SummarySpike Lee directs this moving portrait of a complicated, charismatic man, one who has spent his life in the spotlight, first making football history as one of the 20th century's greatest athletes, and later as the star of numerous Hollywood features, where he pioneered a new kind of African-American hero. (Film Forum)
Directed By:Spike Lee
Jim Brown: All American
Metascore
Mixed or Average
51
User score
Mixed or Average
5.1
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
51
33% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
44% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
22% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
75
From what we can tell, Brown was a dancer, all right, in life as well as on the field -- a dancer with a powerful forearm, one that Lee covers in protective padding.
70
At its most provocative, the movie explores the masculine mystique and the myth of the black stud.
60
Brown sounds guarded throughout, and as a result, Jim Brown: All-American provides a curiously remote portrait that's often compelling, but seems to conceal as much as it reveals.
50
Jim Brown: All American is visually impressive, but about halfway through the documentary it gets so defensive and excusive that it stalls. It's as if Lee is forming a defense case rather than exhibiting the man's life.
50
Though overall an overwhelmingly positive portrayal, the film doesn't ignore the more problematic aspects of Brown's life.
38
Lee gives his childhood hero altogether too much face time to defend himself against the numerous allegations and charges of assault, both physical and sexual.
30
Since Lee is a sentimentalist, the film is more worshipful than your random "E! True Hollywood Story."
User score
Mixed or Average
5.1
33% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
33% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
33% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
Aug 29, 2024
7
Spike Lee analyzes a multi-faceted football legend in exhaustive detail. Beneath the stern, rock-solid exterior, Jim Brown is an astonishingly human individual, quietly thoughtful and passionately dedicated to what he believes. It's motivational just listening to the man speak, whether he's fondly remembering his football heyday, discussing the implications of his acting career or admitting his personal faults as both a partner and a parent. He's not without a few blemishes, but who is? Coming in with the expectation of little more than a rose-tinted lesson in sports history, I was surprised when the discussion about Brown's athletic career barely took up a third of the running time. This man is much more than an athlete-turned-actor, and Lee expertly coaxes him into explaining the intricacies of why that is. A touch long-winded and egotistical, just like the man himself, it's mostly worth the investment.
Production Company:
- HBO Sports
- 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Release Date:Mar 22, 2002
Duration:2 h 10 m
Awards
Black Reel Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Photoplay Awards
• 1 Nomination
