My Top 10 Sports Films

Tonight marks the start of EURO 2016, which kicks off the massive summer of sport, so I thought it would be appropriate to write a feature on my top 10 sports films. Now I know for a fact everyone’s list will be different and I’d love to hear your opinions!

The Karate Kid (1984)

Now this has to be one of my all time favourites and as a kid, doing martial arts myself I absolutely loved it. For those that don’t know, The Karate Kid was directed by John G. Avildsen and starred Ralph Maggio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue. The story follows Daniel Larusso (Maggio) as he’s taught karate by handyman/martial arts master Miyagi (Morita) who shows him that there is much more to martial arts than simply fighting. Some of the most memorable quotes, moves, and characters come out of this film and it’s noted by many as one of the best films of the 80s. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen this film and every time I watch it I still get the same sense of joy I did on first viewing.

Rush (2013)

Ron Howard’s biographical sports drama was my film of 2013. Starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl, Rush centred on the rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt (Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Bruhl) during the 1976 Formula 1 motor-racing season. The acting by both male leads and Olivia Wide, who plays Suzy Miller, was nothing short of perfect and the rivalry between Hunt and Lauda was played brilliantly. The race sequences were breath-taking and the whole film was perfectly shot, the director managed to portray intense, fast paced racing scenes and all the drama in between in the most exciting way imaginable and for me, it’s Ron Howard’s best film yet.

Coach Carter (2005)

Coach Carter is based on the true story of Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson, who made headlines in 1999 for benching his undefeated high school basketball team due to poor academic results. The best part of this film by far is the lead performance; it’s done with such energy and strength that it brings the whole film together. This is the sort of film where you can just look at what’s on screen but you actually have to watch what’s happening. It’s about how easy people give in and give up, having faith in other people and about learning. It conveys a message not just about basketball, but also about life.

Goal! (2005)

For any young lad that wants to be a professional footballer when he grows up, this is one of the best films you could see. Goal! Follows Santiago, who like millions of kids around the world dreams of being a professional footballer. However, living in the Barrios section of Los Angeles, working for his fathers gardening firm, he believes that it’s only just a dream. Until one day, an extraordinary turn of events has him trying out for Premier League club, Newcastle United. Yes it’s the classic underdog story that we’ve seen so many times before and it’s filled with clichés but it’s a great family film and at the time it was the best football film that had been made.

Rocky (1976)

It would have been a crime to leave this off the list. Directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone, Rocky is the most well known films ever and without it, we wouldn’t have been given any of the sequels or any of the more recent successful sports film. The film tells the rags to riches story of Rocky Balboa, a working class Italian-American boxer working as a debt collector in the slums of Philadelphia, as he works his way from small-time club fighter to getting a shot at the world heavyweight championship. Although the story may seem slightly predictable, Stallone’s script and incredible performance in the title role brushes aside any complaints that one might have. Rocky was nominated for ten Oscars, winning three and is both culturally and historically significant.

The Damned United (2009)

Adapted from David Pearce’s bestselling novel The Damned United, the film follows Brian Clough’s ill-fated tenure as the manager of Leeds United Football Club in 1974. Regardless of the book being largely fictional and the film gaining some criticism, it is undoubtedly entertaining with an intelligent screenplay by Peter Morgan. Football is often poorly served by cinema and The Damned United goes a long way to rectifying that. Its fresh, smart and captures the emotional toil of football that every fan, player and manager goes through, which makes it all the more involving. You cannot talk about this film without giving both recognition and praise to Martin Sheen, who portrays Brian Clough magnificently. He brings the ego of Clough to screen incredibly well and he seems to have the portrayal of modern British Icons nailed down, having previously played David Frost in Frost/Nixon and Tony Blair in The Queen. As Roger Ebert said, Sheen ‘portrays modern British Icons so uncannily, that he’s all but disappeared into them’.

Eddie the Eagle (2016)

I’ve been meaning to see this since it came out and I’m so glad I finally got to watch it recently. Eddie the Eagle is a biographical sports dramedy following Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, a British skier who in 1988 became the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping. Eddie Edwards defines the underdog story and I for one am very happy they’ve made a film about it, and the casting is spot on. The first time I saw Taaron Egerton on screen was in Kingsman: The Secret Service, and when I heard that he was being cast as Eddie the Eagle I was rather optimistic, but his performance was excellent and the look was uncanny. Hugh Jackman also gives a great performance as Edward’s coach Bronson Peary, and manages not to overpower Edwards at all. The overall tone of the film is upbeat and there’s a lot of comedy thrown into the mix, which makes the film rather uplifting to watch and a lot of fun.

Invictus (2009)

Directed and produced by Clint Eastwood, Invictus is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation, about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was hosted in South Africa following the dismantling of apartheid. The film stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, who respectively play South African President Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar, the captain of the Springboks. Both inhabit their real-life characters with admirable conviction and gave two brilliant performances that led them both to be nominated for Academy Awards. In all it’s a very good film, in parts it evokes great emotion and Eastwood shows how sport can unify people, through its moving message and historical accuracy.

Warrior (2011)

Now this has to be one of my favourite films. Warrior is a sports drama directed by Gavin O’Connor and starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton as two estranged brothers whose entrance into a mixed martial arts tournament makes them come to terms with their lives and each other. I’m a massive fan of both actors, Tom Hardy’s performance was sensational and unbelievably convincing, likewise with Edgerton. Someone who also needs mention is Nick Nolte, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the father of the two brothers.  For me, the film as a whole is beautiful, despite its violence. It relies on many of the clichés that critics love to mock and goes on to transform them with absorbing action, compelling acting and compassion.

DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story (2004)

Nobody who has seen this film can say they didn’t laugh at least once. No, this film isn’t of Oscar-worthy quality but it is undoubtedly hilarious and deserves a mention in my opinion. Starring Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller, the film focuses on a rivalry between the owners of Average Joe’s, a small gym, and Globo-Gym, a competing big-budget gym located across the street. Peter LaFleur (Vaughn), the owner of the smaller gym, has defaulted on his mortgage and enters a dodgeball tournament in an attempt to earn the money necessary to prevent his gym being purchased by its competitor. The film is thoroughly entertaining and it’s definitely not a one-joke movie. Ben Stiller starring opposite Vince Vaughn seems completely idiotic yet its thoroughly entertaining as Stiller just doesn’t know when to stop with his silliness. The film is both profane and silly and is worthy of being noted alongside the goofball comedies of the 1980s.