ESPN’s Bruce Lee Documentary Is Way Better Than The Last Dance
The new 30 for 30 shows how insightful this series can be when it’s not beholden to its subjects.
ESPN 30 for 30: Be Water - Bruce Lee Documentary (better than the last dance?)
- Thread starter playahaitian
- Start date
Cool
I'm a huge Bruce Lee fan. So I will be watching it.
Jordan is great focused and an asshole and thats ok
And the bulls dunked on ewing a lot
Repeat
Damn man, the show ain’t even been on for 30 minutes!
Give a nigga a chance to record it!
Not better than the last dance
plus there have been other Bruce docs and a movie
plus there have been other Bruce docs and a movie
Last edited:
Exclusive first look at Bruce Lee 30 for 30 'Be Water' | Watch ESPN
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ESPN's new Bruce Lee documentary, 'Be Water,' is a 'must-watch' look at racism in Hollywood, critics say
Hannah Yasharoff
USA TODAY
AD
0:28
Critics call ESPN's new Bruce Lee documentary a "must-watch" for fans and soon-to-be fans of the late actor and martial arts great.
"Be Water," which premieres Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN, is directed by Bao Nguyen and named after a saying Lee used to share: "Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
Jack Hamilton of Slate dubbed the documentary "nimble, nuanced, and at times even poetic" and ranked ESPN's newest "30 for 30" installment ahead of the buzz-worthy Michael Jordan docuseries "The Last Dance."
Was Bruce Lee that cocky? We fact-check Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood'
Some critics said the film kept the lens too far back at times: "There’s so much Nguyen and his many interviewees want to talk about here, and many of them feel covered in too cursory a fashion to truly do them justice," wrote Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone.
The documentary explores the racism that Lee, who died at age 32 in 1973, endured in trying to land lead roles in the entertainment industry. NBC News' Nadra Nittle wrote that it "leaves no doubt that Lee’s talent and charisma should have earned him lead roles in Hollywood – or how the industry’s history of marginalizing people of color relegated him to playing sidekicks."
Some may wonder why a documentary about a man largely known for his endeavors in entertainment found a home on a sports network, but several critics argued that the physicality and athleticism of Lee's martial arts skills transcended his work in film.
"Bruce Lee isn't an obvious fit for ESPN, beyond the fact lots of people enjoyed his action movies," CNN's Brian Lowry wrote. "Yet 'Be Water' proves an excellent addition to the network's lineup of documentaries to fill the sports void, examining the martial-arts star's legacy and the circuitous, discrimination-marred path he followed to his too-short stardom."
'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood':Kareen Abdul-Jabbar slams Quentin Tarantino’s 'somewhat racist' depiction of Bruce Lee
Early reviews dubbed the documentary a timely look at a talent gone too soon, who spent his truncated career sharing his unparalleled talents while fighting for greater representation in Hollywood.
The documentary "succeeds in going deeper where previous Lee profiles have trod only lightly: The context of his struggle against racism in America, and his emergence as a superstar in Hong Kong," wrote Michael Ordoña for the Los Angeles Times. "For Lee fans, that makes 'Be Water' a must-watch. For the curious, it’s a fair introduction to the man who became a legend."
Hannah Yasharoff
USA TODAY
AD
0:28
Critics call ESPN's new Bruce Lee documentary a "must-watch" for fans and soon-to-be fans of the late actor and martial arts great.
"Be Water," which premieres Sunday at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN, is directed by Bao Nguyen and named after a saying Lee used to share: "Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless – like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
Jack Hamilton of Slate dubbed the documentary "nimble, nuanced, and at times even poetic" and ranked ESPN's newest "30 for 30" installment ahead of the buzz-worthy Michael Jordan docuseries "The Last Dance."
Was Bruce Lee that cocky? We fact-check Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood'
Some critics said the film kept the lens too far back at times: "There’s so much Nguyen and his many interviewees want to talk about here, and many of them feel covered in too cursory a fashion to truly do them justice," wrote Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone.
The documentary explores the racism that Lee, who died at age 32 in 1973, endured in trying to land lead roles in the entertainment industry. NBC News' Nadra Nittle wrote that it "leaves no doubt that Lee’s talent and charisma should have earned him lead roles in Hollywood – or how the industry’s history of marginalizing people of color relegated him to playing sidekicks."
Some may wonder why a documentary about a man largely known for his endeavors in entertainment found a home on a sports network, but several critics argued that the physicality and athleticism of Lee's martial arts skills transcended his work in film.
