Kobe Doin' Work

Kobe Doin' Work
Directed by	Spike Lee
Starring	Kobe Bryant
Theme music composer	Marvin R. Morris
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Spike Lee Butch Robinson
Cinematography	Matthew Libatique
Editor	Barry Alexander Brown
Running time	83 minutes
Production companies	40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks ESPN Films
Original release
Release	May 16, 2009 (2009-05-16)

Kobe Doin' Work is a 2009 documentary film directed by Spike Lee. It focuses on Kobe Bryant during one day of the 2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season. Bryant granted filmmaker Spike Lee and 30 cameras unprecedented access to his life for one day. Kobe: Doin' Work premiered on ESPN on May 16, 2009.

Plot

Kobe Doin’ Work is an 84-minute exploration of Kobe Bryant's work ethic, his in game mentality, and his bluntness that makes Bryant a great competitor. It focuses on Kobe Bryant during one day of the 2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers season. Bryant granted filmmaker Spike Lee and 30 cameras unprecedented access to his life for one day. Kobe: Doin' Work premiered on ESPN on May 16, 2009.The documentary follows Kobe Bryant during the 2007–08 NBA season throughout the April 13, 2008 game against the San Antonio Spurs.

The game in which Bryant was documented and given a microphone to capture live in game moments was a heated game with the rival Spurs. Bryant shot 6 of 14 from the field, scored 20 points, and played 32 minutes. The game was a crucial game in the end of the regular season, as the Los Angeles Lakers hoped to keep first place in the Western Conference with a record of 55-25. Spike Lee was interviewed asking why he chose Kobe Bryant to direct this documentary, in which Lee replied, "I'm a big basketball fan. It was obvious. He was having an MVP-type year, in which he did win the MVP. Also the Lakers looked like they were going to take it to the Finals. And I wanted them to beat the Celtics. I hate the Celtics. But the Celtics won. But I don't think I was taking a gamble by choosing Kobe." (Lee, NBA.com)3. Bryant agreed to let Lee microphone him during the game, in which he also played in the game. According to Spike Lee, "He (Kobe) said several times how much fun it was just doing it." (Lee, NBA.com)3.

The 83-minute documentary ran on ESPN commercial free.[3] The documentary also focuses on Bryant and the team in huddles and during time-outs. The cameras also get full access of coach Phil Jackson in the locker room with the team during half-time.[4] Bryant provided the voiceover for the documentary on February 2, 2009, hours after he scored 61 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, (then a single-game record at the arena, which has been broken since).[5] Spike Lee said that he was excited for Bryant to do the commentary following a game at Madison Square Garden, but no one expected a 61-point performance from Bryant. "I know that if he had a terrible game the commentary would not have been the same. Guaranteed. But Kobe said he made a point to make sure not to lose the game or he would hear it from me." (Lee, 8th paragraph)3. Bryant indeed said in an after game interview that he was going to give the game his all in order to show Spike Lee a thing or two about Bryant's skills on the court against the Knicks. "On a lighter note, I'm going to review this documentary I'm doing with Spike Lee tonight after the game and I didn't feel like sitting next to him and hearing him talking trash about the Knicks, so that was added incentive as well. Seriously. He's going to get an earful tonight." (Bryant, 8th paragraph, ESPN.com)4

Reception

Kobe Doin’ Work received mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 58% viewer rating out of 100. The perception was that Bryant's in-game influence was overshadowed by highlights and pointless in-game commentary, and not enough surrounding Bryant's relentlessness on and off the court. Bryant's commentary on the documentary did receive much praise for its value to the film. Overall, the film received a decent review, but some have argued for the overuse of 30 different camera angles that were needed to capture Bryant's every move. This, according to some, distracted viewers from Bryant.

External links

• Kobe Doin' Work at IMDb
• Template:AllRovi movie

2 "Spike Lee Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, 2013. Web. 6 May 2013. http://www.biography.com/people/spike-lee-9377207?page=1

3 "Q&A with Spike Lee on New Kobe Documentary." NBA.com:. Ed. Adena Andrews. N.p., 9 May 2009. Web. 1 May 2013. http://www.nba.com/2009/news/05/09/spikelee.qa/

4 "Kobe Scores 61." NY Daily News. N.p., 3 Feb. 2009. Web. 13 May 2013. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/kobe-scores-61-gallery- 1.70362?pmSlide=3

5 "Kobe Doin' Work (2009)." Kobe Doin' Work. Rotten Tomatoes, 2009. Web. 11 May 2013. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1213983-kobe_doin_work/

6 Cracknell, Ryan. "Kobe Doin’ Work." Movie Views. N.p., 25 Nov. 2009. Web. 13 May 2013. http://movieviews.ca/kobe-doin-work