User Reviews

Reggie is the 2023 documentary of one of baseball's most outspoken and successful players of all-time, Reggie Jackson. Jackson originally started in the Kansas City Athletics organization, the team that eventually became the Oakland Athletics, but his path to Kansas City was not a bed of roses. Jackson, a black man, faced much racism through his journey in the minor leagues even while being shielded by white teammates and friends. The story was much the same for the very talented outfielder when he reached Kansas City, where some of those same teammates and friends tried to shield him from racist culture but Jackson was still subject to racism from late 1960's American society. In 1968 the team moved west to Oakland and within a few years started having tremendous success on the diamond making it to three consecutive World Series championships winning all three!! Jackson was the key contributor to all three of those championships, gaining national fame for doing so but like with many superstars of his era - such as pitcher Nolan Ryan of the then California Angels - the Oakland A's owner did not want to pay Jackson the big bucks so he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. Jackson spent one year in Baltimore before he signed a three million dollar contract with the New York Yankees taking them to two World Series winning them both!! American society was changing in the late 1970's and Jackson was changing with it becoming more outspoken as America's shift to equality for all. Free agency for all baseball players was born in the mid 70's and player's now ballooning salaries struck accord with Jackson and had him speaking out on many of these issues. Jackson still discusses many of these issues in his current job as a special advisor to the owner of the Houston Astros, the currently World Champions of Major League Basbeall today!! Reggie, the documentary, is very well done. It takes you through the highs and lows of one of the most successful players ever to play the sport!! The testimonials are well done and you get a great sense of appreciation for what Jackson has had to go through as a person and what he accomplished as a player on the field. 7 out of 10 stars!!

I read one of his earlier books and was a big fan growing up.

I didn't know some of the rough patch he had early in his career with racism, but I don't think he had it half as bad as Hank Aaron or Jackie Robinson. What set him apart was not racism, but his ability to speak up and he opened up the doors for getting higher salaries, as I recall him having the 2nd biggest contract, next to Catfish Hunter. With that said, today's players have him to thank for. I thought him not being able to buy a team is a bit of sour grapes, as he should be thankful for the opportunity he had, fame, wealth, etc. I thought he should have reflected more on the good memories that he had playing the sport, as fans, we thought he was living the life that we all dreamed of.

"Reggie is a guy that can carry a whole ball club". That would be Reggie Martinez Jackson, Hall of Famer and scalding, home run hitter. Jackson won 5 World Series titles, was a 14-time All-Star, and played for 4 different MLB teams. Oh and he also had a bit part in 1988's The Naked Gun. "I must kill... the Queen". Oh Reg, you slay me, you really do.

With tons of interviews from Jackson's family, his major league colleagues, and major league players he currently mentors, 2023's Reggie is more than just about baseball. It's inching dramatis personae. There's racial oppression and monetary slavery involved and that all started from the beginning of this dude's storied career (1967-1987).

In truth, I found Reggie to be a documentary that's a little off the cuff but effectively raw. I mean when you hear Reggie Jackson speak it almost feels like he didn't even know the cameras were rolling. It's as if he were talking to one or two people in the room, not a mass audience.

Reggie is directed by Alex Stapleton, a woman who intersperses Jackson's likeness with his archived highlights of massive long balls and clutch performances. The whole effect is chronological and exhilarating, with Alex's subjects (mainly Jackson) being mildly angry and rightfully so (revert back to second paragraph).

Bottom line: Reggie is candid, resenting, and opinionated. A little self-serving? Perhaps. A little bit of a platform for a guy who hasn't swung a bat in decades? Sort of. Oh well. They say as a human you are the only one who can represent yourself and Jackson does it better and with more bravado than most. I mean he wasn't a producer on this and always gives off that love or hate feel but Stapleton renders the former slugger well on both counts. "Mr. October" shines here in March.