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Gunnin for that #1 Spot
EMAILPRINTOscilloscope Pictures

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 3 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info
Genre(s): Documentary
Written by:
Directed by: Adam Yauch
Release Date:
Theatrical: June 27, 2008
Running Time: minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG-13 for language
Starring Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Kyle Singler, Donte Greene, and Jerryd Bayless
On the corner of 155th and Frederick Douglas Boulevard in Harlem lies Rucker Park. By appearances, the concrete pavement, anchored on one side by its run down slab bleachers, is no different than any other basketball court in the city, but this is the place where nicknames are indelibly branded, and legends are born. On September 1, 2006, the top 24 high school basketball players in the nation stepped out on this court, that once saw the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Dr. J to compete in the first annual “Elite 24” all-star game. Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot follows eight of these players as they prepare to showcase their skills at the most legendary playground in the world. (Oscilloscope Pictures)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Portland Oregonian M. E. Russell
A basketball documentary where the climactic game looks like a Hong Kong wire-fu epic.
Read Full Review >Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow
The Summer Olympics may offer more intricate, arduous and high-stakes spectacles, but nothing will top the last half-hour of Gunnin' for That #1 Spot for adrenalized high spirits.
Read Full Review >Variety Ronnie Scheib
Beastie Boy Adam Yauch proves he can make a comprehensive, state-of-the-art docu of interest to basketball aficionados.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Gary Goldstein
It's sure to satisfy the film's target youth audience's appetite for zippy visuals and swift pacing.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias
Comes from a pure place. Or rather, it comes from a DESIRE for a pure place in a game poisoned by mercenary compromise.
Read Full Review >New York Post Kyle Smith
The film is well shot and edited, backed with a bouncy hip-hop soundtrack and full of pep.
Read Full Review >Chicago Tribune Barry Temkin
Yauch clearly understands this world, but his film would have profited from looking more deeply at fewer players.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis
As guileless and eager as the most avid fan, Gunnin’ is neither cautionary nor analytical, allowing its insights to occur organically and without fancy camera moves.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Joe Neumaier
Culminating in a high-scoring, exciting game, "Gunnin'" scores.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Nick Pinkerton
As each player's run through the same routine--hometown meet-and-greet, biographical sketch, hasty interview--the burden of the formulaic structure starts to wear.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Mike Mayo
For all the flash and dazzle, Gunnin' for That #1 Spot never comes close to the power and intimacy of 1994's "Hoop Dreams." The comparison may be unfair, but, given the subject matter, it's inevitable.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader J.R. Jones
With no personalities established and nothing at stake, it's no more interesting than a pickup game on your local court.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 6.6 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
