Speaking of Sports Movies...how about hidden favorites?

Skinpinch · July 5, 2005 8:55AM

What are some of your favorite sports movies. Don't include the obvious ones like Field of Dreams, or the Natural...the movies that always get recognition.

I got a hidden one that I always watch when it is on..The Replacements, with Keanu Reeves. I found it entertaining, a little funny, and I liked the heart warming speech made by Gene Hackman at the end of the movie about the human spirit and triumph.

If you haven't seen it, it is a football movie about the NFL players going on strike, and then the teams find replacement players. Keanu Reeves is the replacement QB who had a good College Career but took a beating in a Bowl Game and sufferend from a confidence problem.

Of course, there are some cliches, and they mold together a team of misfit players. I liked the one player who was an NFL player but was now in prison. The warden gave him some time off to secretly play for the team. He played under a different name with the replacements. Then there was the cop who was a crazy man. He is Rudy's friend/roomate from Rudy. He is a little more cut muscular wise in this movie.

The commentators for the games are John Madden and Pat Summeral, and they provide a nice touch to the movie.

I totally didn't even know it was made when it came out. I was on vacation a few years ago and it was late in the Hotel Room. I started flipping channels and I never even knew this movie was made, but I came across it and watched it, and it has become a movie that I like watching when it is on cable.

Mac53 · July 5, 2005 9:05AM

Well, Hoosiers, but that may be an obvious one. I have to watch Rudy alone because I always tear up at the end. The original Brian's Song.

iamthegreatcornholio · July 5, 2005 9:10AM

Jon Favreau was hilarious in The Replacements.

I dunno about hidden, but 61* is one of my favorites, it's an HBO movie so I don't think it ever hit the big screen.

Brian

goose3 · July 5, 2005 9:23AM

I have to agree with you on THE REPLACEMENTS.

A buddy rented that one night and I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised at how funny it was.

Jersey · July 5, 2005 9:43AM

For those who like boxing, I recommend "The Harder They Fall." It's a good movie.

DirtyDog48 · July 5, 2005 9:43AM

<< <i>What are some of your favorite sports movies. Don't include the obvious ones like Field of Dreams, or the Natural...the movies that always get recognition. >>

You want obscure? OK, here's obscure....how about the 1963 British import, "This Sporting Life" starring Richard Harris as a professional rugby player in England. Shot in black & white, it's gritty and intelligent but you have to pay attention thru every second of the flick in order to get the dialogue through the cast members' heavy British accents.

Definitely worth renting the DVD, but you probably won't find it at your neighborhood Blockbuster.

Skinpinch · July 5, 2005 9:53AM

dirtydog, does that movie come with a Honus Wagner Sporting life card? Tell a little more about the movie.

The Harder they Fall...is that a recent one?

DirtyDog48 · July 5, 2005 10:00AM

Skinpinch, if you like British films as much as I do, then you'lll love "This Sporting Life". Here's a thumbnail reveiw which doesn't allude to the flick's usual Brit way of winking at the homosexual tendencies of your typical jock-sniffing sports fans.

"This Sporting Life" - Mini-Review

Axtell · July 5, 2005 10:06AM

I despise Keaneu Reeves as an actor, but I agree, The Replacements is great.

Another football flick I like a lot is 'Necessary Roughness'...tons of talent in that cast.

coinkat · July 5, 2005 10:18AM

Follow The Sun... Glenn Ford portrays Ben Hogan and it is well worth watching just to see Sam Snead and other legendary golfers of the time.

Knute Rockne All American... Pat O' Brien is great and there is this other guy in it who shall remain nameless

Pride of St. Louis... The story of Dizzy Dean

Fear Strikes Out...

There is a film about Grover Cleveland Alexander and I can't remember the name.. the guy who shall remain nameless portrays Alexander if I recall correctly.

Pride of the Yankees but everyone has seen that.

There was a film done about Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard in the late 1940's that was good, but I can't remember the title

Boxing- City for Conquest great Warner Bros film starring James Cagney and well done.

Cubfan · July 5, 2005 11:47PM

In the 60's and 70's, they used to show The Kid From Cleveland during Cubs rain delays. It was an interesting film that had the 1948 Cleveland Indians in it. Im thinking they always showed it because Lou Boudreau was in the film (he was the Cubs radio announcer at the time). But it had most of the team, Bill Veeck, Hank Greenberg and so on in it. Kind of a silly little "kid-gets-to-work-with-the-championship-team" movie, but its neat to see the ballplayers, the stadiums, the game play and it starred a young Russ Tamblyn (sp?) before he grew up and starred in all of those musicals.

For vintage baseball, I really liked Eight Men Out for the stadium shots, game play and so on.

