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Football Hits and Misses—Hollywood Style
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Rudy (1993)
This is the true story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, and undersized kid who works his way on to the Notre Dame football squad. Okay, so it’s not the most cerebral football movie on the panel, but so what? What it lacks in sophistication it more than makes up for in heart and spirit. Plus, it’s written by Angelo Pizzo and directed by David Anspaugh, two seasoned pros at crafting feelgood-infused sports movies (Hoosiers, The Game of Their Lives). Oh, and guys: The goosebumps on your arm and lump in the throat you’ll experience when watching the ending are just precursors to a much larger disorder known as… balling your damn eyes out.
The Program (1993)
The Program is one of those movies that college guys get a hold of and watch religiously for four years, then sever ties with permanently after they graduate. A story of camaraderie (and bad behavior) on and off the football field, it tackles steroids, domestic abuse, alcoholism, success-driven coaches and basic male machismo. It’s kind of like a non-humorous and less chipper Necessary Roughness, except it’s damn entertaining, if not completely irrelevant.
MISSES
Necessary Roughness (1991)
It’s not a coincidence that this was the last movie that Stan Dragoti (Love at First Bite, Mr. Mom) directed. This movie is very similar to The Replacements (see below) in that both movies are comedies, in theory, and they both stink. The basic plot of Necessary Roughnesscenters around the phenomenon of “iron man football,” which describes a team that uses the same players on both defense and offense… interesting. Once you have the basic plot, writing a football comedy is pretty easy: Create a bunch of wacky, oddball characters, put them on the field and allow them to overachieve and watch the hilarity ensue. Whatever you do, however, don’t dare develop the characters. There is no greater impediment to zaniness on a football field than character development.
Any Given Sunday (1999)
Some directors have trouble keeping a movie under two hours. Oliver Stone is one of them. At 150 minutes in length, this movie is easily an hour too long. No football movie should have a running time longer than an actual football game. This is the story of Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx), a pro quarterback who rises from mediocrity to primetime, and his ability (or inability) to deal with instant success at the highest level of his profession. Tedious.
The Replacements (2000)
Needless to say, this is not one of the great films of the genre. However, it takes movies like this one to make the superior ones stand out in a crowd. After all, how would we know Mozart was any good if there was no Salieri? How would we know Coke was so tasty if there was no Shasta? This may be the worst argument ever put forth. This is a movie about, if you haven’t already guessed, replacement players, or scabs, brought on to finish out a strike season. Fertile field for folly and hijinks? Maybe, but not here.
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COMMENTS | POST A COMMENT 
- Comment by free bet on 8/20/08 at 12:48 pm
some great films. Some rubbish ones, too.
- Comment by manchester united website on 2/14/09 at 3:36 am
I really liked longest yard and the best of times. I havent seen a couple on that list though
- Comment by Cool soccer drills on 3/17/09 at 1:19 am
Yeah, some of these movies are really great, especially The Longest Yard which is my absolute favorite.
- Comment by Football Trophies on 12/17/09 at 6:38 am
The Adam Sandler ‘Longest Yard’ was terrible. There was a remake of the original in the UK with ‘soccer’ instead of US football. had Vinnie Jones in the lead role, with some other decent actors. Bit of a cult film but really really good.
- Comment by dizifilm on 6/23/10 at 12:53 pm
there are great films ;)
- Comment by watch videos on 6/25/10 at 8:12 am
yes there are great films:)
- Comment by imwilliam on 3/01/11 at 8:27 am
It seems you are a football fan. As a hockey fan, all I can say that there are a few movies based on hockey as well, which are must-see experiences for any dedicated sports person. For those who loves hockey and follows fantasy hockey frequently, movies like “Sudden Death”, “Youngblood” are must watch.
- Comment by Football Kits on 10/28/11 at 4:03 am
Some super movies here , loved the longest yard
- Comment by banik on 11/04/11 at 6:44 am
Many great Hollywood movies have been made which were inspired by some kind of sport or the other. Sports lover like me simply love this kind of movies. I am interested in all kinds of outdoor sports activities including shooting. I am planning to buy some high quality guns; so I am looking for reputed stores which have guns for sale.
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