"Bruce Lee isn't an obvious fit for ESPN, beyond the fact lots of people enjoyed his action movies," CNN's Brian Lowry wrote. "Yet 'Be Water' proves an excellent addition to the network's lineup of documentaries to fill the sports void, examining the martial-arts star's legacy and the circuitous, discrimination-marred path he followed to his too-short stardom."
'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood':Kareen Abdul-Jabbar slams Quentin Tarantino’s 'somewhat racist' depiction of Bruce Lee
Early reviews dubbed the documentary a timely look at a talent gone too soon, who spent his truncated career sharing his unparalleled talents while fighting for greater representation in Hollywood.
The documentary "succeeds in going deeper where previous Lee profiles have trod only lightly: The context of his struggle against racism in America, and his emergence as a superstar in Hong Kong," wrote Michael Ordoña for the Los Angeles Times. "For Lee fans, that makes 'Be Water' a must-watch. For the curious, it’s a fair introduction to the man who became a legend."
30 for 30 review: Be Water
Director: Bao Nguyen Length: One hour and thirty seven minutes without commercials (airing in a two hour window with commercials) Installment: #109 by ESPN’s count (#110 by my count, counting the O.J. doc as one installment, although ESPN initially counted it as five different 30 for 30s, but...
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30 for 30 review: Be Water
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Director: Bao Nguyen
Length: One hour and thirty seven minutes without commercials (airing in a two hour window with commercials)
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Installment: #109 by ESPN’s count (#110 by my count, counting the O.J. doc as one installment, although ESPN initially counted it as five different 30 for 30s, but now seems to list it separately, not as part of the series. Additionally, one finished project, Down In The Valley, has been suspended from airing.)
SPONSORED CONTENT
Here Are the Hottest Looks For Men This Summer
By American Eagle
Most Similar To: Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau
Grade/Ranking: Mid-twenties out of 109, which I’d give a B+ on a 30 for 30 grading curve.
Review:
I’ll be honest: if this was a lackluster 30 for 30 installment without a positive underlying message, I’d probably just sit this one out. There is just too much going on in the world to expend the mental energy on a meh documentary, at least for me.
The good news is that Be Water was one of the better 30 for 30s of the last few years. The film’s themes of breaking down barriers, inclusiveness, and pushing back against prejudice is quite relevant and topical today. Before getting into the film a bit further, here are a couple quick things to know about Be Water.
But despite that film, Lee has largely remained a shallow prop that has never gotten the mainstream deep dive he’s always been worthy of. I think selecting him as a 30 for 30 topic was extremely shrewd on ESPN’s part, and hopefully one that is rewarded with ratings that reinforce the idea of going somewhat off the beaten bath in terms of finding worthy subject matter.
Be Water gives us a pretty thorough, yet concise, dive into Lee’s origins and his unique American experience of becoming a star, but one that quickly hit his head on the low ceiling that continues to stifle Asian Americans. Despite Lee’s best efforts, he was unable to find the success, acceptance, and support he thought his gifts and his culture were worthy of. Lee was relentless in his pursuit to further mainstream martial arts and Asian Americans into American pop culture, but sadly, he never got to see the fruits of his efforts.
As an Asian American, I’m not sure I can say Lee would be happy with the progress for a more diverse and accepting society to Asians and people of all colors since his passing. Would things be different if Lee didn’t die so young? Would there be more Asians on television and film, and in more substantive roles? Lee endeavored to change the status quo and the progress since has not been very encouraging. It’s been more than two decades since Jackie Chan was sold as a breakthrough star, and I think most would struggle to name a male Asian actor beyond Chan.
Putting the depressing lack of progress aside, Be Water does a remarkable job at smoothly retracing a career that was probably quite bumpy to live through. From a distance, Lee’s career seems akin to getting stuck in traffic every 15 minutes on your way to vacation. Be Water does explains the various stops and starts that Lee tried to navigate around. Given how fresh much of this content is and how well it has been packaged, I think most will come away happy with the film because it is well-paced, bursts with great footage, and mostly answers the major questions about Lee’s life and career.
The film covers a lot of ground in two hours and does so in a steady, engaging way that brings a cultural icon to life in a way that many have not seen before. Some more astute viewers will likely wish the film covered a few items that were glossed over, like the circumstances of his death and Lee’s reputation of not being the most dedicated family man. But the film is fairly comprehensive, given the time constraints and the amount of subject matter covered.
