Theo Fleury: Playing with Fire

This was surprisingly good documentary, providing an intimate look at Canadian hockey player Theo Fleury. The film utilizes archival footage and interviews with friends, family, bitter ex-wives and ex-teammates to shed light on his personal life and troubled childhood. Including Theo's sexual abuse and eventual fall from grace through drugs and alcohol, walking away from the NHL and millions of dollars in the middle of his career.

Following his book (Playing With Fire) it begins at the beginning with Theo taking us on a tour of his childhood home and the first rink he played on. We then join him on a road trip as he drives along reminiscing on his life's highlights and lowlights. Visiting Winnipeg, Calgary, New York, Chicago, New Mexico.

Its very dark, often sad and pulls no punches, you see the real man here. We follow Theo through the juniors and minor leagues into Calgary and subsequent trades. We witness him winning the World Junior championship, Stanley Cup, Canada cup, Olympic gold (he's very bitter about not being included in the hockey hall of fame.) We also hear about the utter chaos of his life; strippers, cocaine, gambling and thoughts of suicide.

A couple moments stood out for me; the camera crew driving aimlessly around an area in New Mexico because Theo can't remember where the house he lived in (for 4 years) is, looking sadly out the window "this one?" "no, try the next one" "That's what years of booze, cocaine and concussions will do to you." he explains.

Its was also pretty heartbreaking watching him smoke cigarettes outside of Madison Square Garden after being told he's not allowed inside. Fleury may never be able to mend the bridges he's burned. 03.09.14

When Theo Fleury viewed Theo Fleury: Playing With Fire, the documentary made about his life, he tweeted, "Move over @Oprah ... It was awesome. See you at the Oscars." The film continues to impress. It won the Garden State Film Festival Award for Cinematography for best overall looking film in the festival. I was there and heard Producer/Director Larry Day speak. His wife, Kirstie McLellan Day wrote the Fleury book on which it was based. The book and a play she wrote brought Fleury back from obscurity and bankruptcy to a new career and new respect. She also wrote with Bob Probert and Ron MacLean. The film is just incredible. Shows the man as who he really is: hilarious, contradictory, mercurial, angry, mean, kind, dumb, brilliant, shallow, deep, greedy and generous. Scene by scene you never know which Theo is going to show up. What a ride. Globe and Mail wrote a great piece on it.