The first edition of the Elite 24 basketball tournament in 2006 brought together the top male high-school players from across the country, regardless of grade level or sneaker sponsorship, to compete in Harlem’s storied Rucker Park. And, because he loves the game, Beastie Boy Adam Yauch was there to film it all with his stupid extreme wide-angle lens and his annoying slow-mo, assisted by some pixelly old game footage lifted directly from YouTube. The kids are talented, but damned if you can even follow the game. This is a long way from ESPN.
So does the film concentrate on the lives of the kids off-court? Eh, not so much. Each player is introduced with a piddling biographical sketch filmed in his hometown. Their wildly varying backgrounds (from Lake Oswego, Oregon, to a tough part of Baltimore) might’ve led to some interesting interactions in New York, but by then, all cameras are focused on the court. Gunnin‘ for That #1 Spot might intrigue hardcore basketball fans—several of these young players are newly minted NBA draft picks—but even then, you’ll have to contend with the shockingly unimaginative soundtrack. “Straight Outta Compton” for the kid who’s, uh, straight out of Compton? Really, Mr. Beastie Boy?