Be Water succeeded in bringing someone to life in a way that a biopic, many articles, and a few movies failed to do so. I never felt I understood Lee or the reason to celebrate him. I suspect that’s the truth for most people alive today. While Be Water may have sidestepped a few things, both good and bad, about Lee, it’s rich with style, story, and personality. And it succeeds in bringing a mythical icon back to life in a way that honors both Lee and Asian culture, while registering as one of the better 30 for 30s of
ESPNFILMSBy Ben Koo on 06/05/2020
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Director: Bao Nguyen
Length: One hour and thirty seven minutes without commercials (airing in a two hour window with commercials)
Ad ends in 24s
Next Video
×
Next Video
Recommended Articles
Cancel
Autoplay is paused
Installment: #109 by ESPN’s count (#110 by my count, counting the O.J. doc as one installment, although ESPN initially counted it as five different 30 for 30s, but now seems to list it separately, not as part of the series. Additionally, one finished project, Down In The Valley, has been suspended from airing.)
SPONSORED CONTENT
Here Are the Hottest Looks For Men This Summer
By American Eagle
Most Similar To: Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau
Grade/Ranking: Mid-twenties out of 109, which I’d give a B+ on a 30 for 30 grading curve.
Review:
I’ll be honest: if this was a lackluster 30 for 30 installment without a positive underlying message, I’d probably just sit this one out. There is just too much going on in the world to expend the mental energy on a meh documentary, at least for me.
The good news is that Be Water was one of the better 30 for 30s of the last few years. The film’s themes of breaking down barriers, inclusiveness, and pushing back against prejudice is quite relevant and topical today. Before getting into the film a bit further, here are a couple quick things to know about Be Water.
- The entire film is done using archival footage. If you enjoyed your memes of Jordan or Lance Armstrong saying something on camera that goes viral, you wont find the same pay dirt here. While there are extensive interviews throughout the film, you never see who is speaking in the present. It’s a style that I think will go over well with many, but may be a bit too stylistic and flat for others who prefer not to be lulled into a visual setting decades ago. Personally, I enjoyed the distinct visual style after seven weeks of The Last Dance and Lance.
- While being marketed as a documentary focusing on Lee’s time in Hong Kong after his Hollywood career stalled out, this is more of a straightforward biography on Lee. His life is generally retraced in its entirety, and no one specific period dominates the film.
But despite that film, Lee has largely remained a shallow prop that has never gotten the mainstream deep dive he’s always been worthy of. I think selecting him as a 30 for 30 topic was extremely shrewd on ESPN’s part, and hopefully one that is rewarded with ratings that reinforce the idea of going somewhat off the beaten bath in terms of finding worthy subject matter.
Be Water gives us a pretty thorough, yet concise, dive into Lee’s origins and his unique American experience of becoming a star, but one that quickly hit his head on the low ceiling that continues to stifle Asian Americans. Despite Lee’s best efforts, he was unable to find the success, acceptance, and support he thought his gifts and his culture were worthy of. Lee was relentless in his pursuit to further mainstream martial arts and Asian Americans into American pop culture, but sadly, he never got to see the fruits of his efforts.
As an Asian American, I’m not sure I can say Lee would be happy with the progress for a more diverse and accepting society to Asians and people of all colors since his passing. Would things be different if Lee didn’t die so young? Would there be more Asians on television and film, and in more substantive roles? Lee endeavored to change the status quo and the progress since has not been very encouraging. It’s been more than two decades since Jackie Chan was sold as a breakthrough star, and I think most would struggle to name a male Asian actor beyond Chan.
Putting the depressing lack of progress aside, Be Water does a remarkable job at smoothly retracing a career that was probably quite bumpy to live through. From a distance, Lee’s career seems akin to getting stuck in traffic every 15 minutes on your way to vacation. Be Water does explains the various stops and starts that Lee tried to navigate around. Given how fresh much of this content is and how well it has been packaged, I think most will come away happy with the film because it is well-paced, bursts with great footage, and mostly answers the major questions about Lee’s life and career.
The film covers a lot of ground in two hours and does so in a steady, engaging way that brings a cultural icon to life in a way that many have not seen before. Some more astute viewers will likely wish the film covered a few items that were glossed over, like the circumstances of his death and Lee’s reputation of not being the most dedicated family man. But the film is fairly comprehensive, given the time constraints and the amount of subject matter covered.
