews with Jackson himself, his teammates and friends, and family members, the documentary delves into the illustrious career of the titular baseball megastar, as he climbs his way through the difficulties and becomes the world series champion five times.
He starts his journey in Birmingham, during major civil unrest in the country, before moving to Oakland when the Black Panthers rose up to proffer a strong resistance against the violent racism in America.
During his rise to success, he contended with not just the antagonistic portrayal of himself in the media, but also the rich, powerful white owners and other influential figures.
In spite of all the challenges, Reggie would overcome all hurdles and give to the Yankees their world series titles and the world a display of brilliant athleticism and determination.
From the boos to cheers, antagonization to the celebration, all while the racial strife never ceased, Reggie Jackson swung through it all and became one of the legends of the sport.
Positives
Reggie takes a refreshing approach to the documentary format as it places the titular sports legend front and center, and has him not just narrate his story but also interview his close friends and contemporaries throughout his career.
The use of music and footage is really brilliant and adds a great deal to the information rather than making a frenetic mess out of it all, which is a rather common sight in modern documentaries.
The documentary is also bold and brilliant in how it maps Reggie’s thorny and difficult journey with the context of the concurrent socio-political climate in the US.
Watching just how rife with racism and discrimination the black athletes’ careers have been across the world of sports make the documentary such an essential watch, especially in times when racial tensions and issues still plague the country where even according to the sports legends like Reggie and Hank Aaron, not much has changed in terms of the socio-political dynamics and hierarchies.
Negatives
For a sports icon as bombastic and charismatic as Mr. October, the documentary concludes with a bit of a fizzle, the subtlety and calmness of which does match with the real-life developments, but leaves something to be desired in terms of ending the story on an explosive high.
Verdict
Reggie is a true delight not just for the hardcore baseball fanatics or even the casual sports viewers, but for audiences of all age groups and sensibilities, as it delves into a wide-ranging list of topics pertaining to racism, capitalism, and the unchanging landscape of systemic machinations pervading all walks of life.
It also delves into the tenacity and perseverance that continues to defy said limitations of society, making for an inspiring binge.
Reggie
Director: Alexandria Stapleton
Date Created: 2023-03-24 09:30
4.5
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