Chinstraps and Mouthpieces: Part one of rating top sports movies of all time in America
With all the reviews of 2002 floating around, it’s time for yet another list.
Don’t fret. This won’t be an MTV-like self-promotion, so there won’t be “The Top 10 MTV Moments of 2002,” nor “The Top 50 Real World Las Vegas Clips,” and certainly not “The Top 100 Moments of the Real World/Road Rules Challenge.”
Instead, lets construct a much deeper list. Although no two top sports movie lists are the same, I will present to you my top sports flicks of all time.
Fellow sports writers, as well as The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and even E! have given me some insight. The sports publications ranked their best and worst films, while the entertainment magazine only rated the best. They certainly all have their preferences, which is why my list won’t jive with any of them.
It’s hard for me to find a sports movie I absolutely dislike, but I suggest staying away from Any Given Sunday and Blue Chips. Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday isn’t all that believable (OK, so a good chunk of sports films fall into that category) and while Blue Chips might portray how shady recruiting works in college basketball, it’s not satisfactory. Blue Chips does feature former Jayhawks Adonis Jordan and Rex Walters, so it can’t be the worst sports movie ever.
The bottom list could probably be expanded, but it’s better to zero in on the films you should want to see.
The list will include 20 movies: an honorable mention and the top 10. Because the list becomes lengthy, this week’s column looks at the second 10, while next week will feature the top 10.
The movies on the honorable mention list might not be at the top of everybody’s lists, but after choosing among many, this is what I slapped together. These films fall into the sixth man category. They’re pretty good and are important contributors to sports cinema, but they aren’t quite starters.
In no particular order:
Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1976)
Directed by Michael Pressman
Running time: 105 minutes
Many might think this movie doesn’t belong anywhere near the top 20, but the movie takes place in the Astrodome, where I viewed my first major league game outside Kansas City. That and William Devane’s chant “Let Them Play” probably clouded my judgment. If you see this one, you should see the original with Walter Mathau.
Rocky IV (1985)
Directed by Sylvester Stallone
Running time: 91 min.
Again, moviegoers are probably confused why this movie made the list and the first installment. Again, it’s all about preferences. Rocky IV reflected the 80s strife between the Soviet Union and the United States. The training scene in the U.S.S.R. and an impressive soundtrack make it appealing also.
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
Directed by Jay Roach
Running time: 119 min.
The humorous movie comes from the director of the Austin Powers movies and Meet the Parents.
Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria and Burt Reynolds star in the movie about an Alaskan community with a talented town hockey team that eventually plays the New York Rangers in an exhibition game. Far-fetched, but still a great movie.
The Replacements (2000)
Directed by Howard Deutch
Running time: 118 min.
If Gene Hackman is in it, then it has to be a good movie.
The Karate Kid (1984)
Directed by John G. Avildsen
Running time: 126 min.
The 1980s karate flick is the classic new kid encounters bullies, new kid courts girl bully also likes, new kid miraculously defeats bullies in the All-Valley Karate Championship.
Major League (1989)
Directed by David S. Ward
Running time: 107 min.
Funny how when the movie was made no one thought the Cleveland Indians would actually be competing for a pennant, much less winning the division repeatedly in recent years. Bob Ueker puts the extra juice on the ball in the baseball hit.
Kingpin (1996)
Directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly
Running time: 117 min.
Randy Quaid and Woody Harrelson make an enjoyable pair as bowling pupil and mentor, while Bill Murray’s occasional scenes provide the most laughs.
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
Directed by Robert Redford
Running time: 125 min.
This golf movie has a strong cast, most notably Will Smith, Matt Damon and Jack Lemmon as the narrator. The flick makes watching a sport that frustrates me much more pleasing.
Wildcats (1986)
Directed by Mike Ritchey
Running time: 106 min.
Goldie Hawn stars in a comedy about a woman who takes an inner-city down-and-out football program and brings them to respectability. The cast includes Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes, Jan Hooks and Swoozie Kurtz.
To see my picks for the top 10, look for those selections in next week’s edition of The Mirror. In the meantime, you can send your selections to slinenberger@tonganoxiemirror.com.