Be Water succeeded in bringing someone to life in a way that a biopic, many articles, and a few movies failed to do so. I never felt I understood Lee or the reason to celebrate him. I suspect that’s the truth for most people alive today. While Be Water may have sidestepped a few things, both good and bad, about Lee, it’s rich with style, story, and personality. And it succeeds in bringing a mythical icon back to life in a way that honors both Lee and Asian culture, while registering as one of the better 30 for 30s of
30 for 30 review: Be Water
1
Shares
Director: Bao Nguyen
Length: One hour and thirty seven minutes without commercials (airing in a two hour window with commercials)
Ad ends in 24s
Next Video
×
Next Video
Recommended Articles
Cancel
Autoplay is paused
Installment: #109 by ESPN’s count (#110 by my count, counting the O.J. doc as one installment, although ESPN initially counted it as five different 30 for 30s, but now seems to list it separately, not as part of the series. Additionally, one finished project, Down In The Valley, has been suspended from airing.)
SPONSORED CONTENT
Here Are the Hottest Looks For Men This Summer
By American Eagle
Most Similar To: Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau
Grade/Ranking: Mid-twenties out of 109, which I’d give a B+ on a 30 for 30 grading curve.
Review:
I’ll be honest: if this was a lackluster 30 for 30 installment without a positive underlying message, I’d probably just sit this one out. There is just too much going on in the world to expend the mental energy on a meh documentary, at least for me.
The good news is that Be Water was one of the better 30 for 30s of the last few years. The film’s themes of breaking down barriers, inclusiveness, and pushing back against prejudice is quite relevant and topical today. Before getting into the film a bit further, here are a couple quick things to know about Be Water.
But despite that film, Lee has largely remained a shallow prop that has never gotten the mainstream deep dive he’s always been worthy of. I think selecting him as a 30 for 30 topic was extremely shrewd on ESPN’s part, and hopefully one that is rewarded with ratings that reinforce the idea of going somewhat off the beaten bath in terms of finding worthy subject matter.
Be Water gives us a pretty thorough, yet concise, dive into Lee’s origins and his unique American experience of becoming a star, but one that quickly hit his head on the low ceiling that continues to stifle Asian Americans. Despite Lee’s best efforts, he was unable to find the success, acceptance, and support he thought his gifts and his culture were worthy of. Lee was relentless in his pursuit to further mainstream martial arts and Asian Americans into American pop culture, but sadly, he never got to see the fruits of his efforts.
As an Asian American, I’m not sure I can say Lee would be happy with the progress for a more diverse and accepting society to Asians and people of all colors since his passing. Would things be different if Lee didn’t die so young? Would there be more Asians on television and film, and in more substantive roles? Lee endeavored to change the status quo and the progress since has not been very encouraging. It’s been more than two decades since Jackie Chan was sold as a breakthrough star, and I think most would struggle to name a male Asian actor beyond Chan.
Putting the depressing lack of progress aside, Be Water does a remarkable job at smoothly retracing a career that was probably quite bumpy to live through. From a distance, Lee’s career seems akin to getting stuck in traffic every 15 minutes on your way to vacation. Be Water does explains the various stops and starts that Lee tried to navigate around. Given how fresh much of this content is and how well it has been packaged, I think most will come away happy with the film because it is well-paced, bursts with great footage, and mostly answers the major questions about Lee’s life and career.
The film covers a lot of ground in two hours and does so in a steady, engaging way that brings a cultural icon to life in a way that many have not seen before. Some more astute viewers will likely wish the film covered a few items that were glossed over, like the circumstances of his death and Lee’s reputation of not being the most dedicated family man. But the film is fairly comprehensive, given the time constraints and the amount of subject matter covered.
Be Water succeeded in bringing someone to life in a way that a biopic, many articles, and a few movies failed to do so. I never felt I understood Lee or the reason to celebrate him. I suspect that’s the truth for most people alive today. While Be Water may have sidestepped a few things, both good and bad, about Lee, it’s rich with style, story, and personality. And it succeeds in bringing a mythical icon back to life in a way that honors both Lee and Asian culture, while registering as one of the better 30 for 30s of
ESPNFILMSBy Ben Koo on 06/05/2020
1
Shares
Director: Bao Nguyen
Length: One hour and thirty seven minutes without commercials (airing in a two hour window with commercials)
Ad ends in 24s
Next Video
×
Next Video
Recommended Articles
Cancel
Autoplay is paused
Installment: #109 by ESPN’s count (#110 by my count, counting the O.J. doc as one installment, although ESPN initially counted it as five different 30 for 30s, but now seems to list it separately, not as part of the series. Additionally, one finished project, Down In The Valley, has been suspended from airing.)
