More Than a Game, the LeBron James Film @ Akron Civic Theater, August 20

It won’t be in theaters until 10/2/09, so I was one of the lucky ones to be invited to a special screening of More Than a Game, a documentary featuring LeBron James. Yes, More Than a Game stars LeBron – and features historical footage of King James as a high school student, while showcasing the Fab Five, with their rise from playing ball in an inner-city gym to winning the national high school championship at St. Vincent – St. Mary High School in Akron.

The film catalogues video archives captured during LeBron’s rise to the top and the exceptional partnership of his teammates and coach. It documents the team’s childhood beginnings, growing up in poverty, forcing each boy’s family to move from city to city and school to school, until they all meet as a team. The amazing part of the film is how these young men also became best friends and a league of brothers that helped each other off the court as well as on. The story unfolds as we remark at the enviable chemistry of these five young men, each longing for a family of friends that they could count on. The magic comes as a result of this longing.

Possessing a relentless drive and determination to be the best team in high school, and proving it by winning game after game, these boys no longer travel on buses to their next game, but must travel by plane, playing in tournaments around the country. Propelled by a love for the game, the movie chronicles each player’s challenges, including the dark side of LeBron’s rise to fame – resulting in an ineligibility to play on the team when they need him most.

More Than a Game is an uplifting, inspirational film based on the belief that we should protect and go after our dreams, no matter what cost, because often the end result is better than we could have imagined. More Than a Game showcases life’s challenges, big and small, and how important those lessons can be – in building character – when we take a look back. This film was written, produced and directed by Akron’s own Kristopher Belman.

By Cool Cleveland contributor T.L. Champion (:divend:)