X
  • 2002
  • HBO Sports
  • 2 h 20 m
  • 2002
  • HBO Sports
  • 2 h 20 m
Jim Brown: All American

Summary Spike Lee directs this moving portrait of a complicated, charismatic man, one who has spent his life in the spotlight, first making football history as one of the 20th century's greatest athletes, and later as the star of numerous Hollywood features, where he pioneered a new kind of African-American hero. (Film Forum)

Directed By: Spike Lee

  • 2002
  • HBO Sports
  • 2 h 20 m
  • 2002
  • HBO Sports
  • 2 h 20 m

Jim Brown: All American

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews
51
User Score Mixed or Average Based on 7 User Ratings
4.7
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Summary Spike Lee directs this moving portrait of a complicated, charismatic man, one who has spent his life in the spotlight, first making football history as one of the 20th century's greatest athletes, and later as the star of numerous Hollywood features, where he pioneered a new kind of African-American hero. (Film Forum)

Directed By: Spike Lee

Top Cast

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Art Modell

Self - Owner, Cleveland Browns 1961-95

Walter Beach

Self - Teammate, Cleveland Browns 1963-65

Ed Walsh

Self - Football Coach, Manhasset H.S. 1950-53

Sam Oakley

Self - Teammate, Manhasset H.S.

Ed Corley

Self - Teammate, Manhasset H.S.

David Skinner

Self - Teammate, Manhasset H.S.

Karen Brown Ward

Self - Jim's Daughter

Roy Simmons Jr.

Self - Teammate, Syracuse Lacrosse 1956-57

Oren Lyons

Self - Teammate, Syracuse Lacrosse 1956-57

Ralph Wiley

Self - Sport Journalist

John Wooten

Self - Teammate, Cleveland Browns 1961-65, Former Director, Negro Industrial & Economic Union, Black Economic Union

Oliver Stone

Self - Filmmaker

Stuart Scott

Self - Sport Journalist, ESPN

Bernie Casey

Self - San Francisco 49ers, 1961-66, Los Angeles Rams, 1967-68

Willie Davis

Self - Teammate, Cleveland Browns 1958-59

Dick Schafrath

Self - Teammate, Cleveland Browns 1960-65, Ohio State Senator, 1985-2000

Erich Barnes

Self - Teammate, Cleveland Browns 1965

Mike Francesa

Self - Sportstalk Radio Host, WFAN

Paul Warfield

Self - Teammate, Cleveland Browns 1964-65

William C. Rhoden

Self - Sport Journalist, NY Times

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews
51
33% Positive
3 Reviews
44% Mixed
4 Reviews
22% Negative
2 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 9 Critic Reviews
51
33% Positive
3 Reviews
44% Mixed
4 Reviews
22% Negative
2 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
75
From what we can tell, Brown was a dancer, all right, in life as well as on the field -- a dancer with a powerful forearm, one that Lee covers in protective padding.
By Owen Gleiberman FULL REVIEW
70
At its most provocative, the movie explores the masculine mystique and the myth of the black stud.
By Stephen Holden FULL REVIEW
60
Brown sounds guarded throughout, and as a result, Jim Brown: All-American provides a curiously remote portrait that's often compelling, but seems to conceal as much as it reveals.
By Nathan Rabin FULL REVIEW
50
Jim Brown: All American is visually impressive, but about halfway through the documentary it gets so defensive and excusive that it stalls. It's as if Lee is forming a defense case rather than exhibiting the man's life.
FULL REVIEW
50
Though overall an overwhelmingly positive portrayal, the film doesn't ignore the more problematic aspects of Brown's life.
By Maitland McDonagh FULL REVIEW
38
Lee gives his childhood hero altogether too much face time to defend himself against the numerous allegations and charges of assault, both physical and sexual.
By Megan Lehmann FULL REVIEW
30
Since Lee is a sentimentalist, the film is more worshipful than your random "E! True Hollywood Story."
By Michael Atkinson FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 7 User Ratings
4.7
29% Positive
2 Ratings
29% Mixed
2 Ratings
43% Negative
3 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 7 User Ratings
4.7
29% Positive
2 Ratings
29% Mixed
2 Ratings
43% Negative
3 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company HBO Sports, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Release Date Mar 22, 2002
Duration 2 h 20 m
Genres
View All Details

Awards

Black Reel Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Photoplay Awards
• 1 Nomination

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