Editor's Note
Boasting a hip-hop aesthetic and a devotion to music ranging from the 1970s to the new millennium, GUNNIN' FOR THAT #1 SPOT reveals its director's roots as a member of the Beastie Boys. Adam Yauch (AWESOME! I... SHOT THAT), the creative force behind many of the rap trio's videos, turns his attention to a basketball game in his native New York. The historic event was 2006's "Elite 24" match-up, an all-star game that drew the country's top high school talent to its most famous outdoor court, Harlem's Rucker Park. Ranging in age from 15 to 18, these players come from all over the country to demonstrate their skill. GUNNIN' FOR THAT #1 SPOT spends the first two-thirds of its running time as an energetic warm-up, introducing the gifted and hardworking players and their backgrounds. The film concludes with the actual game, which is full of enough dunks and jaw-dropping moves to impress even the most seasoned basketball fan.While most sports films focus on underdogs, GUNNIN' FOR THAT # 1 SPOT centers on eight players who are almost assured of places in history. In fact, several of the players were picked in the 2008 NBA draft, and it's not hard to see why after watching this documentary. During several especially impressive plays, Yauch slows the camera down so the audience can see every movement. His work with music videos shows in this film's style, and GUNNIN' FOR THAT #1 SPOT has a stellar soundtrack that is exactly as good as one expects from Yauch. Funk from the 1970s, old-school rap from the '90s, and even the genre-bending sounds of M.I.A. are perfect background music for the physical feats that Yauch was able to capture.
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