Drazen

I'm from Hungary, grew up playing basketball in the 90's and 2000's so Drazen was a little before my time, but we knew about the yugoslavian dream team of the early 90's and all their great world class players, especially Drazen. He was truly a trailblazer for european basketball, the first who proved in the NBA that the best of Europe can compete with the very best the NBA has to offer.

This movie was sadly quite a disaster, nowhere near the quaily that such a legendary athlete would deserve. I was expecting something like the recent Disney movie of Giannis' life, but this is a low budget movie with a terrible choice for the lead actor. It's one thing that the guy doesn't have the phisique of an NBA star, but it's quite ridiculous that the real Drazen was much better looking than the actor portraying him. Like come on, couldn't they find someone who at least doesn't have a round face with a double chin? It was very distracting, but even worse, the story was boring although it could've had much more action and insteresting stuff. E g. They completely left out the 92 olympics or how the yugoslavian propaganda turned serbian and croatian players against each other before that. Only good thing I can say about the movie is that the ending was done tastefully, it was a nice touch.

Maybe one day a more talented croatian director will do a better work, until then we at least have the 30 for 30, Once Brothers ESPN docu which is a very good tribute to this legendary basketball player.

That one is a great movie from Croatia! Drazen is a heartfelt journey that pulls you in with its mix of romance and passion for basketball. While the story dives deeply into the life of Drazen Petrovic, it also captures the spirit of love in an touching way. The romantic angle maybe is a bit overdone.

Maybe making a series of it, it can tell a lot of more from the life story of Drazen... ( With more basketball emotions)

The cinematography is breathtaking! Every shot feels carefully planned, and you can tell that the whole team put in a massive amount of effort. The editing is super clean, and each scene transitions are smoothly done for me, helping the story flow in a way that keeps you engaged from beginning to end.

You can see the love and dedication of the entire cast and crew. This film is absolutely worth watching, whether you're a fan of basketball, romance, or just great storytelling. Thank you to everyone involved in creating this! It's a beautiful tribute and definitely worth the watch!

To say that this movie is a disappointment is an understatement.

Pros: Technical aspects of the film such as cinematography and sound are well done; Zrinka Cvitesic as Biserka Petrovic is believable as a mother and a human being; Tonko Stosic is charming as young Drazen Petrovic; a fair amount of Drazens' basketball achievements are mentioned; Drazens' work ethic is briefly shown once or twice;

The End.

Cons: This movie fails as a movie, let alone a story about Drazen. When any pivotal conflict suddenly presents itself (via exposition, every single time) it immediately gets resolved (just in passing, every single time) via exposition or a montage in the next scene which sets up a new challenge and around it goes.

The movie is a series of scenes of Drazen hanging out in bars/offices/living rooms, chasing or getting chased by girls and basketball clubs while lightly discussing things he wants to do - and those goals being immediately achieved in a 20-second-montage.

Anything important and interesting is briefly mentioned (or not even mentioned at all), while the rest is an attempt at a Hollywood romantic drama. If you didn't know anything about Drazen before watching this and you blinked during montages about his basketball prowess you still won't know or remember anything about him at the end - well, I guess you'd know he was a basketball player and apparently was very good because everyone says so.

So little of his character was shown: his determination, his leadership, charisma, unbreakable spirit, relationships with people (other than his immediate family or love interests)... Some of it was attempted, but deemed less important.

Domagoj Nizic as adult Drazen doesn't have a passing resemblance to Drazen (even though the actor seems like a sweet guy) but the bigger problem is he can't believably convey Drazens' spirit nor is he believable as a basketball athlete.

I thought my biggest problem with this movie would be inconsistencies involving dialect or lack of basketball scenes, but a decent screenplay to begin with was apparently too much to ask.

I could go on but I respect Drazen (the Man, not this film) too much to go off on this production here...

TL;DR: Story about one of the greatest sports icons famous for his incredible work ethic and for overcoming great odds gets a below average ''tell, don't show'' romantic drama treatment, with some basketball clips running on a TV in the background and hours of talking about a basketball career (could've been about anyone).

Watch some highlights or a documentary instead - you will have a much, much better time.

I'm very sad... ''Zivot leti, kapetane.''

The movie portrays Drazen as a whole person, not just a basketball player. It reveals sides of him that many didn't know about, both good and bad. In my opinion, that is a major strength. While many expected only a series of basketball games, this film offers so much more (but it does, of course include basketball highlights). It explores his emotional connections with his family as well as his career. The relationship between his mother and him is incredibly moving, and his fight to even be allowed to start playing basketball is deeply inspiring.

I believe the vision for this movie was not only to pay tribute to this extraordinary player but also to show that he wasn't perfect. It serves as a reminder that, despite our flaws, we can still achieve greatness.

The final scene depicting Drazen's tragic death was extremely emotional, leaving a profound impact on the audience. It was so powerful that it brought many to tears, myself included. The scene serves as a poignant reminder of how fragile life is and the importance of making the most of every moment because you never know what could happen. It beautifully captures the shock and sorrow of losing someone so full of life and potential, leaving viewers reflecting on their own lives and the legacies they wish to leave behind.

In addition, this film is a step in the right direction for the Croatian film industry, which has struggled to really inspire. By blending emotional storytelling with a nuanced portrayal of a national hero, "Drazen" sets a new standard for biographical films in the region. It proves that Croatian cinema is capable of producing compelling narratives that resonate on a universal level.

Ultimately, "Drazen" isn't just a movie about basketball; it's a powerful story about ambition, resilience, and the complexities of human nature. It leaves a lasting impact, not only as a tribute to Drazen Petrovic but as a significant achievement in Croatian filmmaking.

Drazen is an awesome movie that dives deep into the life of Drazen Petrovic, one of the greatest basketball legends ever. I'd give it a solid 9/10 stars. It's really well done, but I wish it was a bit longer so we could see even more of his life and legacy.

The film does a great job showing his journey from playing on the courts in Croatia to becoming a star in the NBA. It's not just about basketball though-it's about his passion, his struggles, and his dreams. What makes it special is how it balances the intensity of his career with the more personal, emotional moments. You really get to know him as a person, not just an athlete.

One of my favorite parts was seeing the scenes with Drazen and his brother. Their jokes and friendly competition added a light and positive touch that made the movie even more enjoyable. It felt real and reminded me of those sibling moments we all know and love.

The actors did a fantastic job bringing Drazen and the people in his life to the screen. You could really feel the emotions, especially in the more heartfelt and tough parts of the story. It was hard not to get a little choked up at times.

If there's one thing I'd change, it would be to make it a bit longer. There's so much to Drazen's story, and I would have loved to see more of his life beyond just the highlights. But overall, Drazen is a must-watch, whether you're a basketball fan or not. It's inspiring, touching, and a great reminder of how one person's passion and determination can leave an incredible mark.