Bill Simmons (aka "Sports Guy") is doing a "Top Sports Movies" series. Here's the first installment, where he sings the praises of Varsity Blues, of all things. Bill Simmons is one of my favorite columnists writing today - mainly because I laugh out loud at least once during reading any one of his columns.
Like:
You have Dawson himself (the immortal James Van Der Beek) actually headlining a big-budget movie, which won't happen again unless he commits a double murder and someone makes a documentary about it.
Also:
Just to complicate things, Mox is dating Lance's sister, Jules (played by Smart), who's cute in an "I'm dating the backup QB" kinda way. In other words, she has small breasts.
Anyway - here is the latest installment: "Remember the Titans".
Notable quotables:
...Once forced integration passes, Coach Yoast gets demoted to assistant coach, for two reasons:1. The school board wants a black football coach.
2. Denzel Washington is the star of the movie, not Will Patton.
Also:
I'm telling you, if I have to sit through another movie where a mismatched group of characters sing "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" together, I'm bludgeoning an usher with my 128-ounce Mountain Dew on the way out of the theater.
HAHAHAHAHA
I actually really liked "Remember the Titans" - and I agree with Sports Guy that the sub-plot involving the white player and the black player was the best part of the movie, and I also agree that the kid playing the white player did, indeed, act Denzel Washington off the screen.
Do you all have any favorite sports movies?
Bill Simmons doesn't count "Bull Durham" - he says it's a chick flick. Well, I'm a chick, and I am unembarrassed about my love for that movie. I call it a sports movie, most definitely.
Other sports movies I adore?
-- Hoosiers
-- All the Right Moves (LOVE THAT MOVIE)
-- Breaking Away
-- Miracle (you knew that one was coming)
-- Bend it like Beckham
-- 61* - great flick
Er ... let me think of some more.
Posted by sheilaA couple of others for consideration:
"Chariots of Fire," while taking a few liberties with the facts, did a marvelous job of re-creating the atmosphere of those Olympics, even the little details like the way that sprinters ran in those days. I remember reading somewhere - maybe Sports Illustrated - that it took them weeks to teach Ben Cross and Ian Charleson to run like that.
"North Dallas Forty" - I didn't quite buy Mac Davis as a professional quarterback, but Nick Nolte was great, and the movie was pretty realistic in its depiction of the business of pro football.
Posted by: Jeff at August 13, 2004 12:11 PMAh yes - loved Chariots of Fire!!
Haven't seen the other one
Posted by: red at August 13, 2004 12:17 PMRudy
Posted by: Val Prieto at August 13, 2004 12:56 PMI had a strange fascination with Vision Quest whenever that came out - the intensity of the training sequences, the insanity & masochism of them. And I had no interest in wrestling, even an active repulsion to the sport, so it was some feat to get me interested. It was all Matthew Modine's doing, I think.
Posted by: Anne at August 13, 2004 1:17 PMAnne - God, I loved that movie too. An early appearance of Linda Fiorentino ...
I was a bit more obsessed with his vision quest friend - who rode around on the motorcycle - and who, of course, also was in 16 Candles as the object of Molly Ringwald's desire. I had a crush on that guy.
Ah yes, Jake Ryan.
Posted by: Anne at August 13, 2004 1:25 PMThe only thing about Hoosiers that always bugs me is that every single American flag is hung backwards in that movie. Drives me batty.
Posted by: timmy at August 13, 2004 1:25 PMJake Ryan. MMM. High school hottie.
Posted by: red at August 13, 2004 1:29 PMHello?!?! KINGPIN?!?!?
Posted by: skillzy at August 13, 2004 2:16 PMA few of my favorites:
The Natural (Robert Redford notwithstanding)
Major League (Look at that cast!)
Unnecessary Roughness (Yeah, I know, but c'mon...)
A League of their Own
Brian's Song (It always - every single stinking time - makes me cry)
I always had a weakness for "Semi-Tough." Decent satire.
More recently, I liked "The Rookie," but I like most things with Dennis Quaid in them.
Two movies I think are excellent, but seeing them once was enough for me: "Bang the Drum Slowly" and "Ragin Bull." (Hmmm... I don't think the "see them once" line has anything to do with De Niro.)
Posted by: Chrees at August 13, 2004 2:26 PMWow - some very good reminders here. The Rookie is a wonderful film - I loved it!
Another one that should be in there ...
-- Rocky (the first one only)
Hmmm... a section of my post disappeared. I mentioned Rocky too, as well as the original "Rollerball."
Posted by: Chrees at August 13, 2004 2:31 PMUmm...do I get rotten fruit thrown at me if I mention "BASEketball"?
Posted by: Jimmie at August 13, 2004 3:36 PM8 Men Out! Very good.
Now I'm gonna have to duck from rotten fruit: what is BASEketball? Nevah hoid of it.
Posted by: red at August 13, 2004 4:13 PMOh, and let me just put Personal Best on the list.
A very good and deep film about being an athlete.
Also, there's a hot lesbian sex scene.
Posted by: red at August 13, 2004 4:15 PMThat sounds absolutely freakin' hysterical
Posted by: red at August 13, 2004 4:49 PMAnd it also features one of my favorite movie lines:
"Wake up, bitch! You're my new best friend!" (Imagine this accompanied by one of the main characters yanking the little geeky guy out of a sound sleep)
Posted by: Jimmie at August 13, 2004 8:15 PMSurfed over here from Kendall Harmon's blog....
I always liked "Karate Kd" (the first one)
Posted by: Loco^Owl at August 14, 2004 4:08 AM