Whatever happens in love, war and politics, sport has always been held up to the highest scrutiny. The Olympic Games, with its origins dating back to ancient Greece, is the ultimate in sporting achievement. Its ethos focuses on the importance of taking part and competing over actually winning. This attitude seems more than a little dated in the modern multi-million-dollar world of professional sport. Of which, American football is the biggest player in the US.
In January 2015, the New England Patriots played the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game. Afterwards, star quarterback and Superbowl legend Tom Brady was accused of deliberately deflating the balls in order to derive a competitive advantage. This sparked a media frenzy, resulting in a four-game ban after months of speculation. Independent experts claimed that the NFL leaked false information and that the lower weight was the result of a natural phenomenon. This story is told in Four Games in Fall.
Four Games in Fall uses interviews with officials, scientists and analysists to build up a complex story of half-truths, misinformation and obstruction. Julie Marron’s documentary delves deep into the facts of the matter, and is much better for such in-depth inquiry. Four Games in Fall paints a picture of an organisation whose commissioner is more intent with his own agenda and reputation than the truth. It’s a damning indictment of his actions.
Four Games in Fall is available on Amazon, Google, Youtube and iTunes now.
