Top five sports films to binge during quarantine
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Avery Mcgrail, Staff Writer
Sports and the springtime are an incredible match. As the colder weather abates, the drama heats up around the world as leagues crown champions, legends are born, and memories are made. The NHL and NBA have playoffs, March Madness creates an annual frenzy, the Triple Crown is run, and the golf season reaches its peak with the Masters. March through May is truly a spectacular time for sports fans.
Until all of it was gone. March Madness, the Masters, the NHL, the NBA, the Olympics, Wimbledon, all of it. Gone in the blink of an eye, thanks to the arrival of COVID-19. Sports bring fans into buildings and complexes, and fans could bring with them the Corona virus and the risk of infecting those who could be harmed by it. And for the time being, those legends and memories have been put on hold.
So for the starving sports fan, what are the alternatives during this quarantined season? Fortunately, there are good places to turn. Sports video games let users simulate seasons and even put themselves into the action. Old games from decades past are fun to look back on. Thanks to technology, sports are still accessible what has become a very strange time.
One of the most popular ways technology is used to capture the magic of sports is through cinema. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of sports movies, many which that have gained critical acclaim. Now that COVID quarantine has opened up a good amount of time at home, there’s plenty of reason to put on a classic sports flicks. But which ones should you check out first? Since there’s so many to choose from, here’s a list of some of the best to serve as a guide:
V. Raging Bull
Raging Bull, a 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese, is a biographical adaptation of boxer Jake Lamotta’s memoirs. Robert De Niro takes on the role of Lamotta, who goes on a life’s journey through fighting everything in sight. This includes other boxers, his anger, his jealousy, his brother, his romantic relationships, and eventually, the reality of his retirement. Scorsese’s vision combined with De Niro’s performance make Raging Bull an intense and dramatic masterpiece, one that garnered a good amount of critical acclaim. Many critics call this film Scorsese’s finest work.
Raging Bull is a film with many merits. The cinematography is poised and intentional, the acting and character work is impactful and gripping, and the story is real, with deep themes and harsh realities. But while the movie will appeal to those with a more a refined film palate, for those looking for something lighter during these troubling times, it may be best to proceed elsewhere. This is not a happy movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it is certainly worth a watch once happier times roll back around.
IV. Miracle
In these strange and difficult days, one thing I have found myself searching for is a sense of happiness. If you find yourself in a similar position, give the 2004 Disney filmMiracle a watch. Experiencing Kurt Russell motivating and practically dragging a squad of undertrained and barely capable amateur hockey players to an Olympic gold medal is exactly the kind of uplifting story that can ease a troubled mind. Based on the true events of the “Miracle on Ice”, Miracle is a powerful underdog story that molds characters that really do feel like they belong in a lower weight class than their international competition. The film is inspiring,particularly for those of us who feel overwhelmed by circumstances and challenges. While Miracle is not as technically sound or as artistically developed as some of the other entries on this list, it brings a ton of inspiration and charisma to the table. Perhaps right now, that’s all we need.
III. Rocky
The original Rocky began cinematic franchise unlike any other. The 1976 movie follows the down-on-his-luck boxer Rocky Balboa as he is invited to fight world champion Apollo Creed. After weeks of intense and memorable training, Rocky swears to go all fifteen rounds with Creed just to prove he can to himself and the world. The fight that ensues is one for the ages, and cinematic marvel.
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa is one of the most iconic characters in all of film, and there are few scenes that match the iconic nature of Rocky running up the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art or when he calls out for “Adrian!” at the end of his big fight. Though the Rocky franchise would have its ups and downs as the years would go on, the original set a precedent of Rocky being a soulful, relatable character that would attract audiences again and again.
II. When We Were Kings
When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary that explores every aspect of the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. It took director Leon Gast 22 years to compile and edit all the footage he needed to complete the project. The amount of effort and time put into the film shows, as the holistic approach Gast takes to setting the stage for the fight culminates in an emotional and intense conclusion well worth the wait. Particularly interesting to me was the look into Ali’s and Foreman’s relationship with the people of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and how differently they were viewed. Ali was a hero to the Zaire people while Foreman struggled to gain their empathy and support. For sports history buffs, When We Were Kings is a must-watch, and perhaps even a must-rewatch, as the details and story lines of two titans of boxing clashing beg to be marveled at.
I. Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams is a 1994 documentary film that follows two high school basketball players as they face the challenge of trying to succeed in an environment that presents constant obstacles. The project was originally only supposed to be thirty minutes long, but the material stretched into over eight years of filming and 250 hours of footage for directors Steve James, Frederick Marx and Peter Gilbert to work with. The final product is almost three hours long and delves into the lives of William Gates and Arthur Agee as they transfer to an elitist high school far from home so they can pursue their dreams of playing in the NBA.
Despite not being a product that would normally be a large commercial success, Hoop Dreams achieved critical success upon is debut and is still receiving praise a quarter of a century later. Roger
Ebert called the documentary “One of the best films on American life I have ever seen” in his review. The film has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the was ranked No. 1 on the International Documentary Association’s 2007 list of top 25 documentaries. The struggles, defeats, and victories of Gates and Agee translate to audiences of all types, and Hoop Dreams remains a beloved and important part of sports media. Above all, dear reader, this is the film to watch.
Sports are a vessel for some of the greatest stories that have ever been old. Sports set the stage for lovable underdogs, fierce warriors, and overcomes to become heroes in cultural all over the world. Sports films will always be in vogue, because there will always be more stories like these to tell. When artists and visionaries can take these stories evolve them under their creative genius, incredible, beautiful, and impactful films can be created. So, take this quarantine time, particularly if you feel isolated and alone, to soak these stories in. Watch the unity and passion that sports illicit and remember that you are not alone. Sports movies remind me that we are all united by our humanity, and even the Corona virus cannot defeat a team with that kind of strength.
