Sport has all the drama anyone could want and is a perfect subject for the movies. Some sports lend themselves to a cinematic treatment more than others. They can blend with most genres, including romantic, comedic, or thriller. The sports action has to look right and the hero must look comfortable with boxing gloves, baseball bat, or whatever. The sporting segments are often metaphors for the personal lives of the protagonists. Here are 5 classic films, all different from each other (despite their being two boxing movies).
5. Chariots of Fire (1981). Directed by Hugh Hudson. Choosing a score written by Vangelis was inspired. The electronic music complemented the story of two rival athletes, who chase their dreams at the 1924 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. The story is based on the two real life sprinters, Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson) and Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross). They come from very different backgrounds. Liddell is a Scottish missionary who runs to please God and refuses to compete on the Sabbath. Abrahams is a student at Cambridge University, a Jew who feels on the outskirts of society. They both push themselves in the hope of becoming the best in the world. Supporting actors included John Gielgud and Ian Holm. The British made movie won four Oscars, for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Costume Design.
4. Cool Runnings (1993). Directed by Jon Turteltaub. This is genuinely funny and a feel good movie inspired by the true story of the first Jamaican bobsleigh team. The four young men who make up the team are fictional characters, as is their trainer. Derice, Sanka, Junior, and Yul come from a sprinting or push-cart racing background. John Candy plays Irving Blitzer, a discredited ex-bobsleigh competitor whose gold medal was taken away when he was caught cheating. He’s persuaded to prepare the team for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, Canada. With little money, the team just qualifies for the Olympics, much to the amusement of the media and the crowds. Gradually, they earn respect and affection is shown towards the underdogs. The team bond as friends and Blitzer finds redemption for past mistakes.
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3.
The Champ (1931). Directed by King Vidor. It’s not subtle and it’s sentimental but the performances are powerful and it’s another uplifting story of an underdog seeking redemption. Wallace Beery plays Andy, aka the Champ, a has been middleweight boxer and alcoholic living in poor conditions with his 8 year old son, Dink, portrayed by Jackie Cooper. Dink is devoted to his father, and despite a lack of parenting skill; the Champ has a bond with his son. Andy scrapes a living from prizefighting and gets involved in
horse racing after winning a racehorse. This doesn’t go to plan, so he decides he must return to boxing to give Dink the life he deserves. Have plenty of tissues ready for the Champ’s comeback fight. Beery won the Oscar for Best Actor and Cooper became a child star. Franco Zeffirelli made a remake in 1979 with Jon Voight in the title role and Rick Schroder as his son.
2.
The Hustler (1961). Directed by Robert Rossen. Paul Newman plays a
pool room hustler called Fast Eddie Felson, giving one of the
best performances in his career. The story is a moody depiction of a ruthless world. Eddie wants to climb to the top, by beating the best player around, Minnesota Fats, played by Jackie Gleason. George C. Scott also co-stars, as the unethical manager, Bert. Piper Laurie plays Eddie’s girlfriend, who always comes second to Eddie’s ambition. Newman was cast as Eddie again in The Color of Money in 1986, co-starring Tom Cruise. He won the Best Actor Academy Award for his reprisal but it was also taken as a belated acknowledgement for his original portrayal.
1.
Raging Bull (1980). Directed by Martin Scorsese. This is a blood and guts movie based on the life of the middleweight, Jake LaMotta and most critics cite it as the definitive
boxing movie. The screenplay was based on LaMotta’s own book and Robert De Niro portrays him as a hot tempered and jealous individual. The film was made in black and white and the
boxing sequences are so realistic, you feel that you are in the ring and feeling every punch. LaMotta helped De Niro to train and said that he was a natural. De Niro had to gain a lot of weight for the scenes showing LaMotta in his later life, as an overweight nightclub performer doing comedy routines. His reward for all the hard work was a Best Actor Academy Award. Joe Pesci was also impressive as LaMotta’s brother and manager.
These 5
sports movies for different moods and all skillfully made.
Sports films are not easy to make and there are enough mediocre ones around. When one comes along that blends realistic looking action and a compelling story, it can appeal to audiences of all ages.