SPONSORED CONTENT
Here Are the Hottest Looks For Men This Summer
By American Eagle
Most Similar To: Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau
Grade/Ranking: Mid-twenties out of 109, which I’d give a B+ on a 30 for 30 grading curve.
Review:
I’ll be honest: if this was a lackluster 30 for 30 installment without a positive underlying message, I’d probably just sit this one out. There is just too much going on in the world to expend the mental energy on a meh documentary, at least for me.
The good news is that Be Water was one of the better 30 for 30s of the last few years. The film’s themes of breaking down barriers, inclusiveness, and pushing back against prejudice is quite relevant and topical today. Before getting into the film a bit further, here are a couple quick things to know about Be Water.
- The entire film is done using archival footage. If you enjoyed your memes of Jordan or Lance Armstrong saying something on camera that goes viral, you wont find the same pay dirt here. While there are extensive interviews throughout the film, you never see who is speaking in the present. It’s a style that I think will go over well with many, but may be a bit too stylistic and flat for others who prefer not to be lulled into a visual setting decades ago. Personally, I enjoyed the distinct visual style after seven weeks of The Last Dance and Lance.
- While being marketed as a documentary focusing on Lee’s time in Hong Kong after his Hollywood career stalled out, this is more of a straightforward biography on Lee. His life is generally retraced in its entirety, and no one specific period dominates the film.
But despite that film, Lee has largely remained a shallow prop that has never gotten the mainstream deep dive he’s always been worthy of. I think selecting him as a 30 for 30 topic was extremely shrewd on ESPN’s part, and hopefully one that is rewarded with ratings that reinforce the idea of going somewhat off the beaten bath in terms of finding worthy subject matter.
Be Water gives us a pretty thorough, yet concise, dive into Lee’s origins and his unique American experience of becoming a star, but one that quickly hit his head on the low ceiling that continues to stifle Asian Americans. Despite Lee’s best efforts, he was unable to find the success, acceptance, and support he thought his gifts and his culture were worthy of. Lee was relentless in his pursuit to further mainstream martial arts and Asian Americans into American pop culture, but sadly, he never got to see the fruits of his efforts.
As an Asian American, I’m not sure I can say Lee would be happy with the progress for a more diverse and accepting society to Asians and people of all colors since his passing. Would things be different if Lee didn’t die so young? Would there be more Asians on television and film, and in more substantive roles? Lee endeavored to change the status quo and the progress since has not been very encouraging. It’s been more than two decades since Jackie Chan was sold as a breakthrough star, and I think most would struggle to name a male Asian actor beyond Chan.
Putting the depressing lack of progress aside, Be Water does a remarkable job at smoothly retracing a career that was probably quite bumpy to live through. From a distance, Lee’s career seems akin to getting stuck in traffic every 15 minutes on your way to vacation. Be Water does explains the various stops and starts that Lee tried to navigate around. Given how fresh much of this content is and how well it has been packaged, I think most will come away happy with the film because it is well-paced, bursts with great footage, and mostly answers the major questions about Lee’s life and career.
The film covers a lot of ground in two hours and does so in a steady, engaging way that brings a cultural icon to life in a way that many have not seen before. Some more astute viewers will likely wish the film covered a few items that were glossed over, like the circumstances of his death and Lee’s reputation of not being the most dedicated family man. But the film is fairly comprehensive, given the time constraints and the amount of subject matter covered.
Be Water succeeded in bringing someone to life in a way that a biopic, many articles, and a few movies failed to do so. I never felt I understood Lee or the reason to celebrate him. I suspect that’s the truth for most people alive today. While Be Water may have sidestepped a few things, both good and bad, about Lee, it’s rich with style, story, and personality. And it succeeds in bringing a mythical icon back to life in a way that honors both Lee and Asian culture, while registering as one of the better 30 for 30s of
Damn man, the show ain’t even been on for 30 minutes!
Give a nigga a chance to record it!
Yeah you right.
I'm a spoiled child.
Yeah you right.
I'm a spoiled child.
BGOL cinemas has spoiled us over the years
shoutout to Slam and all the great contributors we have
... but indeed, I need that dl link pronto...
Yeah you right.
I'm a spoiled child.
Man I hear you and Slam’s the TRUTH!
Damn, forgot this was coming on....have to catch it online if they don't repeat it today. Been a fan of Lee Jun-Fan all my life.
i can't find one in my watering holes either. it is kind of surprising.
i got lucky and recorded it via dvr on a repeat.
Waiting on it too
Its a great philosophy. I’ve never seen this full interview, so I don’t know about the context he was using it in. But it applies to life.
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