Kobe Doin' Work

6.6
2009 1 hr 28 min Documentary

A documentary following Kobe Bryant during one day of the 2008 NBA playoffs.

  • Cast:
    Kobe Bryant , Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Phil Jackson , Michele Tafoya , Lamar Odom , Derek Fisher , Stephen A. Smith

Similar titles

Kareem: Minority of One
Kareem: Minority of One
This documentary charts the complexity and genius of the NBA's all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's legendary career, both on and off the court. Spotlighting a six-time MVP and six-time world champion, the film examines his controversial and landmark moments, his outspoken feelings about race and politics, and the evolution of the game.
Kareem: Minority of One 2015
The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World
The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World
"The Team that Changed the World," investigates the Globetrotters' impact socially and culturally, as well as their lasting effect on the NBA. Featuring interviews with basketball players, celebrities, politicians, and more, the documentary also shows how the Globetrotters continue to serve as "Ambassadors of Goodwill" and touch audiences around the world today.
The Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed the World 2005
2013 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
2013 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
In June of 2012, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat made good on a promise to deliver a championship to the basketball fans of South Florida. It seemed unlikely that they would ever be able to match the drama and the intensity of that title run in an encore performance. But this was no ordinary basketball team. From the opening night of the 2012-13 NBA season, the Heat were determined to prove that not only were they up for the daunting challenge to repeat as champs but they were also destined to become one of the most successful and celebrated teams in history. No one could have anticipated the breathtaking 27 game winning streak that would catapult the Miami Heat into one of the biggest stories of the year. And after sweeping the Milwaukee Bucks, dispatching the Chicago Bulls and outlasting the Indiana Pacers, Miami would take home their second consecutive title after an epic seven game series with the San Antonio Spurs.
2013 NBA Champions: Miami Heat 2013
When They Were Young
When They Were Young
Every NBA star can tell you exactly how they felt on the day they were drafted. It’s a time of anticipation and excitement as they are about to fulfill their ultimate dream: joining the NBA elite! Some, like Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, have had hall of fame careers. Others such as LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are still writing their own legends. Each player has etched a unique path to stardom, but how did it all begin? In this action-packed program, the NBA takes you back in time, with rare high school and even youth basketball footage of some of your favorite superstars. Go behind the scenes to draft day and watch all-time greats like Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade immediately electrify fans – and learn some hard lessons along the way that helped them become the incredible players they are today.
When They Were Young 2011
Free Spirits
Free Spirits
When the NBA merged with the American Basketball Association in 1976, four ABA franchises joined the more established league - the Nets, Nuggets, Pacers and Spurs.
Free Spirits 2013
Goose
Goose
Interspersed with interviews from luminaries including Dr. J, Oscar Robertson, Bill Cosby, Jerry West, Mannie Jackson, Marques Haynes, Ernie Banks, and Dr. Jack Ramsay, the story spans decades and shows the widespread influence of Goose on prominent sports, entertainment and business figures. Mannie Jackson presents the untold story of an American icon who changed the game of basketball forever and inspired an entire generation along the way.
Goose 2012
LIMITLESS: Victor Wembanyama's Journey to the NBA
LIMITLESS: Victor Wembanyama's Journey to the NBA
"LIMITLESS", is an original documentary about 7'5 French basketball star Victor Wembanyama and his journey to becoming the projected #1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
LIMITLESS: Victor Wembanyama's Journey to the NBA 2023
Beijing 2008: Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Beijing 2008: Games of the XXIX Olympiad
Here's a Special Edition DVD that captures the most dramatic and exciting moments from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, the competition was held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. Ten thousand five hundred athletes competed in 302 events in 28 sports. The 2008 Summer Olympics did bring athletes from around the world together as they competed for the bronze, silver and gold medals. More importantly, television coverage united citizens from all nations, who rooted for their own countrymen as well as the world's best athletes. These games were the first to be produced and broadcast entirely in high definition, and did garner upwards of four billion viewers. This exclusive highlights DVD features the greatest athletes in the world, united in the most important competition of their lifetimes.
Beijing 2008: Games of the XXIX Olympiad 2008
The Land of Basketball 1995-2005
The Land of Basketball 1995-2005
A documentary about incredibly successful 10 years (1995-2005) of Serbian / Yugoslavian basketball team.
The Land of Basketball 1995-2005 2008
2011 NBA  Champions: Dallas Mavericks
2011 NBA Champions: Dallas Mavericks
A 31-year quest for the Dallas Mavericks and their fans ended on a Sunday night in June in Miami as the team hoisted the Larry O Brien NBA Championship Trophy, defeating a Miami Heat team many thought were too talented to lose. Led by 2011 NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks overcame the Heat to win the first title in franchise history. Relive every moment in this historic series, from an epic 15-point comeback on the road in Game 2, to the Jason Terry two huge three-pointers down the stretch of Game 5, to an emotional Nowitzki mad dash to the locker room after the buzzer sounded in Game 6 confirming the Mavericks Championship. Now you can relive this historic series with this definitive Collectors Set of 6 DVD. Own each game in its entirety, with over 10 hours of content, including exclusive bonus features!
2011 NBA Champions: Dallas Mavericks 2011

