Run Ricky Run

30 for 30: Run Ricky Run (2010)

*** (out of 4)

This entry in ESPN's 30 for 30 series was apparently five years in the making as when Ricky Williams decided to retire, he asked friend and director Pamphilon to tell his story. Anyone who knows about Williams knows how controversial everything about him as been. Everything from his New Orleans draft pick to his early retirement and various run-ins with the NFL and their drug policy. The majority of this film has footage of Ricky after his original retirement as we see him struggle to try to come to terms with various things. Those close to Ricky are interviewed and it's questioned if he has some sort of mental disorder or if he really is a normal person just wanting to learn things. The film also likes to show various shows with writers, experts and various others debating what exactly is wrong with Williams. Many see him as just some sort of weird freak while others believe he has a lot of mental problems. The documentary does a good job at being neutral as it doesn't try to push the viewer into believing anything. Instead, it gives us video evidence and lets us make up our own mind. For the most part Williams is an interesting subject but the film does go a bit too far in asking questions but not getting anything out of them. We see Williams going through these various stages of his life but I must admit it would have been interesting to see what he thinks today about all this stuff, although various people in the film says his mind changes from day to day.