You may begin to see me repeating myself, but if you do, I am sorry. Some of my favorite films transcend genre, and since they do, when a genre pops up, it's likely that they may pop up again. Sports are a perfect subject for films, because most sport in and of itself is laced with drama. This is the case since, if they are being played honestly, no one knows the outcome of the story. Being able to use that and add more human elements add up to a great movie as well. Here are some of my favorite sports movies:
Hoosiers
Maybe my favorite sports movie, and since baseball is my favorite sport, that says something about how great this movie is. This story of a small town Indiana high school team which wins the state championship is a classic underdog story. But what makes it so watchable are the characters. There's Shooter (Dennis Hopper), the town drunk who also happens to be a basketball encyclopedia. There's Jimmy, the silent basketball prodigy. There's Myra Fleener (Barbara Hershey), the cynical small town resident who is trapped in the town for reasons she cannot control, but sees something interesting in this new addition to her town. And, as that addition, Gene Hackman plays Norman Dale, the coach of the team with a shady past. This film uses these characters to tell a wonderful story. It shows us why we love sports and why we go to the movies. We love unexpected drama.
The Natural
I have heard lots of criticism of this movie over the years. I have never read the book upon which it is based, and I have heard that it differs significantly from the movie. I may never read the book in order to avoid the disappointment. Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, a baseball prodigy who somehow loses his way and his innocence on his way to the big time. After years off the grid, he is given one last chance to play in the big leagues. In so doing, he is offered the chance to help redeem a struggling team and a manager (Wilford Brimley) who is caught in a power struggle with the team's owner. It is another "against all odds" story that resonates with me, and it has a romantic view of baseball.
Moneyball
Speaking of a romantic view of baseball, this movie is about a man who is trying to have an unromantic view of baseball, but in the end, realizes he cannot. Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, the real life owner of the Oakland A's. This movie tells his story. Beane is forced to try to compete with teams in the American League who can spend way more money than him. Aided by his assistant (Jonah Hill), Beane is able to put together a competitive team even though he spends relatively little money. As with so many sports movies, part of the reason this one works so well is that it is another underdog story. Also, the way that director weaves in Billy's personal journey as a player and later a father is a masterful stroke of storytelling.
Rudy
Another underdog story which shows us how much we love the size of a player's heart more than anything. Sean Astin plays Rudy, a Midwestern boy who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. With his heart and determination, his dream is realized. Pure sentimentality.
Rocky
On most lists of sports films, "Raging Bull" is the boxing movie that always beats Rocky. I will admit that I like this movie more. Scorsese's biopic is a greater work of art (and I admit I have only seen it once), but this film is more about the sport itself, and the central character is one for whom we can root. It hits you in the gut with its passion and its emotion. Also, after so many sequels, it is wonderful to revisit this film and see how spare this movie truly is. The opening shots of the working class end of Philadelphia are a marvelous way to show the humble beginnings of this young boxer, and it stands in stark contrast to where we journey with him at the end of the film.
Hoop Dreams
Just the dedication shown by the filmmakers of this documentary is noteworthy. This film follows the real lives of two young inner city boys who dream of making it to the NBA one day. I haven't seen it for awhile, but it made a powerful impact on me due to its realism and the power of the human drama. I need to take another look at this one.
The Fighter
This movie, a recent entry, takes a look not only at the dynamics of the sport of boxing, but also the dynamics of a troubled family in Lowell, Massachusettes. Christian Bale won an Oscar for playing Dicky, the drugged out brother to Mickey, played by Mark Wahlberg. Their relationship is the heart of the movie. But, to me, the real drama is seeing how Mickey deals with the conflicts of his life. He knows he needs Dicky's expertise in the ring, but he also knows that Dick's lifestyle is destroying his ability to pursue boxing. On another battle front, Melissa Leo plays Alice, Mickey and Dicky's controlling mother. As Mickey gets involved with Charlene (Amy Adams), Mickey becomes the rope in a tug of war. Charlene thinks he should sever ties with his family, and Mickey's mother can't stand Charlene, obviously. It all makes for great domestic drama and a great underdog sports story.
Endless Summer
This surfing documentary is a great diversion. But more than anything, I remeber it for the setting in which I first saw it. The documentary follows a group of surfers who travel around the world following summer and continuing to seek the thrill of the surf. The first time I saw it was back in high school. My youth group would camp out on the beach, and one of the nights we had a movie night out on the sand. The setting was perfect...we all sat on the beach watching the projection of this surfing film onto a screen with the ocean as our back drop.
Karate Kid
This movie was directed by the same man who directed "Rocky", and one can see the parallels. Pat Morita landed the role of his career as Mr. Miyagi, a wise karate master who tutors young Daniel Laruso (Ralph Macchio) in the ways of self defense. Daniel has just moved to LA from the East Coast, and he is truly an outsider in this new life in the San Fernando Valley. As Daniel learns to deal with bullies at school, a truly special relationship develops between the two main characters, and the climactic fight scenes can always bring the drama.
61*
This is a movie that Billy Crystal directed that follows the home run chase in 1961, as Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle chased the single season home run record held by the immortal Babe Ruth. As it becomes clear that Maris and not Mantle was going to be the one who truly challenges the record (much to the chagrin of the NY press), we see truly human drama on display in the most unimportant of things. The pressure of the limelight is not what Maris wanted, and this film shows that very well. Maris was a simple family man who was very good at his job, and this film brings that home very well. It reminds us that the jobs we think of as desirable have draw backs as well.
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