Given the title, I thought this was going to be more similar to the ESPN 30 for 30 episode, "June 17th, 1994", which focuses purely on one day. It started off in that way, but quickly went off on a tangent thereafter. With the right direction, it could have been a great documentary, but it wasn't to be. It tries to cover too many issues resulting in a disconnected viewing experience that doesn't flow seamlessly. If it had focused purely on COVID-19 (and that alone), and the impact on sport worldwide - not just primarily in the US - it might have made for a more captivating documentary that would appeal to a much wider audience, outside of the US, too. Instead, it tries to cover two (potentially, three themes) and ruins what could have been a half-decent film. Potentially worth a watch, but this won't be looked back on as one of the more memorable sporting documentaries of all time, in years to come.
14 Reviews
Mediocre at Best. Little Coverage on Impact Outside of the US.
joependlebury-7640711 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Chris Paul-centric look back to COVID-19's unexpected impact on sports
paul-allaer11 August 2021
As "The Day Sports Stood Still" (2021 release; 85 min.) opens, we get a slick montage of memorable moments in sports, celebrated by the masses of course. We then go to "May 1, 2020" and NBA superstar Chris Paul talks about how much he is missing the game and the fans. We then go to "Oklahoma City, March 11, 2020, 6:20 PM Eastern", as the Thunder and Jazz are doing their pre-game warm-ups, and before we know it, the game is postponed (it turns out a Jazz player had tested positive for COVID). At this point we are 10 min. Into the documentary.
Couple of comments: this documentary is produced and directed by Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day"), but to be honest, it feels much more like a Chris Paul labor of love. Not only does he star (as both the NBA superstar he is, but also as the President of the NBA Players Association), but he also executive-produces. The documentary's title is a bit misleading. Yes, of course, we get a close look what all transpired on March 11 and 12, 2020, when all sports shut down. But the documentary really comes into its own when 2 1/2 months later, the country is rocked by/comes to grasp with the George Floyd murder by a white police officer, prompting many sports (led by the NBA, let's be honest) to start protesting for social justice and much needed reforms. The documentary's tone is so(m)ber throughout, and seeing some of the scenes of all of this now a year later, remains profoundly moving and shocking. In a sense, this movie really highlights the unexpected impact of COVID-19 on sports, resulting from the social unrest rocking the country in the Spring and Summer of 2020. Kudos to Chris Paul for sharing intimate home videos. Watch how his son reacts when CP informs him that his COVID test cam back negative...
"The Day Sports Stood Still" premiered on HBO a few months ago and is now available on HBO On Demand (where I caught it), HBO Max, Amazon Instant Video and other streaming services. If you have any interest in sports, or simply in the bigger picture issues of how COVID-19 and social unrest rocked US society in 2020 like it hadn't in decades, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this documentary is produced and directed by Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day"), but to be honest, it feels much more like a Chris Paul labor of love. Not only does he star (as both the NBA superstar he is, but also as the President of the NBA Players Association), but he also executive-produces. The documentary's title is a bit misleading. Yes, of course, we get a close look what all transpired on March 11 and 12, 2020, when all sports shut down. But the documentary really comes into its own when 2 1/2 months later, the country is rocked by/comes to grasp with the George Floyd murder by a white police officer, prompting many sports (led by the NBA, let's be honest) to start protesting for social justice and much needed reforms. The documentary's tone is so(m)ber throughout, and seeing some of the scenes of all of this now a year later, remains profoundly moving and shocking. In a sense, this movie really highlights the unexpected impact of COVID-19 on sports, resulting from the social unrest rocking the country in the Spring and Summer of 2020. Kudos to Chris Paul for sharing intimate home videos. Watch how his son reacts when CP informs him that his COVID test cam back negative...
"The Day Sports Stood Still" premiered on HBO a few months ago and is now available on HBO On Demand (where I caught it), HBO Max, Amazon Instant Video and other streaming services. If you have any interest in sports, or simply in the bigger picture issues of how COVID-19 and social unrest rocked US society in 2020 like it hadn't in decades, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.
I feel the need to review this because i don't care about professional sports
jjr-764744 August 2021
And didn't know the name of any athlete talking in this documentary.
