Colin Kaepernick was one of the hottest prospects coming out of the University of Nevada, and he was, as a result of his talent, drafted by one of his dream teams, the San Francisco 49ers. He rose to stardom quickly, leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2013–and proving to the world that his talent was legitimate. However, he quickly fell from grace when his stats began to waver, and more importantly, he began taking a knee during the National Anthem at professional football games. Kaepernick & America dives deep into the story of this NFL quarterback and activist–and it attempts to tell all so the world can, once and for all, make a decision on the young man’s choices.
Like it or not, Kaepernick & America is a powerful documentary. Whether you agree or disagree with the content of the film, the reality is that it will stick with you long after the documentary has ended–and that’s everything these filmmakers could have asked for. So many things run through your head as you watch this film, but it wasn’t until the film had ended and I began watching something else that I realized what an effect it had on me. The ability of Kaepernick & America to have such a profound effect on me is incredible–and I commend the filmmakers for their ability to reach viewers in this capacity.
Unlike many politically driven documentaries (sad to say), Kaepernick & America manages to tread the line between left and right, and while it obviously has an agenda–one that could easily be understood by the title alone–it does a good job of telling both sides of the story. This allows viewers to make up their own minds in regard to Kaepernick’s previous endeavors, rather than something being forced on them. With that being said, it has, for the first time via the media, been made abundantly clear how Kaepernick was able to, so effortlessly, pull spectators into his orbit and allow them to see what he was attempting to accomplish. For the first time I was truly able to see his side of things, and that’s a tall task considering my previous stance on the subject.
Furthermore, and I’m not entirely sure that this aspect of the documentary was done intentionally, Kaepernick & America manages to paint a picture in which Kaepernick appears to have done this as a publicity stunt as his stint with the San Francisco 49ers seemed to be coming to a close. The linear path that is developed throughout Kaepernick & America makes viewers think that this was a way to shed light on himself once more, in a more positive way, and express to the world that, regardless of the capacity, Kaepernick was here to stay. Again, I’m sure that this aspect of the film was accidental, but it allows the doc to continue to tread that line rather than leaning too far in one direction.
Beyond the narrative that exists throughout the course of Kaepernick & America, there is the story of Kaepernick’s personal development. Not about him taking a knee or speaking out against racism in the United States, but simply how he grew from the Nevada University quarterback to a businessman and beyond. His journey through life is clearly outlined, and Directors Ross Hockrow and Tommy Walker ensure that viewers are able to easily follow the story of the once superstar athlete.
Kaepernick & America is paced beautifully, never feeling rushed, and never dwelling on one aspect of Kaepernick’s life for too long. The filmmakers find what matters and they bring that to light; and on the flip side they appear to avoid the things that might drag the documentary down and leave viewers bored. Kaepernick & America is informative, but it’s developed in a fashion that may afford Hockrow and Walker the ability to find more success creating narratives in the future. They are wonderful storytellers, and they do a phenomenal job of bringing this story back to life in a way that everyone can appreciate.
Directed by Ross Hockrow & Tommy Walker.
Starring Don Lemon, Hugh Jackson, April Dinwoodie, Steve Wyche, Nate Boyer, Jim Harbaugh, DeRay Mckesson, Pam Oliver, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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