Reel Asian 2013: Linsanity Review

Linsanity

Linsanity

There isn’t a sports fan across the globe that isn’t at least somewhat familiar with the remarkable story of Jeremy Lin.  Linsanity allows fans a glimpse at the man whose boyhood dream of play pro basketball came true, but it slants into areas that it doesn’t need to.

From a humble background to an NBA star, Lin made an incredible run to get to the NBA.  From state high school champion to all-Ivy League at Harvard, then undrafted by the NBA and unwanted in the pros, his story starts long before he landed on Broadway with the Knicks. We see how his faith and his unwavering love of the game got him to the mecca of professional basketball.

Obviously not a heaving hitting piece, Linsanity adequately reminds us all that being a pro athlete is not necessarily as easy as it looks on TV.  While the undeniable issue of racism surrounding being an Asian-American in a predominantly black and white game is integral to the story, the film tends to use this sticking point (and Lin’s religious beliefs) as a clichéd crutch instead of as a larger point about Lin. Still, it’s a pretty classical underdog story.

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Linsanity is nice little crowd pleaser that truly shows how dreams really know no color or racial boundaries because all that matters is how you play the game. (Dave Voigt)

Screens

Sunday, November 10th, The Royal, 8:00pm (Closing Night Gala)

Saturday, November 16th, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 4:30pm

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