I had mentioned to my girlfriend to wait to buy tickets to Steve James' screening of his new documentary "No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson" in Evanston. We forgot to buy them the night before and then couldn't buy them online in the morning. In a rush we grabbed some breakfast and quickly drove to Evanston. Luckily they were not sold out, my girlfriend was not mad anymore, and we got the tickets.

The screening was at Seven PM and in a small theater with a small projection. The room was packed and the venue was well organized and brought together. I liked the way the seats were raised behind one another because it would be hard for a tall person or one with a big head to block your view if they sat in front of you :) Luckily this was not the case and the film rolled.

After the film was shown Steve James and two YWCA Facilitators, Susan O'Halloran and Gloria Woods lead a discussion and time for questions and answers. The documentary brought up some issues on race and led to some interesting discussion. The documentary seemed to have an unbiased view, which is fair, but I believe it worked at a disadvantage for the work. Steve James, after I asked him, said he felt he learned and was brought into this situation. Of course his answer was a bit more eloquent and insightful. Only problem, his film wasn't. The piece really lacked any depth or progression and seemed to stick to the surface. We are well informed by those somewhat or indirectly effected by the incident but never really make a connection with anyone directly involved. Rather than a documentary by someone who made "Hoop Dreams", we see a glossy piece of journalism, simply, and slightly informing us on an event, that may have not even been brought to the spotlight if not for the celebrity status of one of the defendants.