Robledo's Best Sports Movies of All-Time
About a year back Stevie R., listed his best high school football movies of all-time, but how about the best darn sports movies, period. I left out Steve's favorite, All the Right Moves, and also Eight Men Out, Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, but hey, this is my top ten. The comments aren't all mine, they're borrowed from film teaser's and MoviePhone with an added twist from your host. Here ya go, Robledo's top ten.
1. Rocky: The fist-pumping score, the charismatic turn by Sly Stallone, the glorious training montage, the pitch-perfect ending in which Rocky shows the champ what "showtime at the Apollo" really means ... I remember leaving the movie theatre and shadow boxing all the way to our car. I went back the next day to see it again.
2. Hoosiers: This David-and-Goliath tale of a volatile basketball coach (Gene Hackman) who leads a small Indiana high school team to the state finals has all the makings of a classic: chills-inducing score, superb game sequences, moving pep talk and, of course, the most badass line in sports movie history: "I'll make it." My favorite part of the movie is when Hackman says, "My team's on the floor."
3. Rudy: It's the ultimate underdog tale: A hobbit-sized goonie boy (Sean Astin) dreams of playing for Notre Dame. What do size, skill and smarts matter when you've got heart? When Rudy finally takes the field, not only does it instantly choke the throat, it makes the small, unskilled and dim-witted among us feel we've got a fighting chance. I watched with it with my dad, and will never forget the tears in his eyes when Rudy ran out the tunnel.
4. Caddyshack: With hilarious turns from Bill Murray as a deranged gopher-hunting, Bob-Marley-joint-smoking groundskeeper and Chevy Chase as a birdie-and-tequila-shooting womanizer, this might just be one of the most flawless comedies in history -- so it's got that going for it, which is nice. If I have to explain why this is here, you didn't get it.
5. Breaking Away: Though ostensibly about aspiring bike racers, this affecting drama is really concerned with how racing is seen as a way to escape the confines of a small town -- in this case, Bloomington, Ind., where the four heroes are derisively called "Cutters" by the college kids there. And so it's a universal theme, played out on two wheels. One of the most inspirational, funny, underdog movies you've probably never seen but should.
6. Karate Kid: Mr. Miage, a handyman/martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting. It had the great line, "Get him a body bag, yeah, and the greatest girl, Elizabeth Shue."
7. The Bad News Bears: There's not an ounce of sentimentality in this comedy about a team of foul-mouthed misfits and their alcoholic manager, and that's what makes it great. One by one, 'Bears' takes aim at three sacred institutions -- sob-story sports flicks, treacly kids' movies and the hell of Little League -- and the result is a down-and-dirty delight. It's amazing watching this 30-years later, and realizing how foul-mouthed they actually were.
8. Slap Shot: There's a lot of comedy in hockey: scraggly mullets, toothless grins, Canadian accents. So it's no wonder this 1977 classic scores so many laughs with its ahead-of-its-time raunchiness and blistering vulgarity, mostly courtesy of that sailor mouth Paul Newman. If you don't like it, the Hanson Brothers will make you see otherwise.
9. Remember the Titans: "Inspirational sports movies" arrive in theaters on what seems like a monthly basis now, and the triumph that was 'Titans' is a big reason for that. It may be conventional, but this genuinely touching tale of ebony and ivory relations on and off Virginia football fields is the best in its class. My favorite movie this decade
10. Friday Night Lights: It's 'Varsity Blues' plus better acting and directing, minus the whipped cream bikini. With this true-life tale, director Peter Berg paints a moving (and disturbing) portrait of '80s small-town Texas: Racism still rages, the economy is ailing and the hopes of an entire community ride on high school football. Another today movie that needs no explanation.
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Where is "Something for Joey" on this list?? That was a tear jerker, and your lying outta your a$$ if you say no......
Friday Night lights was a great movie, but the book (as always) blows it away
"HE GOT GAME!"
Spike Lee's Tribute to Ballers EVERYWHERE.
Denzel....Black Jesus....Shuttlesworth....RAY RAY ......The "BREAKDOWN"...in the back of the Mercedez...CLASSIC!
The skeezin girlfriend , the agent, Rick Fox on that RECRUITING TRIP!!!...the blonde "perks".....tough to argue that Spike DIDN'T throw it down better than most and will remain an ALL TIME CLASSIC for years to come!
The Goat
Above the Rim
also very good basketbal movies.
My God! The best sports movie of all time, no argument, is "Raging Bull." Nothing else is close.
And I'd go "Eight Men Out" No. 2. These aren't just sports movies but first-rate cinema.
cinderelllllaaaaaaaa man!!!!
Rocky
Yo, is there's a more deserving No. 1 movie?
Natural
Was there ever an athlete more iconic than Roy Hobbs?
Pride of the Yankees
Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth." Love these old flicks!
Brian Song
It's not just about sports; it's about an extraordinary friendship!
Raging Bull
Crazy Jake!
Remembering the Titans
Just an Inspirational film that teaches us many lessons in life…
Field of Dreams
Faith and Family… Doesn’t get any better than this!
Rudy
The true underdog! What does size, skill and smarts matter when you've got heart? Everyone has a fighting chance….
Miracle
Do you remember where you were on this day? Will never forget the yelling and screaming for the USA… and you really didn’t have to love hockey!
Sandlot
Wendy Peppercorn the desirous lifeguard couldn't handle the real boys!
I'm dating myself, but I liked "One on One" with Robbie Benson (not a bad baller really) and Annette O'Toole (the Elizebeth Shue of her generation !:?)
