Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker explained

Director:Alex Gibney
Producer:
  • John Battsek
  • Alex Gibney
  • Erin Edeiken
  • George Chignell
Screenplay:Alex Gibney
Starring:
Music:
  • Peter Nashell
  • Eric V. Hachikian
Editing:
  • Michael J. Palmer
  • Graeme Butler (co-editor)
Studio:
  • Jigsaw Productions
  • Ventureland
Distributor:Apple TV+
Runtime:
  • 96 minutes (part one)[1]
  • 113 minutes (part two)
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English

Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker is a 2023 documentary film by Alex Gibney. It details the life of troubled tennis champion Boris Becker including exclusive access to three years of his life up to his incarceration in the United Kingdom in April 2022. It is a co-production between Ventureland and Jigsaw Productions, with financing from Lorton Entertainment. The first part premiered at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival on 19 February 2023. The film was released in two parts on Apple TV+ from April 7, 2023.

Synopsis

Narrated by Gibney, the first part of the documentary details the precocious rise of Becker the tennis player from teenage Wimbledon champion to becoming world number one. It concludes with the warning that the traits that drove Becker to tennis greatness would in turn also lead to his downfall, to be investigated in part two.[2]

Cast

Production

The project is a co-production between Ventureland and Jigsaw Productions, with financing from Lorton Entertainment and boasts exclusive access to Boris Becker over a three-year build-up to his prison sentencing in the UK courts for hiding assets and loans to avoid paying debt, in April 2022.[3] The title is a nod to his "Boom Boom" nickname as a big-serving tennis player. Interviews in the documentary include Novak Djokovic, Ion Tiriac, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.[4] Other talking heads include Michael Stich, Brad Gilbert and Nick Bollettieri.[5]

Release

The first part premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on 19 February 2023. Both parts will be available to stream on Apple TV+ on 7 April 2023.[6] [7]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a score of 94% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Approachable even for viewers who don't know a lob from a moonball, Boom! Boom! chronicles a spectacular rise and fall with absorbing insight."[8] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 60 out of 100 based on five critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[9]

Kevin Maher in The Times gave the film a positive review saying it was "fabulously paced, nicely shot, and with snappy, illuminating contributions from Borg, McEnroe and an unexpectedly wry Mats Wilander. Gibney also re-examines crucial career matches with revealing hindsight".[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker . 2023-03-28 . Berlin Film Festival.
  2. Web site: Ide . Wendy . February 19, 2023 . 'Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker': Berlin Review . 2023-03-28 . Screen . en.
  3. Web site: February 14, 2023 . Berlin 2023: Screen's guide to the Special, Forum and Generation titles . February 19, 2023 . Screen Daily.
  4. Web site: Escritt . Thomas . 2023-02-19 . Berlinale film charts Boris Becker's career from 'boom boom' to bust . 2023-03-28 . Reuters.
  5. Web site: Carey . Matthew . 2023-02-21 . Berlin: Tennis Great Boris Becker's Rise And Fall Documented In Alex Gibney-Directed Series; Champ Says, "I've Paid A Heavy Price" . 2023-03-28 . Deadline Hollywood.
  6. Web site: Frater . Patrick . 2023-02-19 . Boris Becker Serves up Candor at Berlin Event and in 'Boom! Boom!' Documentary . 2023-03-28 . Variety.
  7. Web site: Yossman . K. J. . March 6, 2023 . Boris Becker's 'Boom! Boom!' Documentary Sets Apple TV+ Release Date . March 6, 2023 . Variety.
  8. Web site: Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker . July 5, 2023 . . Fandango Media.
  9. Web site: Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker - Season 1 Reviews . July 5, 2023 . . Fandom, Inc..
  10. Web site: Maher . Kevin . February 19, 2023 . Boom! Boom! The World vs Boris Becker review — they've scored an ace (but now I want more) . 2023-03-28 . The Times.