Drazen

It's hard to imagine a more uninspired take on one of the most inspiring athletes in history. "Drazen", a film that should have been a moving tribute to the "Mozart of Basketball," is instead a lifeless and shallow portrayal that does a disservice to its subject.

The film makes an effort to show Drazen Petrovic beyond the basketball court - through his relationships with his parents, his brother, and a love interest - but every attempt at emotional depth lands with a dull thud. There's no spark, no tension, no feeling. Scenes that are clearly meant to be heartfelt come off as hollow and mechanical, like emotional checkboxes being ticked off without any real understanding of what makes a human story compelling.

The romantic subplot in particular feels dramatically empty. The relationship unfolds with all the emotional intensity of a phone commercial, and ultimately adds nothing meaningful to the film or to our understanding of Drazen Petrovic as a person.

The direction is uninspired, and the script seems written by someone with no understanding of character, pacing, or storytelling. Even the most basic emotional beats fall completely flat. There's no sense of triumph, no heartbreak, no intimacy. Watching this film is like reading a Wikipedia entry aloud, only with worse writing and less insight. It's hard to believe that the life of such an electric, driven and charismatic figure could be turned into something so emotionally sterile. Credit (or rather blame) goes to the director and screenwriter, whose utter lack of vision and storytelling talent reduces an extraordinary life into a bland slideshow of facts.

With source material as rich and compelling as Drazen Petrovic's life, the failure to create a meaningful, moving film isn't just disappointing - it's astonishing. This was a chance to honour a cultural icon, a global talent, and a deeply human story. Instead, we got a film that feels like it doesn't understand or care why Petrovic mattered at all.

"Drazen" isn't just a bad film - it's a wasted opportunity of epic proportions.

The movie portrays Drazen as a whole person, not just a basketball player. It reveals sides of him that many didn't know about, both good and bad. In my opinion, that is a major strength. While many expected only a series of basketball games, this film offers so much more (but it does, of course include basketball highlights). It explores his emotional connections with his family as well as his career. The relationship between his mother and him is incredibly moving, and his fight to even be allowed to start playing basketball is deeply inspiring.

I believe the vision for this movie was not only to pay tribute to this extraordinary player but also to show that he wasn't perfect. It serves as a reminder that, despite our flaws, we can still achieve greatness.

The final scene depicting Drazen's tragic death was extremely emotional, leaving a profound impact on the audience. It was so powerful that it brought many to tears, myself included. The scene serves as a poignant reminder of how fragile life is and the importance of making the most of every moment because you never know what could happen. It beautifully captures the shock and sorrow of losing someone so full of life and potential, leaving viewers reflecting on their own lives and the legacies they wish to leave behind.

In addition, this film is a step in the right direction for the Croatian film industry, which has struggled to really inspire. By blending emotional storytelling with a nuanced portrayal of a national hero, "Drazen" sets a new standard for biographical films in the region. It proves that Croatian cinema is capable of producing compelling narratives that resonate on a universal level.

Ultimately, "Drazen" isn't just a movie about basketball; it's a powerful story about ambition, resilience, and the complexities of human nature. It leaves a lasting impact, not only as a tribute to Drazen Petrovic but as a significant achievement in Croatian filmmaking.

To say that this movie is a disappointment is an understatement.

Pros: Technical aspects of the film such as cinematography and sound are well done; Zrinka Cvitesic as Biserka Petrovic is believable as a mother and a human being; Tonko Stosic is charming as young Drazen Petrovic; a fair amount of Drazens' basketball achievements are mentioned; Drazens' work ethic is briefly shown once or twice;

The End.

Cons: This movie fails as a movie, let alone a story about Drazen. When any pivotal conflict suddenly presents itself (via exposition, every single time) it immediately gets resolved (just in passing, every single time) via exposition or a montage in the next scene which sets up a new challenge and around it goes.

The movie is a series of scenes of Drazen hanging out in bars/offices/living rooms, chasing or getting chased by girls and basketball clubs while lightly discussing things he wants to do - and those goals being immediately achieved in a 20-second-montage.

Anything important and interesting is briefly mentioned (or not even mentioned at all), while the rest is an attempt at a Hollywood romantic drama. If you didn't know anything about Drazen before watching this and you blinked during montages about his basketball prowess you still won't know or remember anything about him at the end - well, I guess you'd know he was a basketball player and apparently was very good because everyone says so.

So little of his character was shown: his determination, his leadership, charisma, unbreakable spirit, relationships with people (other than his immediate family or love interests)... Some of it was attempted, but deemed less important.

Domagoj Nizic as adult Drazen doesn't have a passing resemblance to Drazen (even though the actor seems like a sweet guy) but the bigger problem is he can't believably convey Drazens' spirit nor is he believable as a basketball athlete.

I thought my biggest problem with this movie would be inconsistencies involving dialect or lack of basketball scenes, but a decent screenplay to begin with was apparently too much to ask.

I could go on but I respect Drazen (the Man, not this film) too much to go off on this production here...

TL;DR: Story about one of the greatest sports icons famous for his incredible work ethic and for overcoming great odds gets a below average ''tell, don't show'' romantic drama treatment, with some basketball clips running on a TV in the background and hours of talking about a basketball career (could've been about anyone).

Watch some highlights or a documentary instead - you will have a much, much better time.

I'm very sad... ''Zivot leti, kapetane.''

A disappointing film unworthy of the legend whose life story it was supposed to tell.

Drazen is a legendary athlete whose legacy is recognized not only in Croatia, but also in the world.

What is incredible is that the film is boring, pretentious, and the directing is mediocre. Unfortunately, this is the case with most film production in Croatia. There are exceptions, of course, but they are few.

The dialogues are wooden, unconvincing, in short, what we are used to seeing in Croatian productions. As I said, there are exceptions, but unfortunately they are just that, exceptions.

The Mile Kekin head looks like it just came out of the factory, it looks totally fake and rubbery, and the hairline looks hilarious.

A legend like Drazen deserved better. This is a disaster.

It's interesting how they skipped a part of Drazen's life, and a very important one at that.

What's amazing is that they managed to make a boring movie, as if we were watching some statistics.

The guy playing Drazen looks like a fat version of him, with flabby arms and another chin.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but I expected a better movie.

Drazen is a powerful look at the life of Drazen Petrovic, one of basketball's all-time greats, told in a way that's emotional, inspiring, and so relatable for everyone, young and old. This isn'ta typical sport story, but a personal journey that hits hard, especially for those of us who grew up watching Drazen's career in the '80s. Seeing this movie brought back all the memories of cheering for him, especially during his time with the national team. The film beautifully captures the values of family, resilience, and love that defined him, and it's perfect for both kids and adults.

I brought my seven-year-old son and fourteen-year-old daughter to watch it, and they loved it. My son was totally into it, saying he admired how Drazen "just kept trying no matter what." My daughter got really emotional, especially enjoying the scenes with Drazen's family and his bond with his brother. She also appreciated the love story. Both of them were totally absorbed by the scenes from Drazen's childhood.

For me, it was like a trip back in time, and the casting was just fantastic. Tonko Stosic as young Drazen and Lovro Tanfara as young Aleksandar were so convincing; they really brought that brotherly bond to life. Pavle Matusko as the grown-up Aleksandar was excellent too - the whole cast truly delivered. Domagoj Nizic was fantastic as Drazen, capturing his spirit and intensity perfectly, while Zrinka Cvitesic as Drazen's mom was another standout. And that final song - it really hit me hard.

With stunning cinematography, a great soundtrack, and a storyline that showcases the power of dedication and love, Drazen is an unforgettable experience.