I'm coming from the outside on this one, having very little (if not practicaly no) knowledge of the general culture and stories around American Football, especially not the college ball scene. To all of us outside of the US, the strength of the college football scene is incredible.
As for this guy, Johnny 'Football' Manziel, it's not exactly a new story in sport. Across every major sport, there's 1000 of these stories, and we can all highlight some major similarities from Europe, for example Freddy Adu, Islam Feruz, Delle Alli and so on. Great talents who never reached the great heights once forecast for them. We all even know a guy from our school days who we grew up who could fit in this category too.
This is an interesting documentary, although I acknowledge having read up further after watching this documentary, that there is a lot of different ways to tell the story and that also much is missing. However, it doesn't paint the guy out to be any angel, and there's no real Road to Damscus moments either. He is just at heart a record breaking college frat boy who just couldn't grow out of that trance.
The documentary gives enough talking heads to give some opinion and colour, and despite any negative comments, he does manage to reach the NFL when so many others don't even come close. We see though his lack of maturity and responsibility, so no one is surprised on how it all pans out.
I found it very interesting. Happy to see that the documentary doesn't try to pin the blame on others, and all the player himself to take the flak at the end. A fine documentary in what has been a fine series on Netflix.
Untold Johnny Football
2023
Action / Biography / Crime / Documentary / Sport
Untold Johnny Football
2023
Action / Biography / Crime / Documentary / Sport
Plot summary
This documentary traces the meteoric rise and precipitous fall of football star Johnny Manziel via interviews with friends, coaches and Manziel himself.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
August 13, 2023 at 05:45 PM
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 1080p.WEB.x265Movie Reviews
A story of a frat boy who just never grew up...
If You're Not From Cleveland, You Won't Understand
I've lived in Cleveland all my life and remember when and where I was when Johnny was drafted. At the time, he was a colossal pain to a city who put a ton of faith and pressure on the shoulders of a kid. Not everyone is built for that, and he certainly was not. I didn't have sympathy for him at the time, but I certainly do now.
This piece doesn't excuse any of his bad behavior or actions and in fact, society could have done a bit more to make him truly accountable. If you're not from Cleveland, you didn't have the opportunity to watch this kid implode first-hand. I think he's learned a lot and still has a lot to learn. If you've experienced substance abuse or mental illness first-hand, you'll have a soft spot for him in the end and hopefully wish him well in the future; you can't help but feel sad for him.
An enjoyable 72 minutes
Discover the iconic rise, the tragic fall, and the indelible impact of a football legend in Untold: Johnny Football. This stunning documentary covers the tumultuous journey of Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel from an in-depth and personal angle that even hardcore football fans who lived through the Manziel Madness had never seen.
The documentary uses head coach Cliff Kingsbury's perfect description of what made Manziel so special to depict how Manziel's electrifying and unique play style left fans in a frenzy. His exceptional talent was evident from the first game of the year. As the season went on, the craze kept growing, and number two Texas A&M jerseys lined the stands. Everyone wanted a piece of the madness; he was invited to countless A-list parties and surrounded by fans wherever he went. In less than a year of upsetting powerhouses and entertaining fans, Manziel rose to stardom and left his mark. After a season of his Heisman-winning play and lovable media personality, fans would never forget Johnny Football.
While viewing this documentary, people gain an opening into Manziel's unseen battles and insight into his eccentric behavior as the media depiction of an incredible success didn't accurately display the true story. Manziel wasn't ready for the spotlight; his dad recalls the terrified look on Manziel's face after catching sight of the immense size of the crowds chanting his name. Fans familiar with the situation may have rebuked Manziel's efforts to make money off his autograph. However, watchers gain a new perspective as they see the greed in the stark contrast between the estimated over 1 billion profit for Texas A&M and the broke college lifestyle of a 1500-dollar monthly stipend. A viewer sees and empathizes with how Manziel's inexperience and shock led to his struggles with drugs, drinking, and partying. The documentary illuminates Manziel's lack of support as frustration and unhealthy confidence cloud his mind.
The documentary captivates the viewer's attention and compels them to think and analyze Manziel's journey long after the film has finished. The documentary is a must-watch as although fans may have known about his well-documented rise, it changes the media's negative narrative as it forces empathy and compassion with Manziel's struggles. The documentary's raw and unflinching depiction of Manziel's journey and struggles and the "untold" narratives combine to create an elaborate story that everyone must tune into.