Shooting Stars, the Lebron James biopic premiered on Peacock on June 2 shining a light on the Star’s path into the legend he has become today. Anthony Elder of Cleveland Magazine writes on 5 takeaways from the incredible movie.
- Don’t Know Sports? No Problem!
The movie is designed to be easily understood, avoiding obscure references that might alienate viewers unfamiliar with sports, such as me, who only watched the 2016 championship games. It cleverly drops hints of what’s to come, like an early scene where LeBron criticizes tattoos, but it doesn’t rely heavily on basketball jargon that only hardcore fans would understand, like triple-doubles.
2. Friendship and Growing Up
While Shooting Stars doesn’t delve into the intricacies of sports, like discussing stats or legendary players, it effectively portrays a coming-of-age story centered around a group of friends struggling to navigate their friendship with a superstar among them. At the beginning of the film, you might not even realize it’s about LeBron’s personal career. Instead, the focus is on the endearing bond between four friends, soon to be five, who have big dreams as they play basketball all day and indulge in video games all night, oblivious to the impending responsibilities that come with their collective talent.
Around the 30-minute mark, LeBron’s name starts to gain more prominence as the young protagonist attracts attention from local adults, and eventually, from media outlets like Sports Illustrated and national news.
3. Swensons All Day, Every Day
The movie was filmed in various locations in Akron and Cleveland, including Case Western Reserve University for some of the game scenes. However, the standout site is the iconic Swensons Drive-In, where LeBron and his friends frequently gather for a quick bite and occasional drama. Swensons holds a special place in Ohio’s culinary history, as it originally served its burgers in the parking lot of Buchtel High School, which is also prominently featured in the film. In a movie predominantly set in gyms, locker rooms, and basements, Swensons adds a comforting and familiar touch.
4. Back to the ’90s
Although sports references are limited, the film does offer a healthy dose of nostalgia, fueled by ’90s and ’00s hits like Ice Cube’s “Today Was a Good Day” and tracks from artists such as Nas and Outkast. For gamers, the sight of NBA 2K on an old boxy TV in a basement will likely evoke summer memories that haven’t been recalled in decades.
5. Becoming LeBron
While the acting may come across as quaint or even awkward at times, Marquis Mookie Cook’s performance exudes genuine and vulnerable energy. It’s worth noting that Cook, the young actor, is currently making waves as a rising star at the University of Oregon, playing basketball. As we witness the character’s struggles in maintaining old and new relationships during a turbulent rise to fame, it makes you wonder how much of Cook’s own mindset and experiences are reflected in his portrayal, adding an extra layer of authenticity to his performance. Source.
