What are your fave films about sport?

[Kenny Vermouth]

Rocky IV every single time.
Rocky III comes second

third place would probably be 'no retreat no surrender' if that falls on the right side of the martial arts / sports movie divide

Fuck - I forgot all about Rocky.

Yeah, 3 and 4 are better. The more unrealistic the film, the better I thought.

FFS, as if a bout would ever take place between Drago and Balboa in real life.

 

[Sweet FA]

The Hustler (but not Colour of Money )

"You know, I got a hunch, fat man. I got a hunch it's me from here on in. One ball, corner pocket. I mean, that ever happen to you? You know, all of a sudden you feel like you can't miss? 'Cause I dreamed about this game, fat man. I dreamed about this game every night on the road. Five ball. You know, this is my table, man. I own it."

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Rocky 3 was utterly dire. It's the one where he fights fucking Hulk Hogan.

On the other hand, 2 and 4 are excellent.

Rocky 1 is actually surprisingly gritty for a mainstream film. It's more arthouse than typical hollywood.

 

[Kenny Vermouth]

Rocky 3 was utterly dire. It's the one where he fights fucking Hulk Hogan.

On the other hand, 2 and 4 are excellent.

Rocky 1 is actually surprisingly gritty for a mainstream film. It's more arthouse than typical hollywood.

Hulk Hogan?

It was fucking Mr T - Clubber Lang in the film.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

He fights Hulk Hogan in a 'charity match' which goes awry first, then gets challenged by Clubber Lang, who beats him, and then Rocky wins the rematch.

 

[Kenny Vermouth]

He fights Hulk Hogan in a 'charity match' which goes awry first, then gets challenged by Clubber Lang, who beats him, and then Rocky wins the rematch.

I stand corrected and bow to your superior Rocky knowledge! It's a while since I watched III and I seem to only remember Mr T.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I stand corrected and bow to your superior Rocky knowledge! It's a while since I watched III and I seem to only remember Mr T.

I watched the whole lot quite recently...

TBH the second half of Rocky 3 picks up a bit, but the aforementioned Hulk Hogan bit is truly woeful, one of the worst scenes I've ever seen in a film...

 

[Kenny Vermouth]

I'll have to go back and watch it all again.

Love Rocky IV though - genius piece of Cold War cinema.

Have never seen Rocky V, did you watch it?

 

[vogonity]

The Set-Up - wicked boxing movie with Robert Ryan.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Love Rocky IV though - genius piece of Cold War cinema.

Have never seen Rocky V, did you watch it?

Agreed on Rocky IV, it should be preserved forever as a good bit of classic political propaganda.

V is on the compilation I have, but I haven't got round to watching it...

 

[STFC]

Rocky
Escape to Victory
Debbie Does Dallas

 

[CharlieAddict]

rocky (never in a movie have i felt so much for a loser. very unamerican).

murderball.

raging bull.

no surrender, no retreat.

 

[zed]

Slapshot

Brilliant film

Another good one, also with Paul Newman, is The Hustler (pool is a sport, right?)

And I have always had a soft spot for Major League with Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger. It makes me laugh.

 

[N_igma]

Anyone ever see a film called Purely Belter.

It's about a young Newcastle boy who wants a season ticket and it's about his attempts to get one. Feel good comedy.

Also, Man About Dog.

 

[mhendo]

Most of my faves have been mentioned already.

Bull Durham
This Sporting Life (Harris is excellent)
A League of Their Own
Major League (silly and fun)
Hoop Dreams
Bodyline (not a movie, but a miniseries; excellent)
The Natural
The Hustler
Raging Bull

I really want to see Friday Night Lights, about high school football in Texas. The book is very well regarded, and they apparently did a good job with the movie.

 

[marty21]

the natural is a great film...

 

[jodal]

I love sports films. Its its own genre so all the rules I usually apply to liking a film go out the window therefore:

Any Given Sunday
The Last Boyscout (not strictly a sports film but hey)

oh and my guilty pleasure is...

Varsity Blues

 

[Utopia]

Endless Summer - Love that film, makes me smile & chills me the fuck out!

 

[Dr. Furface]

When We Were Kings
Raging Bull
The Hustler
Big Wednesday
On Any Given Sunday
Friday Night Lights

Two not already mentioned:
North Dallas Forty - Nick Nolte brilliant as a washed up American Football player
The Club - very funny Oz film about an Aussie Rules footy team

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

rocky (never in a movie have i felt so much for a loser. very unamerican).

Is it unamerican though? I reckon a lot of americans root for the underdog when it comes to sport, perhaps because their normal society is so 'winner-orientated'.

I've been surprised how many americans i've met who follow some lower division english football team, for instance. The most famous example being Pavement being massive Luton Town fans.

 

[CharlieAddict]

Is it unamerican though? I reckon a lot of americans root for the underdog when it comes to sport, perhaps because their normal society is so 'winner-orientated'.

yeah, could be.
rocky i does epitomise the golden dream that america is a haven for all, whatever colour or class. that given a chance, even a 'bum,' through hard work and commitment can become a winner even if he did lose the battle.
(eg - balboa's transition from a thug/debt collector to community role model etc).

shame the rest of the series were so...predictable.

million dollar baby is another for this list.