And I would agree with 61*. If you ever get the DVD, watch it with the directors commentary on. Its extremely interesting, entertaining and humorous to hear Billy Crystal talk about the making of the movie and the insight behind many of the shots.

yawie99 · July 6, 2005 12:53AM

It's not up there with my favorites in the Obvious category (The Natural and Hoosiers), but I kinda like The Stratton Story.

Stingray · July 6, 2005 1:14AM

Was Cobb a good movie? Always wanted to rent that one. The Sandlot, makes me think of my younger years.

Stingray

stevek · July 6, 2005 2:23AM

<<< Was Cobb a good movie? >>>

I am a Ty Cobb fan. I enjoyed the movie even though it was slanted against Cobb which I fully expected it to be. There is one small scene whereby the movie goes silent and illustrates the beauty of Cobb's hitting and baserunning - that one scene is well worth the price of the movie rental.

Peetie · July 6, 2005 9:38AM

The Sandlot-- "You're killin' me, Smalls".
For a hokey love story, For Love of the Game with Costnar isn't all that bad.

WinPitcher · July 6, 2005 10:20AM

Raging bull

mercurynut · July 6, 2005 11:57PM

Any Given Sunday or Caddy shack works for me.

sixdart · July 7, 2005 8:58AM

Movies that I can watch each time they come on tv/cable ...

The Bad News Bears
North Dallas Forty
Slap Shot
The Hustler & The Color of Money (not sure if this counts)
The Longest Yard (original)
Tin Cup

... hmmmm - a little too much Paul Newman here?

koby · July 7, 2005 9:26AM

Dodgeball

Jersey · July 7, 2005 10:48AM

<<The Harder they Fall...is that a recent one? >>

Skinpinch,

No it's actually not a recent movie. Humphrey Bogart and ex-champ Jersey Joe Walcott were in it. It's about a big, strong, naive guy from another country (Argentina?) who was "groomed" as a legitimate challenger but he was fed a string of patsies to build up his record. At some point, he got a match with the heavyweight champion. I won't say what happened because I don't want to ruin the ending. The movie may be old but it still says a lot about the fight game and what's wrong with it. I recommend it highly.

Cubfan · July 8, 2005 6:21AM

The Harder They Fall was Bogart's last movie.

bowdowntome · July 8, 2005 2:19PM

<< <i>Follow The Sun... Glenn Ford portrays Ben Hogan and it is well worth watching just to see Sam Snead and other legendary golfers of the time.

Knute Rockne All American... Pat O' Brien is great and there is this other guy in it who shall remain nameless

Pride of St. Louis... The story of Dizzy Dean

Fear Strikes Out...

There is a film about Grover Cleveland Alexander and I can't remember the name.. the guy who shall remain nameless portrays Alexander if I recall correctly.

Pride of the Yankees but everyone has seen that.

There was a film done about Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard in the late 1940's that was good, but I can't remember the title

Boxing- City for Conquest great Warner Bros film starring James Cagney and well done. >>

The Doc Blanchard and Glen davis movie is called "Spirit of West Point". Great movie, not because of the great acting or anything, but because they actually played themselves ini it.

Another good one is "The Jackie Robinson Story", again, mostly because Jackie Robinson played himself so you get to actually see him "play"....sort of. If you have a Wal Mart near you should be able to find this classic B&W flick in their $1 DVD bargain selections they keep by the counter. Pretty good quality too, for a buck.

Others - Slapshot (Hockey)
Blue Chips (Basketball)
and of course - Bad News Bears

Anybody remember a movie called "The Kansas City Bombers"? At least I think that's what it was called. It starred Raquel Welch as a roller derby, uhmmmm, "roller", I guess.

Axtell · July 8, 2005 4:36PM

I can't believe I overlooked the first 'Major League' movie.

Good fun....and Wesley Snipes before he became a prima donna.

Onlypsahockey · July 9, 2005 3:04AM

"putting on the foil coach"
"trade me right f'ing now!"
"ownza ownza"

sports + comedy = Slapshot

hands down the funniest sports movie ever made

Bob

Gator5220 · July 9, 2005 3:12AM

American Flyers was a good movie IMO. It's about a bicycle race and has a younger Kevin Costner who is battling cancer while mentoring his little brother about how to be a competitive bicyclist.

Of course, the little brother wins the big race "Hell of the West".

Throwdown · July 11, 2005 6:40AM

Bang The Drum Slowly
Necessary Roughness
Dog Town And Z-Boys
Raging Bull
The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg
Slapshot
The White Shadow (TV show, but still vastly underrated)
The Replacements
Gymkata (just kidding)

Brian48 · July 13, 2005 12:45PM

61*

Speaking of Sports Movies...how about hidden favorites?

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