Follow
Kobe Bryant is at his most vulnerable state and forces his guard down.
A ferocious competitor, relentless teammate, and cold-blooded killer on the hardwood floor, Kobe Bryant sits at the top of the NBA’s list of greatest players. Earning five championship rings, surpassing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list, and adding another storied chapter to the Lakers dynasty justifies this greatness, yet Bryant’s muse has always been shrouded by his enigmatic personality. “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a documentary directed by Gotham Chopra, reveals the inspiration for the basketball player’s notorious work ethic and offers a candid look into his personal life.
Bryant rising up for a floater against four Bulls defenders.
The documentary arrives at an appropriate time as Bryant’s career comes to a trailing end. Though rattled by severe injuries and nearly two decades of mental fatigue, he still pushes himself to compete.
Directed by Gotham Chopra, “Muse” is filmed in minimal black-and-white, with only a single shot of Bryant’s shadowed face. Bryant is the sole voiceover and describes his life and career in a non-linear fashion. The clips and pictures, which were not available to the public before, highlight Bryant’s milestones on and off the court: His 81 point game against the Toronto Raptors, marrying his wife, Vanessa, and attaining championship rings. “Muse” bounces from finding his passion for the game as a little boy in Italy to his recent recovery from a torn rotator cuff.
His most poignant moments come from his narratives involving his wife, Vanessa. He also indirectly mentions his rape charges from the early 2000s, and does so in an emotional, cathartic manner. His uncomfortable body language — licking his lips, shifting in his seat — are complemented by the single camera shot. In a way, they make this documentary distressing to watch.
Bryant has his guard down, revealing how he’s suffered to bring his demanding city banners to hang up.
His vulnerability and insecurity about his identity drives his greatness. He discusses that after air balling four times in a row against the Utah Jazz in the playoffs, Bryant literally practiced at his high school gym for an entire day afterwards without sleeping.
Kobe Bryant achieving zen before sinking the free throw.
His mind is completely absorbed in the game, opening the documentary with a reoccurring dream where he is in the game and cannot jump. This type of nakedness shows the sacrifice that comes attached to being obsessed with a passion. He shows signs of remorse about his career disrupting his personal life, but instead of rearranging his priorities, his competitive nature thrives on his frustration and he dominates on the court.
The parallel of beginning his NBA career with free throws and making free throws with his ruptured Achilles, which is highly regarded as a career ending injury, encapsulates the genesis of greatness and the beginning of the end. The contrast between the prime of his career and going to rehab captures the nostalgia of what was and the reality of what is. “Muse” is a beautiful, authentic documentary that explores Bryant’s inspirations and aspirations.
Though the 2014-2015 season for the Los Angeles Lakers has been horrendous and riddled with injuries and disputes, Bryant’s “Muse” is a great breather for Lakers fans. However, it is bittersweet. It reminisces about Bryant’s greatest achievements, which gained him a lot of fans on a global scale, but also inspects Bryant’s latest injuries. It is a one and a half hour glimpse into one of the sport’s greatest competitors. Every diehard Lakers fan will enjoy it.
Image source: Showtime, UPI/Lori Sheplar, USA Today
No Comments