Title: I’m Carl Lewis
MPA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Julie Anderson, Chris Hay
Starring: Carl Lewis, Bob Costas, Phil Knight
Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

What It Is: Carl Lewis is perhaps one of the most famous Olympians in United States athletic history. He’s also a polarizing figure in American sports. This documentary sheds light on his story, offering a glimpse of it in his own words. From his rise through the ranks of Olympic track and field to his rivalry with Ben Johnson, there’s much that has remained untold or overlooked about one of my country’s fastest — and bounciest — men of all time.

What We Think: It was such an interesting look at a truly intriguing individual. Carl Lewis is someone who, at this point, is remembered more for his accomplishments on the track — but in his heyday, he was just as notorious for his shenanigans off it. The story Anderson and Hay are telling is expertly put together. Sports documentaries can often fall flat, especially when they’re not centered on a sport that everyone knows and loves. Still, they manage to make track and field — particularly in the 1980s — feel like Days of Our Lives.

There was so much hate directed at this guy, and for no other reason than his confidence in his own abilities. It’s always refreshing to see a film that offers the athlete’s perspective on the events that shaped them — especially in light of the craziness Lewis had to navigate.

Our Grade: B-, SXSW normally brings it when it comes to documentaries. They’ve yet again nailed it here with this one. It kept me interested throughout and that’s an important thing to do as a documentary. I am giving this one a big time recommendation. It entertains just as much as it informs. The entire goal of a good doc. Use our link below to check it out!

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