Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars

Anytime ESPN releases one of their “30 for 30” documentaries, it is something that grabs the attention of sports fans everywhere. That is certainly the case with the series’ latest installment, “The Two Bills,” which takes a dive into the one-time coaching duo of Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick.

Directed by Ken Rodgers, the documentary brings these two great football minds together for their first interview since 1991. The setting for the interview takes place in the home locker room of the team that the pair coached to two Super Bowl victories, the New York Giants.

The dynamic between the two is without a doubt, the main appeal of the documentary. What makes seeing this duo together again so intriguing is not just their vast knowledge of football, but rather, their contrasting personalities.

Parcells is a more direct, outgoing personally. Belichick, on the flip, is much more laid back and cerebral. The two coaches going back and forth, and telling their sides of how they wound up together is a much more intimate approach than a narrator doing the job.

One scene that stood out early on is when Bill Belichick was walking around the locker room at the Giants stadium. Standing in his old office, which is now a conference room, he breaks down when recalling his long hours of watching film of his team’s opponents. As was alluded to previously Belichick is widely known for having a very reserved and dry personality, so to see him get choked up was an interesting moment.

It is also interesting to see interviews from former players, especially hall of fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor. These interviews add perspective beyond just the two coaches, allowing viewers to hear multiple sides of the story. They also show how knowledgeable the Bills were of the game.

Staying on the topic of knowledge of the game, the segment covering the Giants’ defensive strategy for the 1986 NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers is an inside look to a game many viewers and fans probably had no idea about previously.

The segment where former players and assistant coaches are talking about Parcell’s extraordinary ability to “push buttons” brings a healthy dose of comedic value to the documentary. Parcells chewing out Belichick on the sidelines shows a side of their relationship viewers would not otherwise see.

As for the pair’s coaching careers, aside from their accomplishments, nothing is more interesting than how they not only jumped from team to team together, but also had success wherever they went.

Perhaps the most interesting quality this documentary has to offer is near the end when the two Bills are walking around the Giants’ facility simply talking. It is such a natural conversation that, like many other qualities throughout, the documentary is something viewers would never otherwise have access to.

Overall, the “The Two Bills” definitely lives up to past “30 for 30” documentaries as far as providing an in-depth look into a world sports fans knew little about. What the documentary really delivers to viewers is a unique bond between a teacher and a student, and how the student eventually became a teacher in his own right.

Image from Boston Sports via YouTube.com