Magic Johnson and Larry Bird couldn't have been further apart as individuals, Magic an easy going extrovert from a working class family in Lansing, Michigan and Larry a reticent introvert born dirt poor in rural Indiana. When they faced off on the basketball hardwood, for the first time in 1979 NCAA Title Game and then many times throughout their esteemed professional careers, they brought an unbridled intensity to their rivalry, which may have seemed fueled by hatred, but ultimately revealed itself in a lasting friendship. "Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals" is a remarkable documentary, prominently featuring its subjects in addition to a wealth of archive footage and commentary. This in-depth portrait gives you both a sense of Magic and Bird as people, as well as competitors on the court, the balance of which is a rarity in this kind of sports documentary.
