Insta-Review of 'Tom vs Time' Episode 1
So at noon today, the first episode of Tom Brady’s Facebook Watch docu-series “Tom vs. Time” dropped. And if you think I wasn’t logged in at 11:55 in a bathrobe with my phone on Airplane Mode and candles lit, well then welcome to Barstool. A few random observations from the 15-minute premiere episode.
–The first question that anyone who makes a movie, writes a book, or does a Facebook Watch bio series about themselves needs to answer is “Why?” And the firs thing that struck me about “Tom vs. Time” is that Brady is doing this for the same reason that athletes write articles for The Players Tribune. To tell their story in their own words. Not without a filter. Everyone uses a filter. But with told through their own filter, not anyone else.s. The way they want it told.
–Without question it’s part infomercial for the TB12 Method. And say what you want about that, it’s clear that Brady is all in on it. There’s product placement. An attempt to humanize Alex Guerrero in contrast to the way he and Brady’s relationship is talked about. With scenes of Guerrero giving him deep tissue massages that look like forms of torture and tons of high impact workouts that are a Kenny Loggins song away from being an 80 sports movie montage. But Brady sells it. You get that this is a lifestyle to him. A calling. But before you get that feeling this is weirdo junk science cult stuff like we all fear, he makes you understand his motivation is to be a better quarterback at age 41 than he was at 22. And I believe him.
–Note: Tom Brady takes both ends off a banana and throws them away before he eats it. In related news, Jerry Thornton now takes both ends off a banana and throws them away before he eats it. Those tips are poison.
–The thing is beautifully shot. Gotham Chopra’s dad might have told our 47th president she can move objects with her mind, but he knows how to film a documentary, frame a scene and edit a narrative. Watching Brady playing with his family, taking out his old playbooks, showing the 2016 suspension letter he keeps and driving to and from the stadium past hordes of people wearing his shirt is the kind of stuff we’ve never seen before and it’s great.
–The NFL Films stuff is of course, the highlight. With Brady adding in his own words what was going through his head when the Falcons were running away the Super Bowl or what he thought after the pick-6 is fascinating. Like watching him on the early episodes of “America’s Game.” The more of that going forward, the better.
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–When Tom Brady gets his ass beaten in by the Chiefs, he still drives home and has Gisele ride shotgun. As a guy who’d rather have the wheel after a few drinks than let a sober Irish Rose drive, I’ve never related to him more.
–Money quote: “When you’re 39, most guys [throws football] go ‘Uggghhh.’ I can FIRE that motherfucker!”
–Lastly, I defy anyone to watch these shows and not come away convinced he’s got years of playing at a high level in his future. It’s the banana tips.