But i got caught by the overall rhythm and editing of it, the director has applied his thriller and action movie model to this effort, and it works.
Then, reading the harsh critics here, i thought important to offer another perspective. Today so many efforts are deployed to deny the gravity of the pandemic or dispute the need for vaccination, i find hearing these guys, however entitled and protected from reality they may be according some reviews, take the issue seriously and not trying some false bravado posture about it, very healthy.
But i got caught by the overall rhythm and editing of it, the director has applied his thriller and action movie model to this effort, and it works.
Then, reading the harsh critics here, i thought important to offer another perspective. Today so many efforts are deployed to deny the gravity of the pandemic or dispute the need for vaccination, i find hearing these guys, however entitled and protected from reality they may be according some reviews, take the issue seriously and not trying some false bravado posture about it, very healthy.
You'd think it would be about sport
stipe-cool27 August 2021
1 word comes to mind
barker-cogc20 June 2021
A well made documentary
laurapiscaer-18 April 2021
The comments below are opinions on the subject of the doc not the craft of the doc. A well made well edited doc.
Everyone has an opinion but it's interesting to see where the industry is at right now and what has shaken it.
Everyone has an opinion but it's interesting to see where the industry is at right now and what has shaken it.
Extremely well done documentary, relevant on multiple levels
joscon-1661619 April 2021
Really glad I got to see this. I dont even watch the NBA anymore but remember how they were the first sport impacted due to COVID. Following the journey across sports and the intersection with social justice was really well put together.
Waste of Time
bryanburke-906516 April 2021
I agree with the other user reviews, spoiled, rich athletes who think they are there to tell us how to live. Sports are there to entertain us and give us an outlet away from the issues of the world. Everyone should know the facts in all cases before they over react.
Sorry But The Subject IS The Doc
helenahandbasket-9373421 April 2021
It can be very well done and executed, but it doesn't warrant a ridiculous rating based on that.
A bunch of overpaid athletes couldn't make money playing a child's game. End of story.
The story drags, on a subject about extracurricular activities that no one other than the athletes and owners need, with commentary actually expecting us to feel sympathy.
Nope.
A bunch of overpaid athletes couldn't make money playing a child's game. End of story.
The story drags, on a subject about extracurricular activities that no one other than the athletes and owners need, with commentary actually expecting us to feel sympathy.
Nope.
Yawn...
philip-0019727 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A brunch of sport-world millionaires tell us how hard the coming of COVID-19 hit them... from their cribs and yachts. They told us that they were scared and how much they miss their jobs.
Of all the documentaries on Covid that have and will be made; this is sure to stick out as one of the most irrelevant.
Look out of your window - wherever you are it will provide a more interesting view.
Of all the documentaries on Covid that have and will be made; this is sure to stick out as one of the most irrelevant.
Look out of your window - wherever you are it will provide a more interesting view.
thoughtful
whosyourdadyMike8 January 2022
The pandemic in 2020 took the world by storm and, even when I write this review, in 2022, we're still upside down, but slowly recovering and getting up.
Sports worldwide made no difference.
This documentary focuses more on the USA major sport leagues, with a special note on NBA and also the BLM movement.
Athletes are today's gladiators and, as many fans have made even idols out of some of their favorite superstars, sport's voice can be heard louder and its message delivered more successfully.
But aside from covid and social equality, sportspeople are people just like us, with families, goals and fears, and their life trembled too as 2020 unfolded.
Sports worldwide made no difference.
This documentary focuses more on the USA major sport leagues, with a special note on NBA and also the BLM movement.
Athletes are today's gladiators and, as many fans have made even idols out of some of their favorite superstars, sport's voice can be heard louder and its message delivered more successfully.
But aside from covid and social equality, sportspeople are people just like us, with families, goals and fears, and their life trembled too as 2020 unfolded.
Bunch of
adventeurs29 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Rich people telling people how oppressed they are making millions of dollars a year. Basketball players do have are low intelligence the non sensical, not thought out, not researched, nonsense ideas that fumble out of their mouths should come as no surprise. If you watch it as satire though it is a masterpiece.
Great Documentary
jennylucke11 April 2021
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