Reviews

Scanialara
2009/05/16

You won't be disappointed!

... more
Lachlan Coulson
2009/05/17

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

... more
Matho
2009/05/18

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

... more
Bob
2009/05/19

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

... more
pipin_ferreras
2009/05/20

Kobe Doin' Work is not your typical Spike Lee joint and it's not your typical documentary. However, it totally delivers because it stays true to its title: It simply lets you see what a game day is like from the eyes of Kobe.Needless to say, this joint is only for basketball fans. And if you love basketball, then you're gonna enjoy this a lot because you'll finally get a glimpse of what it takes to play at such a high level. Also, it was very interesting to see all the talk in the bench and in the locker room.Yes, Kobe comes off a bit too good in the film, but who cares? I didn't view this film to see Kobe on trial or something. And I wish there could be more films like this for other great players. Who wouldn't want Mike Doin' Work for example? Overall, a very interesting film.

... more
Desertman84
2009/05/21

Kobe Doin' Work is a sports documentary film directed by Spike Lee.It focuses on Kobe Bryant during one day of the 2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season.The documentary follows Kobe Bryant during the 2007–08 NBA season throughout the April 13, 2008 game against the San Antonio Spurs. The 83-minute documentary ran on ESPN commercial free. Bryant granted filmmaker Spike Lee and 30 cameras unprecedented access to his life for one day.The documentary also focuses on Bryant and the team in huddles and during time-outs.Bryant provided the voice-over for the documentary on February 2, 2009, hours after he scored 61 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, a single-game record at the arena.You really have to like basketball to appreciate it. It's basically replaying a game with Kobe "mic'd" up and explaining how Lakers "do work". Shows Kobe's true leadership on the team.But still,one can be turn off on how talkative Kobe can be when narrating about himself and his experiences as an NBA player. One must really a big fan not only of basketball but of Kobe himself to appreciate it.

