Sporting events draw huge crowds and high television ratings. They often make for an excellent escape from our everyday lives, wrapping us up in the thrill of victory or agony of defeat.
Not surprisingly, the drama of sports translates very well to movies. Some of the finest moments in motion picture history were inspired by a team or individual overcoming the odds to achieve greatness.
What follows is a list of my top five sports films.
Brian's Song (1971)- Billy Dee Williams has the role of Gale Sayers, a running back who joins the Chicago Bears and meets Brian Piccolo, played by James Caan. The teammates start off as rivals but soon develop a strong friendship. This emotional film tells the powerful true story of how Sayers helps Piccolo, who develops terminal cancer, through his difficult struggle.
Miracle (2004)- Kurt Russell has the role of hockey coach Herb Brooks in this true story of the greatest upset in sports history. The United States' 4-3 victory in the medal round of the 1980 Winter Olympics against the heavily favored Soviet Union had all the ingredients for an uplifting and inspiring film.
Field of Dreams (1989)- A man is inspired to reconnect with his deceased father through baseball after hearing a mysterious voice whisper, "If you build it, he will come." Kevin Costner stars as the Iowa farmer who, after hearing the voice and seeing a baseball diamond, plows his crops to build a field for the ghosts of disgraced ball players to play on.
Raging Bull (1980)- Considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, this Martin Scorsese directed picture is about the life of troubled middleweight boxer Jake LaMotta. Robert De Niro won Best Actor for his portrayal of LaMotta, the prizefighter who destroyed his life outside the ring with violent bouts of jealousy and paranoia. The actor even gained sixty pounds to represent the character in the years following his boxing career.
Rocky (1976)- United Artists wanted a big name box office draw like Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds or James Caan to star as Rocky Balboa, a club fighter who gets a shot to contend for the world heavyweight championship. Sylvester Stallone, who wrote the script, wisely refused to sell the story to the studio unless he was cast in the title role. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director and made Sylvester Stallone a major star. The famous scene showing Rocky running up the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art has become a cultural icon and a favorite spot for tourists.
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