At least two films about sports release every year. Even a bad film about sports is fairly successful at the box office simply because we, as a human race, are suckers for films with underdogs, emotional crowds, and winning. However, every now and then a few gems seep through, that you can‟t help but sit back, turn off the lights, and watch again and again, presumably tearing up in the process. This is not to say that these are the best films in the particular genre, but that their charm is timeless. Here‟s our list.
The Greatest Game Ever Played
“A man should know his place.” Severe words from a father to a son. But essentially what drives Francis Ouimet, played by Shia LaBeouf before he grew a beard, to become the first amateur golfer to win the US open.
If you are wondering, The Greatest Game Ever Played is about Golf. Golf in the early 19th century to be precise. A time when the US/ UK rivalry was in bloom. Our story follows a poor boy living across a golf course in Brookline, Massachusetts, who aspires to be a successful golfer, and culminates in him defeating the great British player Harry Vardon. But what makes this film compelling is that both Ouimet and Vardon are immensely likeable characters. It‟s hard to pick a side between Ouimet, with his underdog charm, and Vardon, who is a class act throughout. You do not have to be a golf fan to find this film absorbing.
Rocky
That Rocky is a loved film about boxing is no secret. But what makes this film truly special is that for all its legend, Rocky does not try to draw a reaction. No plot twists; no complex story lines. Rocky is essentially an elementary narrative about small people who live big lives.
Credit goes to Sylvester Stallone, who plays Rocky Balboa, an amateur local boxer who fortunes upon a chance to fight the then heavyweight champion. Although Balboa‟s account is matter-of-fact it draws the audience in and before you know it, you are emotionally invested and begin to feel for the characters. If you ever wondered how any studio in their right mind could make a comically ludicrous six-film franchise about an Italian boxer with a lisp, Rocky will convince you otherwise.
Glory Road is about a young coach, who manages a rookie team that does not accept him, becomes a task master, and wins a basketball cup. Sound familiar? This is the plot of countless sports films. But „Glory Road‟ is not merely a movie about „winning‟.
“You play one at home, two on the road, and three if you‟re behind.” In the 60‟s, this was the unspoken rule in Texas college basketball about including black players in a team. Glory Road tells the tale of how this rule was rewritten. It is a film with tremendous character, not only because of the personalities – try casting Jon Voight in a reticent role – but because of the circumstances in which the game was won. Truly timeless.
At least two films about sports release every year. Even a bad film about sports is fairly successful at the box office simply because we, as a human race, are suckers for films with underdogs, emotional
