The 10 Best Sport Films
Jan 02 '09
The Bottom Line Ten great sports films that bring to life athletics from football to baseball to chess.
1. Rocky (1976) - The film that brought star and writer Sylvester Stallone to superstardom fame is the best of the six-film saga about Robert "Rocky" Balboa. Rocky begins the series as a poor, down on his luck boxer in Philadelphia who finds himself launched as an underdog in a heayweight title match against Apollo Creed. This film is a great character study as it is an inspiring sports film. Also one of the AFI's 100 Most Inspiring Films of All Time.
2. A League of Their Own (1992) - Penny Marshall's hit stars Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty and Rosie O'Donnell as passionate FEMALE baseballers during WWII. Loosely based on a true story, the film is well acted and addresses how women both in the past and present have overcome the odds in order to pursue professions that are typically dominated by men.
3. Rudy (1993) - "Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!" Based on the true story of Rudy Rudiger, this will make you cry and cheer. Rudy comes from a large family in the rural Midwest. He dreams of going to Notre Dame and playing football, however, there are three things standing in his way : he's too small, not good enough and doesn't get good grades. Rudy represents the willpower and resilence in all of us.
4. Hoop Dreams (1991) - This is a documentary about two gifted inner city high-school basketball players who dream of going on to college and pro basketball. What makes this film so great is that there are no special effects or intense sports editing, it's raw and real life.
5. Field of Dreams (1989) - "If you build it, he will come." Who comes? Build what?? Kevin Costner finds out as he hears the voice of Shoeless Joe Jackson in his Iowa cornfield. A fantasy that pulls at the heart strings follows Costner's quest to find out what baseball and things in his past are all about.
6. Bull Duhram (1988) - Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins star as minor league baseball players in this comedy co-starring Susan Surandon as their team's groupie.
7. Raging Bull (1980) - Martin Scorsese's masterpiece follows the story of real life boxer Jake LaMotta (Robert DeNiro). It's gritty, well-acted and not afraid to show both the positives and flaws about it's protagonist.
8. Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) - Based on the true story of Josh Waitzkin, a knee-high to a grasshopper chess prodigy on his journey to become the U.S. junior chess champ. I barely know how to play chess yet this film is captivating with great performances and thrilling (yes, thrilling) chess matches.
9. Million Dollar Baby (2004) - This is much more then a sports drama and deserves to be somewhere on the top 150 movies ever made list. Clint Eastwood won the Oscar (very deservingly) as did Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman for their beautiful portrayals as three troubled individuals brought together by Swank's aspiring boxing dreams. "I don't train girls!!" Eastwood barks at her but of course she wears him down and the two share a wonderful and moving relationship of redemption, guilt and honor. Get the kleenex ready for this film.
10. Brian's Song (1971) - A guy's version of a chick flick based on the friendship of footballers Brian Piccolo (James Caan) and Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) as they battle football teams, racism and cancer.
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Member: Ashley
Location: Vallejo, CA
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