Sports films (that aren't documentaries) have the deck stacked against them from the outset, because they're not real sport and so the narratives don't compel, unless they're simply retelling something that really happened.
As documentaries go, I saw Pumping Iron the other day and it's lovely. Arnie really was always a star, wasn't he?
No surprise it's had many mentions already as it stands alone for me as the greatest sporting film ever made, in fact one of the greatest films ever made - Raging Bull.
Sports films (that aren't documentaries) have the deck stacked against them from the outset, because they're not real sport and so the narratives don't compel, unless they're simply retelling something that really happened.
As documentaries go, I saw Pumping Iron the other day and it's lovely. Arnie really was always a star, wasn't he?
On the topic of sports documentaries, Hoop Dreams is absolutely brilliant. It's a film about high school basketball players trying to make it to university and then the pros. It's been a long time since I've seen it but if you can track it down it's definitely worth it.
Strangely I thought Moneyball was quite boring. My all-time favourite is The Damned United. I also loved Cinderella Man, Rush and The Greatest Game Ever Played. I knew nothing about golf, was never interested in it yet totally enjoyed The Greatest Game Ever Played. It was surprisingly good.
Senna Rush Goal! (Only the first one) When Saturday Comes There's only one Jimmy Grimble Mighty Ducks Series Rookie of the Year (Loved that film as a kid) Invincible
Its not a documentary (as such) and is about the fight from David Walsh to prove that Lance Armstrong was cheating throughout the Tour de France years and is very good... Its not just about the cycling either as there is a scene when Armstrong visits some children at hospital who are all suffering from cancer, he is about to leave and there is one child he missed who is really suffering from the illness and stops to spend time with him.
Might not be have happened and not much gets to me (especially film wise) but that gets right to me!!
Comments
Any Given Sunday
Mike Bassett
Le Mans isn't a great film, but it does manage to give you an idea of what that iconic race is all about.
As documentaries go, I saw Pumping Iron the other day and it's lovely. Arnie really was always a star, wasn't he?
Bull Durham
Eight men out
For dumb entertainment: Major league.
I also thought Rush was a good film. Tried to get into the heads of F1 drivers like Lauda and Hunt.
Field of Dreams
The Games
Raging Bull
The Club
The Damned United
Rush
Senna
Enjoyed any given Sunday as a kid
Escape to victory
Seabiscuit
The blind side
Southpaw
50 to 1
Senna
Senna
Rush
Goal! (Only the first one)
When Saturday Comes
There's only one Jimmy Grimble
Mighty Ducks Series
Rookie of the Year (Loved that film as a kid)
Invincible
Escape to Victory
Rush
Senna
Mean Machine (the Burt Reynolds original)
Its not a documentary (as such) and is about the fight from David Walsh to prove that Lance Armstrong was cheating throughout the Tour de France years and is very good... Its not just about the cycling either as there is a scene when Armstrong visits some children at hospital who are all suffering from cancer, he is about to leave and there is one child he missed who is really suffering from the illness and stops to spend time with him.
Might not be have happened and not much gets to me (especially film wise) but that gets right to me!!
Raging Bull
Senna
Blindside
Moneyball
Not seen Road or the The Damned United yet but will definitely check them out. Good tips.
There was a good movie about the a non league team that beating an Italian team in one of the early European competitions. Can't remember the name.