The Best Sports Movies Ever
Jul 29 '09
The Bottom Line Sports and Movies are my two greatest passions. When they combine they often suck, but when they're done right ...
The Best Sports Movies Ever Made
It’s a walk on the lighter side today as I attempt to offer my 10 Greatest Sports Movies. Having grown up in England my sports list will be a little different to most. I’ve started to develop an appreciation for baseball, football and basketball but you’ll find many of the favorites from those genres missing from my list; I’m talking about Hoosiers, Brian’s Song, Rudy, Bull Durham, among others. In fact the soccer movie in my list might be a head scratcher for many American readers.
As I draw up my list I should add that it’s something of an emotional list as opposed to adhering to established criteria. Some are undeniable classics, some received Oscar nominations. But what really makes a good sports movie is not the quality of the directing or the acting (although those help) it’s the ability to get our pulses racing, to get us to root for the hero the same way we root for our own teams.
So without further ado, “let’s get ready to rumble.”
Missed the Cut: (10 through 20, in no particular order)
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), The Color of Money (1986), Fear Strikes Out (1957), The Longest Yard (1974), Rocky Balboa (2006), Seabiscuit (2003), The Hurricane (1999), The Natural (1984), Remember the Titans (2000), Champion (1949)
The Top 10
10: Major League
Sport: Baseball, Year: 1989, Directed by: David S. Ward, Starring: Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes
I tried to stay away from comedies in my list, but Major League still makes it because of its authenticity. While living in England I learned everything I knew about baseball from Major League. It’s the classic underdog story, as an owner who wants her team to fail pulls together a group of no hopers. Each player fulfills a baseball stereotype: the journeymen looking for one last chance, the speedster who can’t hit, the flame thrower that can’t find the strike zone and the power hitter that always strikes out. Instead of failing, the group manages to pull together, play beyond their potential and have the season of their careers. It’s incredibly funny too.
“In case you haven't noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven't, the Indians have managed to win a few here and there, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar.”
9: Eight Men Out
Sport: Baseball, Year: 1988, Directed by: John Sayles, Starring: John Cusack, David Strathairn, Michael Rooker, Christopher Lloyd, Charlie Sheen
It’s a true story about one of the greatest teams in history that allegedly threw the World Series. There’s a perfect combination of sports history, politics, gangsters, Shoeless Joe Jackson and quality acting. The baseball sequences are well choreographed as are the scenes which display the conflicting player interests; some of them were trying to win despite those that were deliberately throwing the game. The constant ironic chatter between the sports writers is pretty amusing too: “I’m forever blowing ballgames.”
“Say it ain’t so, Joe. Say it ain’t so.”
8: The Cinderella Man
Sport: Boxing, Year: 2005, Directed by: Ron Howard, Starring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti
It’s no surprise that boxing dominates my top ten, because there’s something about the brutality of the ring and resilience of its competitors that makes boxing the perfect big screen topic. Here Russell Crowe is excellent as Jim Braddock, the man who lost everything during the Great Depression then defied the odds and injury to win the world heavyweight title. Craig Bierko is particularly menacing and charismatic as Max Baer. There’s a rich tapestry of American history, and the Cinderella tale in this true story.
“There's still some juice in these legs and I can still take a few. Just let me take them in the ring where at least I know who's hitting me.”
7: Victory (Escape to Victory)
Sport: Soccer, Year: 1981, Directed by: John Huston, Starring: Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Pele
It’s the typical war movie that’s all been done before: The Great Escape or Bridge on the River Kwai, on a football field! The Allied prisoners, malnourished, war beaten, take on their supreme Nazi captors in occupied France. The Nazi’s were proud of their sporting supremacy and try to rig a game where they beat the best the Allies can gather. But the Allies have Pele, Ossie Ardiles, Bobby Moore and Rambo in goal. I’m surprised that the greatest game on earth hasn’t spawned too many classics but this one gets me going every time. There’s plenty of skill on the pitch and Michael Caine is pretty impressive too. I didn’t realize until today that John Huston directed this – enough to make it a classic on its own.
“Hatch gives me the ball here, I do this, this, this, this, GOAL”
6: The Wrestler
Sport: Wrestling, Year: 2008, Directed by: Darren Aronofsky, Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei
One of those sports movies that’s as much about great movie making and supreme acting as it is about life in the ring. Aronofsky paints a less than glamorous life for Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson, a man long past his best but surviving on his legendary reputation and steroids. Mickey Rourke won a Golden Globe and many thought he would win the Oscar too. The action in the ring is pretty graphic too, making us realize that while most of the fighting might be staged, it’s definitely not painless.
“I'm an old broken down piece of meat and I deserve to be all alone, I just don't want you to hate me.”
5: Chariots of Fire
Sport: Running, Year: 1981, Directed by: Hugh Hudson, Starring: Ian Charleson, Ben Cross
Another true story, this time of two competing British athletes in the 1924 Olympics. Eric Liddel is a devout Scottish missionary who runs because he knows he must please God, while Harold Abrahams is a newly rich Cambridge Jew who runs to escape prejudice. Regardless they’re two of the most famed British athletes. Historically and as a character study this movie is fascinating, but it’s the running and that magnificent Evangelos Papathanassiou score that really gets things going. Oh, for a time when it really was great to be British.
