Last week, I was fortunate enough to interview Errol Morris about the imminent Criterion releases of two early works (Gates of Heaven and Vernon, Florida) and 1988’s seminal The Thin Blue Line. Our talk somewhat unexpectedly kicked off with a talk about his ESPN documentary series, It’s Not Crazy, It’s Sports, and the excitement was palpable — which, when we’re talking about one of the greatest of documentary filmmakers, is nothing to sneeze at.
Yes, even if you don’t much care for sports. These, like nearly all of his projects, take subjects one might not be terribly interested — a pet cemetery, a military commander, a tabloid sensation — and mine them for their weirdly fantastical and wonderfully banal qualities, from someone who tried to steal Michael Jordan’s jersey to a globe-hopping streaker. Rules, regulations, points, and championship trophies are less of a concern than the people who make bizarre things happen in the athletic world — exactly the sorts of things that would make it interesting to the non-convert.
Have a look at them below (via Grantland):
What do you think of Morris’ shorts? Do they make you more interested in the world of sports, even if only briefly?