OK film fans, the Super Bowl has come and gone and the bitter realization that the next game is six months away has slowly started to creep into my psyche. Thank goodness for March Madness. Oh yeah, and the basketball one too. Anyway, since tonight was the curtain call for the NFL and I'm groggy from beer and pizza, it seems like a good time for a list. I'll let my friends Championship Vinyl explain how my Top 5 Football Films will work.
Before I get started let me end some suspense right now, Rudy is not on this list. I know there are many fans of this film and rightfully so, it's a Hollywood "feel good" film based on a true story. Honestly, it's not that I dislike the film; I guess I'm just confused about how it's so motivational for so many people. A 5'6", 165 lb walk-on, in his last chance as a Sr., gets to play a few downs at the end of the game thanks to the kind heart (not in the film) of the Head coach. On the last play of the game, and his 1 game career, he gets a sack and becomes only the second Notre Dame player to be carried off the field. There's no doubting it's a great human interest story, but to me it's about as inspirational as stories of mentally handicapped team managers getting into various high school games. Sure they're great, feel good stories, but inspirational? I would say Invincible with Mark Wahlberg is more motivational and has a better ending. Which message is better: never give up, even if you don't have the tools to succeed or if you have ability it's never too late to use it?
5. Remember the Titans If all you're making is a film about football, it better be pretty damn good to stand out. But if you can add in a true story about race, forced integration and the realization that skin color teaches you less about a person than their character and you have a film for the ages.
4. The Program Here it comes, I can hear the bitching and moaning now! College football is filled with a million dirty little secrets that Head coaches, A.D's and the NCAA spend a great deal of time and money hiding from us. This film decided not to blow anymore smoke up our collective asses. It's not a great film, the character development is pretty weak, but considering the lack of films made that even remotely address any of these issue, let alone the so called "student-athlete" farce, it gets extra kudos for originality.
I just realized how much I'm cannibalizing myself, but it's too late to turn back now. Way back on day 7 I posted my Top 5 Sports Films and it turns out the Venn Diagrams overlap heavily on this list. As such, I'll try to add some new info.
3. All the Right Moves This film came out in 1983, the same year as Risky Business, when Tom Cruise was a rising star who was actually believable in his roles. In my opinion, as I've discussed before, this film nails the feel of high school football better than any other. It's also centered on a common plot device, someone using sports to better their position in life. He knows that football can get him out of his small, dead-end town, but his education will keep him out and create a new life. But in his struggle he learns the importance of kindness and respect that would otherwise be lost in teenage selfishness.
2. Brian's Song There are a lot of things I could say about this film. I could wax poetic about the bromance, the inspiration, the nostalgia and the heartfelt tone of the film. I could discuss how it's refreshingly direct in handling the racial issues faced by Brian Piccolo and Gayle Sayers without every seeming preachy. Or how the friendship between the men is inspirational and is portrayed with subtlety and ease by James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. But, as with all great films, it shows us what true friendship is rather than telling us. It's this rare gift that has allowed this film to endure as a classic.
1. North Dallas Forty I absolutely love this look at the seamy side of professional sports. Much like #4 on the list, it peels back a layer we all know exists but consciously ignore. It takes a serious look at just about all the troubles we see sports stars deal with. The greatest truth in professional sports is stated clearly from one of the players, "Every time I call it a game you call it a business, every time I call it a business you call it a game." Although it's a little dated, and it pains me to say this, they just don't make films like this anymore. And yes, I'm looking at you Oliver Stone.
Showing posts with label All the Right Moves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All the Right Moves. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
day 7 - Top 5 sports films
OK sports fans, since tonight was the BCS College Football National Championship game (honestly, it was kind of a dud until the last 3 minutes) I've decided to reveal my Top 5 sports films. Why 5 and not 10, please ask my friends over at Championship Vinyl.
Honorable Mention goes to Vision Quest. OK, I've already managed to break the 5 films set forth 2 sentences ago. And I am aware this is another 80's film, but that's purely coincidental. Plus, these are MY top 5 films and I can throw in a sentimental favorite if I want to! I can be honest, this is a pretty cheesy film. It's overly melodramatic in a way only 80's teensploitation films are. I can't even begin to understand why it provides Madonna with her first shot at sucking horribly in films. The premise is our hero, Louden Swain, decides to drop 20 lbs to wrestle the undefeated beast at 168 lbs simply known as Shute. It's a classically scripted coming of age story with all the cliches fully intact. But it hit some perfect notes on the sport of wrestling, something I endured for years growing up in Iowa where wrestling is king. I also love it for the following little gem that, while not out of place in the film, is still a surprisingly humanistic moment given the genre.
5. All the Right Moves Far and away (yes, that was a Tom Cruise joke) the best film to capture what it feels like to play high school sports. The scenes on the field, in the locker room and especially the bus going to the big game felt like they could have been shooting a documentary. Some of the scenes were so spot on I thought I was having deja vue. Set in a depressing mining town in Pennsylvania, the film is permeated by the pressure on the players to carry the hopes of the town and the desperation of the players to the succeed, thereby escaping the fate awaiting them in the coal mine. In comparison, its not as flashy as some of the high school football movies that followed it, but that's the reason it feels so real.
4. Brian's Song Well, it looks like I lied. Here's my second sentimental favorite. The 1971 original film from is one of the pillars of the bromance Pantheon. The story of the friendship between hall of fame Chicago Bears (GO BEARS!!!) running back Gayle Sayers and teammate Brian Piccolo that grew as they went from rookies in 1965 to the starting tailback and fullback in 1969. In 1970 Piccolo died from embryonal cell carcinoma. While it's filmed with the look of an after school special, it's also one of the few films grown men will admit to being choked up by.
