Sports Movies
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Writers: W.P. Kinsella , Phil Alden Robinson
Main Actors: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones
The phrase "build it and he will come" will no doubt forever haunt this movie. What can I say about this movie? A man hears a voice in his cornfield that inspires him to build a baseball field in the middle of said corn field. Everyone thinks he is crazy for doing it but his faith to the voice holds true. It truly is a beautiful field especially with the always present sunset and green grass. His faith or madness depending how you look at it brings about a change in him and will for everyone he meets pertaining to his field. It is a magical movie and that always leaves me feeling warm inside.
Director: Barry Levinson
Writers: Bernard Malamud , Roger Towne, Phil Dusenberry
Main Actors: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger
The other baseball movie that makes this list. This movie is about a baseball phenom whose path to the majors takes a slight detour. When he is jokingly given a chance to play again he is an old (for baseball) relic who is not expected to do anything. He ends up having a magical season representing everything good that is in baseball. A must see movie.
Director: David Anspaugh
Writer: Angelo Pizzo
Main Actors: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper
We were going to get to an underdog movie eventually. It is an always present theme in sports movies. This David versus Goliath story takes place in the very small town of Hickory, Indiana that takes basketball very very seriously. A new and very controversial coach takes the helm of his towns team and leads them his own way and proceeds to alienate the entire town minus the actual players. I am afraid I will give too much away so I will stop here. What truly makes this film special is that it is based on a true story.
Director: Robert Aldrich
Writers: Albert S. Ruddy, Tracy Keenan Wynn
Main Actor: Burt Reynolds
The guards versus the inmates in a football game. What can I say more? Many of the parts are played by actual NFL football players. It has everything a good sports movie needs.
Director: Hugh Hudson
Writer: Colin Welland
Main Actors: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson
The music makes this movie. When you imagine people running a race you imagine this movie's music. Beyond that it is beautifully filmed and wonderfully acted. It is a period peice that captures the post WW1 era and the Olympics that followed it. It mainly follows two British runners and their path to the Olympics. It is an excellent movie.
Director: John G. Avildsen
Writer: Sylvester Stallone
Main Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers
Adrian, Adrian.... A down on his luck boxer gets a chance of a life time. A chance to fight for the heavy weight championship of the world. This is the movie that made Stallone. He was made for this part, but of course he did write it.