More Than a Game

A fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers can only take heart from the loyalty portrayed amongst LeBron James’s teammates from 5th grade through a national high school title in 12th at St. Vincent’s-St. Mary’s of Akron. Kristofer Belman’s documentary does not come up to Hoop Dreams, but that’s an impossibly high goal to reach, like LeBron himself possibly the best there ever was. Though not ideally structured nor visually dynamic, this is still an exciting and eye-opening film about high-stakes high school sports. If you are a follower of the Chosen One, a Witness to the wonders he works, this goes beyond self-promotion to an early gospel of the religion of hoops, the acts of the apostles in the wilderness of Akron. It’s about a group of boys saving themselves through commitment and communion on the court. Feel free to keep a skeptical distance, but if ye would heed, gather round and share the legend. Forget next year in Jerusalem, it’s this year in Cleveland. King James rules! (2009, dvd.) *7-* (MC-59.)