NBA Star Anthony Davis and Raven Magwood Goodson Team Up to Give Us the Full Court Advantage on Finding Tony
By Totally Randie
Review – “If I had it my way, I would have been a 20-year major leaguer going to the Hall of Fame. Obviously, my calling was acting.
In his essay “The Decay of Lying,” in 1889, Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde wrote, “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” One hundred thirty years later, there has been a notable shift. Art is most definitely imitating life in the independent film Finding Tony. Released on May 10, Finding Tony was the perfect film to review as we close out #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth. The film puts us in the passenger seat of a widowed former basketball player’s journey to find himself by becoming a women’s college basketball coach.
Renowned actor Stephen Bishop embodies the inspiring journey of ex-NBA player Tony Greene, whose story could be ripped from any headline today. Following the tragic loss of his wife in a home invasion, Tony spirals into clinical depression and alcoholism, facing a DUI.
It’s unclear if the release date was strategic. However, the film explores various issues on the road to redemption, including mental health, depression, grief, and alcoholism. We see these issues in sports, entertainment, and everyday life.
Mental health remains profoundly misunderstood by society. People often mistakenly confuse mental health with mental illness. Many automatically assume the presence of some type of psychological disorder when discussing mental health, which can lead to self-harm or harm to others. They tend to overlook the Tony Greenes of the world, who simply succumb to the pressures of grief, depression, and self-medication through alcohol or other vices.
In an exclusive interview, actor Stephen Bishop shared that he didn’t have to “get into character” because he was familiar with some of Tony’s emotions. Bishop recounted his personal experiences with grief, including retiring from baseball, making the decision to coach his child’s team, and experiencing some traumatic events while filming. “I was in the middle of the traumatic experience while we were filming,” he explained. “So, some of the emotions that Tony had to go through were emotions that I was actually going through. This [film] was my therapy.”
Bishop’s testimony highlights the often-overlooked aspect of mental health. We see the behavior, the reliance on useless vices, the DUIs, and the attitudes. What we don’t see are the silent struggles many people have to endure because of trauma. We are only scratching the surface of Tony’s character. The movie is a powerful reminder that mental health encompasses a range of experiences and outcomes, as seen in Destiny. This orphaned basketball powerhouse changes Tony’s trajectory. We learn that empathy and understanding are crucial in addressing these challenges. Bishop says, “Tony gets rescued by these women that he is coaching. He is down as down can be, but through his relationship with these ladies, he is able to find himself again and find his footing to become the man he is supposed to be.”
Bishop’s first leading role without a love interest was a stellar performance. Life doesn’t always look like our dreams. Bishop noted, “If I had it my way, I would have been a 20-year major leaguer going to the Hall of Fame. Obviously, my calling was acting, which afforded me the opportunity to be a coach, philanthropic, and more.” When asked what he wanted people to take away from the film, he said, “There will be things sent to destroy you, but you have the power to not let it happen because your path is the most important.” When you go through things in life, perseverance will get you through. Keep your head down and stay the course. It’s easy to fold up and go in the tank, but God didn’t put you on this earth to do that. You have your singular purpose, and you should stick with that and keep your eyes focused on it.”
Finding Tony was released on May 10 and is available on www.findingtonyfilm.com.