3. Bull Durham Fantastic performances and a superior script with fully realized characters give this baseball film a nod above a sport filled with contenders (Field of Dreams, For Love of the Game, The Natural, Major League and The Bad News Bears). Setting it in the minor leagues allows the characters and their lives to seem more real, but all I really have to say about this movie can be summed up in one very well know scene.
2. North Dallas Forty The most realistic look at professional sports and the truth behind the business of grown-ups playing a game with millions of dollars on the line. Gritty in a way 70's films seemed to be able to portray with ease, (Is it the film stock or the bad clothes and hair? I just can't decide...) wide receiver Phillip Elliot drinks and drugs his way through the pain to help his team make it to the playoffs. While realistically portraying the crazy antics of his teammates and the business realities imposed by the coaches and front office suits are what give the film gravitas, it's his sudden realization as his career comes to an end, that the rest of his life has been on hold while he played, that gives it a soul.
1. Caddyshack If this isn't your number one sports film you may want to check your scalp in the mirror for a tiny sign of the beast. Do I seriously even have to explain this? I'm pretty sure when I was 23 I could have sat down and written the entire script from memory. I can't even count how many times I've seen this film since I first saw it on network tv in the early 80's. I'd wager that 9 out of 10 men under the age of 50, in any given room, can quote at least one line from this film. Rodney Dangerfield, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Ted Knight may form the most perfect convergence of comedy stars ever to grace a single film! True, it isn't the purest example of the genre, but it manages to cleverly mock a sport better than any film ever has. On a side note, actress Sarah Holcomb, who plays main character Danny Noonan's girlfriend Maggie O'Hooligan, was only in four films before she left Hollywood due to some substance issues. Two of those four films, Caddyshack and Animal House. That's. Friggin. Awesome. Anyway, for your edification, the wisdom of Caddyshack.
Honorable Mention goes to Vision Quest. OK, I've already managed to break the 5 films set forth 2 sentences ago. And I am aware this is another 80's film, but that's purely coincidental. Plus, these are MY top 5 films and I can throw in a sentimental favorite if I want to! I can be honest, this is a pretty cheesy film. It's overly melodramatic in a way only 80's teensploitation films are. I can't even begin to understand why it provides Madonna with her first shot at sucking horribly in films. The premise is our hero, Louden Swain, decides to drop 20 lbs to wrestle the undefeated beast at 168 lbs simply known as Shute. It's a classically scripted coming of age story with all the cliches fully intact. But it hit some perfect notes on the sport of wrestling, something I endured for years growing up in Iowa where wrestling is king. I also love it for the following little gem that, while not out of place in the film, is still a surprisingly humanistic moment given the genre.
5. All the Right Moves Far and away (yes, that was a Tom Cruise joke) the best film to capture what it feels like to play high school sports. The scenes on the field, in the locker room and especially the bus going to the big game felt like they could have been shooting a documentary. Some of the scenes were so spot on I thought I was having deja vue. Set in a depressing mining town in Pennsylvania, the film is permeated by the pressure on the players to carry the hopes of the town and the desperation of the players to the succeed, thereby escaping the fate awaiting them in the coal mine. In comparison, its not as flashy as some of the high school football movies that followed it, but that's the reason it feels so real.
4. Brian's Song Well, it looks like I lied. Here's my second sentimental favorite. The 1971 original film from is one of the pillars of the bromance Pantheon. The story of the friendship between hall of fame Chicago Bears (GO BEARS!!!) running back Gayle Sayers and teammate Brian Piccolo that grew as they went from rookies in 1965 to the starting tailback and fullback in 1969. In 1970 Piccolo died from embryonal cell carcinoma. While it's filmed with the look of an after school special, it's also one of the few films grown men will admit to being choked up by.
3. Bull Durham Fantastic performances and a superior script with fully realized characters give this baseball film a nod above a sport filled with contenders (Field of Dreams, For Love of the Game, The Natural, Major League and The Bad News Bears). Setting it in the minor leagues allows the characters and their lives to seem more real, but all I really have to say about this movie can be summed up in one very well know scene.
2. North Dallas Forty The most realistic look at professional sports and the truth behind the business of grown-ups playing a game with millions of dollars on the line. Gritty in a way 70's films seemed to be able to portray with ease, (Is it the film stock or the bad clothes and hair? I just can't decide...) wide receiver Phillip Elliot drinks and drugs his way through the pain to help his team make it to the playoffs. While realistically portraying the crazy antics of his teammates and the business realities imposed by the coaches and front office suits are what give the film gravitas, it's his sudden realization as his career comes to an end, that the rest of his life has been on hold while he played, that gives it a soul.
1. Caddyshack If this isn't your number one sports film you may want to check your scalp in the mirror for a tiny sign of the beast. Do I seriously even have to explain this? I'm pretty sure when I was 23 I could have sat down and written the entire script from memory. I can't even count how many times I've seen this film since I first saw it on network tv in the early 80's. I'd wager that 9 out of 10 men under the age of 50, in any given room, can quote at least one line from this film. Rodney Dangerfield, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Ted Knight may form the most perfect convergence of comedy stars ever to grace a single film! True, it isn't the purest example of the genre, but it manages to cleverly mock a sport better than any film ever has. On a side note, actress Sarah Holcomb, who plays main character Danny Noonan's girlfriend Maggie O'Hooligan, was only in four films before she left Hollywood due to some substance issues. Two of those four films, Caddyshack and Animal House. That's. Friggin. Awesome. Anyway, for your edification, the wisdom of Caddyshack.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)