"Love Means Zero" (2017 release; 90 min.) is a documentary about tennis coach Nick Bollettieri. As the movie opens, we get some high level comments from Jim Courier and Boris Becker, and we note that Andre Agassi is not going to contribute to the film (but that doesn't stop Agassi from being featured heavily in the movie). We then to back in time to when Bollettieri started the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, FL and soon he starts attracting major tennis talent. Meanwhile Bollettieri, now well in his 80s, is talking to the camera and holding court... At this point we are 10 min. into the movie, and you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from producer-director Jason Kohn. Here he brings Bollettieri's story, with fill cooperation of the coach himself. I vaguely knew of the guy, but nothing really in details, and hence I was quite interested. It is clear that Bollettieri was very driven and very ambitious. Where his coaching methods "kosher"? As the guy keeps saying: "look at my record, it speaks for itself", and from that perspective it is difficult to argue. But is that all there is to life? Of course not, and Bollettieri makes plenty of dubious decisions and choices. Kohn tries to pin him down on that, but Bollettieri keeps reminding Kohn and us viewers "I simply move on", and that is that. The interviews with Courier and Becker and some other notables really add a lot. Of course Agassi's shadow looms over it all from start to finish. Bottom line is that you may or may not agree or even like Bollettieri, but one cannot deny that he is a master storyteller, and that as a result, this makes for an enjoyable and entertaining documentary.
"Love Means Zero" premiered at eh 2017 Toronto International Film Festival to good acclaim. I caught it the other day on Showtime on Demand. If you like tennis or have any interest in a controversial but successful tennis which Bollettieri surely was, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from producer-director Jason Kohn. Here he brings Bollettieri's story, with fill cooperation of the coach himself. I vaguely knew of the guy, but nothing really in details, and hence I was quite interested. It is clear that Bollettieri was very driven and very ambitious. Where his coaching methods "kosher"? As the guy keeps saying: "look at my record, it speaks for itself", and from that perspective it is difficult to argue. But is that all there is to life? Of course not, and Bollettieri makes plenty of dubious decisions and choices. Kohn tries to pin him down on that, but Bollettieri keeps reminding Kohn and us viewers "I simply move on", and that is that. The interviews with Courier and Becker and some other notables really add a lot. Of course Agassi's shadow looms over it all from start to finish. Bottom line is that you may or may not agree or even like Bollettieri, but one cannot deny that he is a master storyteller, and that as a result, this makes for an enjoyable and entertaining documentary.
"Love Means Zero" premiered at eh 2017 Toronto International Film Festival to good acclaim. I caught it the other day on Showtime on Demand. If you like tennis or have any interest in a controversial but successful tennis which Bollettieri surely was, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.