The score is the memorable quote, but here’s one I can type instead:
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”
4: The Karate Kid
Sport: Karate, Year: 1984, Directed by: John G. Avildsen, Starring: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue
The movie purists might scorn on this one, but it hardly gets more inspirational than this. Mr. Miyagi probably invented the whole idea of Zen coaching, and I’m sure Phil Jackson was watching closely before he won the first of his 10 NBA titles. The high school scenes, kid getting bullied, falling in love with Elisabeth Shue are all so-so. But it’s Miyagi and the final karate tournament that throw this movie in with the sporting greats. What cold blooded man can’t feel a shiver of excitement, when Daniel, bruised ribs and one good leg to stand on, goes into the crane stance? The music rises, the crowd gets louder and Miyagi calmly offers a nod of approval. The rest is history, kids join dojo’s and perfect the crane technique.
“Man who catch fly with chopstick achieve anything.”
3: Raging Bull
Sport: Boxing, Year: 1980, Directed by: Martin Scorsese, Starring: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci
Scorsese, De Niro and Pesci always have been a formidable team and when they combined their efforts on Raging Bull, it made for one of the greatest movies in history. This is a great movie on so many levels, some excellent choreographed boxing scenes and a fascinating real life character study about one man’s rise and ultimate downfall. De Niro won an Oscar, Scorsese and Pesci were among 8 nominations.
“So give me a stage, Where this bull here can rage, And though I could fight, I'd much rather recite, That's entertainment.” {I couldn’t really use the most famous quote}
2: The Hustler
Sport: Pool, Year: 1961, Directed by: David S. Ward, Starring: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie
Pool might not be the most exciting action to watch, but here it’s entirely gripping stuff. We see a few trick shots but the focus is entirely on the two men, dueling against each other, slowly grinding each other down. Newman and Gleason offer terrific character portrayals, as does Scott as the ruthless money man. The two pool duels act as book ends to Newman’s excellent performance and dysfunctional relationship with Piper Laurie. While The Color of Money didn’t match up to this classic, it’s still a good movie and also adds some terrific dimension to Fast Eddie.
“You can't see it, can you, Charlie? I mean, you've never been able to see it. I came after him. And I'm gonna get him. I'm goin' with him all the way. The pool game is not over until Minnesota Fats says it's over. Is it over, Fats?”
1: Rocky
Sport: Boxing, Year: 1976, Directed by: John G. Avildsen, Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Burt Young
A nobody from Philadelphia, a man who’s just as likely to throw fights for the mob as he is to win one, is picked in a lottery to fight the world champion. He knows he’s better than he has been giving and decides to throw everything into this one opportunity. The champ is taking things lightly and Rocky knocks him down in the first round. Rocky almost pulls off the ultimate upset, and it’s the “almost” that makes this so brilliant. Stallone wrote it and left it with a true sense of reality. It’s the story of the American dream, and one that was based on an actual Mohammed Ali fight. A rousing score, an exciting fight, some superb training scenes and the growling philosophy of Burgess Meredith make Rocky one of the greatest movies ever. I have no shame in saying that I shed an adrenalin soaked tear of emotion every time I watch those final scenes. Rocky Balboa is arguably the greatest fictional sports icon of all time and I even think Mick edges out Mr. Miyagi as the greatest mentor. It won 3 Oscars too.
“Adrian! Adrian!”
That’s all folks, but stick around for the closing credits:
To finish with, just for fun, how about one pick for each sport:
Arm Wrestling: Over The Top (1987)
Auto Racing: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Baseball: Eight Men Out (1988)
Basketball: White Men Can’t Jump (1982)
Bobsledding: Cool Runnings (1993)
Bowling: The Big Lebowski (1998)
Boxing: Rocky (1976)
Cheerleading: Bring It On (2000)
Chess: Searching for Bobby Fisher (1993)
Cricket: Bodyline (1984)
Cycling: Breaking Away (1979)
Disabled Sports: Murderball (2005)
Dodgeball: Dodgeball (2004)
Dog Show: Best in Show (2000)
Figure Skating: Blades of Glory (2007)
Football: The Longest Yard (1974)
Golf: Caddyshack (1980)
Hockey: Miracle (2004)
Horse: Seabiscuit (2003)
Karate: The Karate Kid (1984)
Martial Arts: Enter the Dragon (1973)
Poker: Rounders (1998)
Pool: The Hustler (1961)
Rodeo: Stir Crazy (1980)
Roller Derby: Rollerball (1975)
Rowing: Oxford Blues (1984)
Rugby: Alive ~ (it’s a stretch) (1993)
Soccer: Escape to Victory (1981)
Spelling Bee: Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
Surfing: Point Break (1991)
Table Tennis: Balls of Fury (2007)
Tennis: Strangers on a Train (1951) or Wimbledon (2004)
Track & Field: Chariots of Fire (1981)
Wrestling: The Wrestler (2008)
And …
Sports of the Future: The Running Man (1987) or Battle Royale (2000)
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Member: Andrew Smith
Location: California via Yorkshire
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