DOCUMENTARY REVIEW: 'NAOMI OSAKA'

 

4/5

Advantage, Osaka.

Bounce. Tennis ace Naomi Osaka drops the ball to the floor with a grand slam. Bounce. The kind of ball that feels like the grass of Wimbledon and whose smell can spark off that same freshly cut nostalgia like orange cordial. Bounce. The surrounding air shimmers with a clay court like hotness that would even demand games of squash to be played with all their windows open. Bounce. She stares into the camera, focused with a Mamba Mentality. Bounce. Like losing Kobe. Bounce. Like beating Serena. Bounce. Like becoming an overnight celebrity in a twist of fate. Bounce. Like serving to become one of the greatest of all-time. Bounce. Like putting Osaka on the map like cities close to Kyoto. Bounce. By changing the name of tennis-progressively probably the most equal of all sports-from Williams. Bounce. From saying the names of everyone from Breonna Taylor to George Floyd on her masks winning game after winning game. Taking the US Open crown again and giving a throne to the names we will always say until justice comes with peace. Keeping everybody safe whilst still protesting Black Lives Matter in a new kind of tennis shout. Bounce. Like standing up for herself and everyone who suffers from anxiety by withdrawing from the French Open after they put the pressure on her after she graciously opted out of press interviews. United by emotion like the Tokyo Olympic slogan. Bounce. Like the whole tennis community rallying behind here despite the abuse from "journalists" like Piers Morgan and Megyn Kelly who should know (you only have to see the 'Bombshell' movie starring Charlie Theron to be reminded how she defended herself after being harassed and bullied by Trump, a friend of Piers) and "do better". Bounce. Like about to represent her nation of Japan in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics this week no matter what people say in the States, or this current state of emergency. Bounce. Like about to carry the flag like Washington Wizards basketball sophomore star Rui Hachimura for her country in more than a moment for her, but one for equality in Japan (Rui knows the pain of daily, ignorant and hateful racist abuse from his fellow countrymen due to his mixed race heritage. Bounce. Osaka in Tokyo. Bounce. And on your Netflix screens courtesy of a new documentary executive produced by Los Angeles Lakers NBA legend LeBron James in the same week he welcomes us back to the 'Space Jam' for this 'New Legacy' and his mogul 'Shop' co-owner, Maverick Carter. Uninterrupted. Bounce. 'Naomi Osaka'. 

Vogue. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. TIME. Naomi Osaka is gracing newsstands worldwide right now from here in Tokyo, to the watching world with all eyes on the Olympic Stadium. Some eyes looks with wonder at talent like this. Others with hate. Sadly it will always be this way. Mouthpieces looking for attention like Piers Morgan and Kelly want to start a backlash at Osaka for now doing press ahead of Tokyo. But the apt word is "ahead". If they had done better and done their research as Naomi said then they would realize that especially during these times, these interviews were corona conducted ahead of time, before she withdrew from the French Open. Maybe at this point it was becoming too much. OR even if these interviews were done yesterday like some "journalists" born then seem to think, it wouldn't matter anyway. Naomi has the right to do whatever she wants, not only to look after herself, all whilst giving back, but in general anyway. She doesn't owe us, nor especially them a damn thing. Just like Kobe said the only thing she owes anything to...is the craft itself. And then we are all the lucky ones, however she serves us. Yet, people want to take a piece out of her, because they can't have a piece of someone who is her own woman and as important as it comes, her own human being. As she reminds us all we are too like a real, down to earth role model to champion. If she wants to use next week's platform in her native Japan to raise issues and voice more concerns bigger than herself or the game, like she did with a mask on last year, standing up for all those who lost their lives to police brutality, then more power to her. Especially when most complaining will be the Americans who believe she should represent them and not the place she was actually born, like this Japanese and worldwide icon doesn't have a say or right in anything. She does and she'll be fighting for hers, every volley let. No matter the backhand. She'll return. Listen to what she says to those pathetic people who say her, "black card is revoked". If anything this three-part miniseries documentary concerning the icon who tells us on the cover of the worlds most famous magazine, "it's O.K. not to be O.K" (even though the world is constantly telling her its not O.K. to be who she wants to be (why not)), reminds us she is still only 23 (a 23 year old with three Grand Slams though). In her shy and retiring to pressures resignation, but never giving up words of wisdom from a sensitive, but strong soul. She's just a kid. But more mature than most will ever be. Grow up! 

One who is about to take the podium and go for gold in a shining moment in Tokyo, 2020 which carrying the flag would just be monumental for her legendary legacy in her Far East home of Japan, under the rising sun. This ascending star has what it takes. No matter what the world tries to take from her. And the most intimate portrayal we'll get of this inspired individual of great influence and power in that responsibility is the closest we'll get. From meeting her mother, to coupling with artist boyfriend musician, Corde. In all her heartfelt humanity that she touches us with. Put your hands down. This is an unquestionable truth. Just like her game. The only racket you need to be concerned with in this world of social media white noise. Sadly we live in a society were we apparently want to drag the names of our generations greats through the mud until are typing hands can't throw dirt at them anymore. A viral virus almost as bad as the one we shield ourselves from daily now in reflection of this black mirror of infection. Compassion is the only cure to this. Ignorant and insulting instead of celebrating these diverse game changers who are breaking as many barriers as they rewrite in the records of history books. LeBron James. The England football team. The entire WNBA. You don't have to look far to see all these stellar names are shrouded with as much online abuse as they are, 'be legendary' like Kobe mantras. Just look at Athens, Greece's own Giannis Antetokounmpo. Two-time MVP. Defensive Player of the Year. Now Finals MVP and NBA champion. Bringing the small market of Milwaukee and the Bucks to their first championship in a half century last night. But look at all the hate he had to wade through first. Making this journey twice as hard...but twice as sweet (although it doesn't have to be this way). Just look how the social media narratives (this shouldn't be how life is dictated) change from stupid hate perpetrated, to the overdue congratulations. Next up is Osaka proving everyone wrong after winning gold in her home of Japan carrying the torch for a flame that will never go out. That's the burn. Sure these days we can't say names like Piers and Megyn won't be remembered when they are given a soapbox, but a podium is stronger. And what is it really worth if you're remembered for the wrong reasons? Naomi will be remembered for all the right ones. And now we have this behind the scenes series to document it. Game, set and match, Osaka. Love. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Battle Of The Sexes', 'Kobe Bryant's Muse', 'WNBA: 144'.