... more
bob the moo
2009/05/22

In an approach to the film the other year that focused on footballer Zidane, Spike Lee sets up a multitude of cameras to follow Kobe Bryant for the entire playoff game versus the San Antonio Spurs, including access to the locker room area before, during and after the game. However, while the former film was more of an art installation project than a sports film, Lee's film appears to be more about capturing Bryant when he is doing what he does best – playing. The film even includes a narration from Bryant in addition to being able to hear him during the game.All the things appear to be in place for a very interesting film. We get to see a player at work in detail, we get access to Phil Jackson's locker room when it is normally closed, we get narration from Kobe to provide more detail and insight and it is all being made by a film director who manages to be interesting even when he makes a bad film and is passionate about his subject. What a tragic outcome then that this potential doesn't pay off due to a combination of factors – some being outside of the control of the makers but some definitely falling at Lee's door.So OK, the film is not helped by us hearing of Kobe's massive game against the Knicks on the night he recorded the audio, but it turns out that the pick of the Spurs game did not produce the best game to be focusing on Kobe. Certainly the first half of the game/film produces surprisingly little action – something that is highlighted by the two or three big plays he pulls off being shown in slow-mo or in stills. This is a problem that the makers have had to live with but certainly it leaves the casual viewer wondering what the film is trying to show us because he doesn't appear to be as special as the stats and other games say he is. It gets better as the game goes on and it does show him playing as part of a team and doing work as part of the team but the film could have done with an extended highlights reel feel to it as well as stuff that shows his basketball IQ.On top of this we have the second problem which is partly down to the sports culture today but also down to Lee's post-production. With even the hint of a scandal being seized upon by a gossip hungry media (as Kobe knows firsthand), the vast majority of rich people are "managed" within an inch of their life so as not to lose their marketability or damage their brand image. With Kobe there is an element of him maturing but there is the constant feel that he is simply being insincere and very careful when he is in front of the microphone or camera. OK so this is not Lee's fault but he must have known by this point that a way to make the game action more engaging was going to be to get the most out of Kobe's narration. I'm not sure what his plan was in the viewing room but what we get from Kobe is endless compliments and affectionate remarks about other players. Apparently nothing appears to bother him whatsoever and he loves everyone – apparently even being rough up by opposition is all a bit of fun and doesn't rile him in the slightest. What Kobe does is to make the narration dull. He has very little of interest to say for any viewer. I'm not a massive basketball fan but even discussions on tactics would have been preferable to what I got. I imagine it is hard for Kobe to know what to say for 90 minutes and this is why it was important for Lee to have prepared questions and structure based on the game – talking points if you will, subjects that he can push Kobe on and get him talking. It feels like he hasn't done this and, if he had, then it didn't work for him.Don't get me wrong there is still some stuff here of interest to the target audience. It is good to see the workings of the team and hear Kobe talking (which he does a lot of – it is just as well he is as good as he is, otherwise I guess many would tire of his constant opinions and feedback). It is also interesting to watch a game with the focus on just one player rather than the bigger picture. These factors only do so much for the film and mostly it is surprisingly dull, giving the viewer just about enough of a glimpse at the potential of what could have been done here so that the disappointment we feel is clear.

... more
MisterWhiplash
2009/05/23

Here's the deal with Kobe Doin' Work: if you're just a basketball fan, let alone a Kobe Bryant fan, this is mandatory viewing. After seeing this at the Tribeca Film Festival it was clear who this document of a basketball game, not even so much a documentary, was aimed at. For example, my brother would watch this and be hooked minute one, while my wife would steer clear faster than you can say blueberry pie. Spike Lee had a goal here and he executed it masterfully, but it's not an all-around crowd-pleaser unless, as mentioned, the whole crowd digs the Lakers and Kobe Bryant and the methods and sportsmanship of basketball in general. As someone who is neutral I had a good perspective of it, enjoying it and being interested for what it was, even as I knew I might not watch it again when it comes time for its airing on ESPN.This is to basketball what Scorsese's Shine a Light did for the Rolling Stones - setting up dozens of cameras, we're given so many points of view and angles and set-ups on a straightforward 4-quarter-long basketball game between the Lakers and the Spurs. That it also gives unlimited options for editing and creating texture and speed and variance is a bonus for the interested viewer. At the same time there's another twist Lee implements that is clever: an audio commentary from Bryant (with occasional snippets of questions or observations from Lee) on the game, all of the decisions made in strategy and the practicality of the game, or just some of the little things that one wonders about how a player does the work on the court, the cues the player picks up from the others, the cues gaged from the opposing team, little lessons learned, mistakes, and of course goofs. On top of this, Bryant has a microphone on his jersey so we hear everything he says, from mundane to down-n-dirty leadership, throughout and even in the locker room.I was never bored by any of the action, and Lee's little flourishes of style added some verve (and of course that typical jazz score as well placed about during the game) but, again, it's a niche thing. The same viewer who was fascinated by Inside Man may not immediately go to Kobe Doin' Work. And yet I can recommend it without a doubt in my mind for its intended audience, the sports geeks and guys and girls who live for basketball. It's made by a fan for the fans. For everyone else, it's a fun viewing once, with a little of the personal side of Bryant sprinkled at the end. It is what the title says, and it's damn proud of it. 7.5/10

... more

Watch Free Now