Film Review: 501 Not Out — The Definitive Tribute to Brian Lara’s Brilliance Every so often, a sports documentary comes along that just nails it — the emotion, the nostalgia, the legacy. Sam Lockyer’s 501 Not Out is exactly that. As a massive Brian Lara fan — my favourite cricketer of all time from a batting perspective — this film completely blew me away. Lockyer has poured an unbelievable amount of effort into this. The research, the detail, the people he’s managed to bring together — it shows in every frame. The interviews alone are world-class: Alan Donald, Curtly Ambrose, and so many other legends of the game offering real insight into Lara’s genius. It's not easy to get that calibre of cricket royalty together, but Lockyer’s pulled it off. The biopic element really captures just how far ahead of the game Lara was, even as a teenager. I didn’t realise he was that talented at football — best mates with Dwight Yorke, scoring overhead kicks for fun — he genuinely could’ve gone pro. That natural sporting ability just underlines how special he was. One thing that really stuck with me was the emotional side of Lara’s story. I never knew his father passed away before he made his Test debut. That’s the kind of detail that adds real depth and reminds you that behind the records and headlines, there’s personal pain and sacrifice. The film had some proper nostalgia moments too — the old-school cricket video games! As someone who spent hours glued to those games trying to recreate Lara’s iconic innings, that was a class touch. As a Birmingham-born lad, Warwickshire cricket has always played a huge part in my family life. I live round the corner, I grew up idolising Lara, especially watching him at Edgbaston for Warwickshire. For people like me, who saw him light up the domestic game as well as the international stage, this film hits different. The Warwickshire fans featured throughout bring humour, heart, and authenticity. Their love for Lara reflects exactly how we all felt growing up watching him — pure excitement and pride every time he walked to the crease. 501 Not Out is simply world-class. Sam Lockyer has proven himself a ridiculously talented filmmaker with a real gift for storytelling. He’s captured Lara’s impact perfectly — not just the stats, but the culture, the emotion, the magic. Rating: 10/10. This deserves to be on Netflix, Amazon Prime, all the major platforms. For cricket fans — especially those of us lucky enough to see Lara play for Warwickshire — it’s unmissable. @501NotOut @Iconic_Director