Doesn't "Varsity Blues" ("I don't want your life") have to make it just *because* of the whipped cream bikini? She's the girl on "Heroes" now. My what a long way she's come. At least its under all-time best scenes form a sports movie. With Pacino's half-time talk in "Any Given Sunday" ("...inch by inch, play by play
....") Is there anything better? But then he has to have one good rant in every movie , doesn't he. Here's the next one... there is talk about him playing Lasorda in a movie! Man, I'd love to hear him do the Dave Kingman tirade!
Somebody below wanted chick flicks (League ofT heir Own worked for me) but how about sports/chick flicks like Jerry Macguire, Perfect Game, Fever Pitch, or Tin Cup? Or for my wife - any Kevin Coster movie.
And there's "Finding Forrester"? Just a good movie. Tidbits of trivia - the main basketball character, Ron Brown, was a non-actor and HS basketball/football player that auditioned on a whim. His performance earned him a spot in Coach Carter (filmed at St Anthony HS - familiar to old school Lancers) and now plays the lead in the Ernie Davis Story. Worked out pretty well for him, I guess.
And if you can't get your kids to read or understand Shakespeare's Othello have them watch the movie "O"
"Seabiscuit" anyone?
"Bull Durham" is on my list. "Miracle" might be on my list too ("I'm not looking for the best players. I'm lookin' for the right ones.").
And can you leave off "On the Waterfront "and its 8 academy awards?
"Fish that Saved Pittsburgh"? Just kidding!
And one of my favorite of all time was "Heaven Can Wait." Here's a line I remember from that one. It might be a good rule of thumb in life - maybe even on this blog.
"The likelihood of one individual being right increases in direct proportion to the intensity with which others are trying to prove him wrong. "
Think about it.
LATTIMER IS BAD ASS!!!
PLACE AT THE TABLE!!!
I'M THE WATERBOY EEEERHHH!
I'M THE WATERBOY EEEERHHH!
Space Jam ????? lol a compelling story about Michael Jordan going into a cartoon world saving our very own acme critters from slavery!! better than rocky if ya ask any kid at the playground hahaha
Like Hoosiers and Rudy and Remember the Titans... Have actually seen all movies on your list...Rocky #1, gotta question that, deserves to be in the Top 5...#1... don't feel it. What about North Dallas Forty??? If you haven't seen it, you should. Miracle-1980 US Hockey Olympic Team-should be there too...
Vision Quest should be included (in my opinion of course). It is underrated sports film.
1.)Ali
2.)Rudy
3.)Miracle on Ice
4.)Somebody up there likes me. (Paul newman as Rocky Graziano)
5.)Remember the Titans
6.)Eight Men Out
7.)Bull Durham
8.)Brian Song
9.)Varsity Blues
10.)61
What about "Debbie does Dallas ?"
That was a classic (indoor) sports movie with more than one sport involved.
And it even had football somewhere in there too !
Tanner was my Idol growing up, shortstops who trip RULE!
Fred dude how could you not put Chariots of Fire on that list
Field Of Dreams nothing better than a story about baseball and the love of his father.
Yes Amat73 I am living proof miracles are possible!! My Top 10
1.Major League: I am a Big Tribe fan.
2. Caddyshack. I can still see Bill Murray shouting " It's in the hole, it's in the hole"
3.Hoosiers. Love to see underdogs win
4.Rudi. Same reason as 3
5.Rocky. "Yo Adriannnnn"
6.Slap Shot. The Hanson brothers make this movie
7.The Natural. Robert Redford jacking one out of the park and hitting lights that explode.
8. White man can't jump. I am living proof!
9.Million Dollar Baby. Very intense movie and if you haven't seen it, go rent it!
10. The Longest Yard. Best scene in that movie is Burt Reynolds rifling the ball in one of the guards gonads!
A few of my favorites:
The Hustler
The Natural
Brians Song
The Sandlot
Major League
Raging Bull
Happy Gilmore
and who can forget....Bring It On!
Thank 73...going to the BIG GAME Saturday!!!!!
Bishop Amat and Loyola....wow!
Maybe complaining and pushing the administration for 2 years was the right thing to do aftre all.
Where are all the naysayers and Verti supporters now?
Verti was a nice man but clearly AMAT HAD A TON OF TALENT ON THE SIDELINES AND THE LOWER LEVELS AND HE DIDN'T USE THEM....HEY THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT SOONER OR LATER.
Matt got into Loyola but chose Damien. Always a soft spot in my heart for that school.
Should be a clssic. I usually sit on one side per half. Awesome atmosphere!
Miracle
How about Pride of the Yankees. Sad story about a humble man with natural talent cut down much to early by a dreadful disease that still takes lives to this day. Bonus is having the real Babe Ruth as a co star. Frank , take all they throw at you for what it is , just fun and games, nothing more and nothing less. We all have opinions some just try to cut deeper than others. But there is hope , just look at the turnaround made by King Stud . Congrats on your son's success in debate. Who knows there just maybe a Corona on the east coast yet.
All guy films!!! I have to say one of my favorite sports films is "A League of Their Own." I think it tells a great story of women treading the cliche of looking pretty and playing tough. I think one of the greatest lines in the movie is when Tom Hanks says "There's no crying in baseball."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Burt Lancaster in the Jim Thorpe bio pic?
Fred are you serious? lol
Is their a more compelling story than a man who single handedly becomes the "World's Greatest Athlete" by sheer will. In the midst of 'that" time aginst those odds and social pressures. The King of Sweden had it right.."Mr. Throrpe YOU ARE THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE!'...and then he come home,,,back to reality. Must have been heartbreaking ike no other.
Plus.... come on fred no Cantinflas?
Brian's Song?
Made me choke up when Billy Dee Wiliams tell the crowd..."I....I...I...Love BRIAN PICCOLO."...and then tells everyone teh bad news.
Absolutely CLASSIC!