Football in the Movies

Apparently, there was some kind of game on TV yesterday... supposed to be a really big deal…

Just kidding, I watched the Super Bowl like any red-blooded American!  Of course, I spent the time folding laundry and only paid close attention during commercials, but I still watched it!

So, in honor of the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl win (sans Brett Favre, thank God!) I think I'll recap my top 10 favorite football movies...

The Blind Side (2009) – Probably my favorite sports-related movie, this film is more about human kindness and compassion than about the actual game of football.  It tells the story of a homeless high school boy from a rough background who finds a place to belong on the football field and in the family of his football coach.  This is Sandra Bullock’s one and only non-romantic comedy role I really enjoyed and respected her for.  A tough character with a huge heart, she plays Leigh Anne Tuohy honestly and with heart and soul.  Not to mention Tim McGraw doing such a good job as an actor you forget it isn’t his main profession.  Based on a true story.

Remember the Titans (2000) – The first movie in which I really noticed Denzel Washington, this movie is another heart-wrenching tale of humanity.  It shows that our upbringing and the values we learn by watching as children are very hard to overcome.  A black coach (Denzel Washington) takes over as head coach of a high school team in 1971 Virginia, when racial lines were still clearly drawn, and integrated sports were first mandated.  It shows that the “evil white man” was not the only one angry with the change, but all members of the team, school and community were touched by racial differences.  Predictably, the line eventually blurs to encompass everyone as a family, but it is done with honesty and skill.  Based on a true story.

The Longest Yard (1974/2005) – I am listing both versions of this film because the original is my favorite of the two, but the remake did a great job of being true to the story while adding modern-day flair.  I especially love the nod to the original by casting Burt Reynolds, who played the lead character in 1974, as the coach in 2005.  This is the story of a group of guys in prison who are mistreated and disrespected by the prison guards.  Anger and violence run rampant among the inmates until the coach convinces them to join together as a team and let out their aggression on the football field.  The goal: to beat the prison guards in a way they have never been able to before.  The great thing about this movie is that it takes a dangerously violent setting and turns the story into a comedy.

The Replacements (2000) – Maybe it’s Keanu Reeves lloking bashful, or maybe it’s watching a group of big burly guys do the electric slide, but something about this movie just makes me happy!  When a professional football team goes on strike, the league brings in a hapless group of slackers to play.  Not very original, but still lots of fun to watch!

We Are Marshall (2006) – Another one based on true events, this is a powerfully moving story of perseverance and dedication while honoring the past.  When almost the entire football team at Marshall University in West Virginia die in a plane crash, many members of the community think it would be too painful to even build a new team.  But new coach Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey, who I think shines brightest in these heartfelt dramatic roles) helps the few remaining team members accept new ones and come together to honor those who perished.  A truly moving story.

Gridiron Gang (2006) – Eerily similar to The Longest Yard, but without the humor, this is the story of a juvenile detention center, whose inmates are drawn together through football and sportsmanship.  Leading the cast is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who I almost think shines brightest when he’s not waving around a gun or baseball bat.  But the kids in this film are also strong, hard-hitting characters.  Based on a true story.

The Waterboy (1998) – Far from being based on a true story, this movie is purely for laughter’s sake.  Now I normally am not a fan of Adam Sandler’s toddler imitation, but for this Cajun naive loser, he really hits the spot!  Raised by an over-protective mother in the depths of the Bayou, slow-minded Bobby Boucher discovers he has a knack for tackling.  The cast is completed superbly with Kathy Bates, Henry Winkler, Fairuza Balk and Jerry Reed.  Farcical and hilariously stupid, you really have to be in a silly mood to truly enjoy this one.

Little Giants (1994) – This is the story of a group of kids who want nothing more than to play football.  They are led by the sports-unwise Danny O’Shea (Rick Moranis) whose brother, Kevin O’Shea (Ed O’Neill) is the football superstar – and coach of the rival team.  The story is predictable with the misfits coming around in the end.  But the journey is so much fun, especially when John Madden and Emmett Smith stop by for directions and give the kids a few pointers.

The Best of Times (1981) – Who would have ever thought they’d see Robin Williams play football… While this movie is far from Williams’ typical physical comedy, it is lots of fun and a great character study.  Williams plays Jack Dundee, a meek and mild banker who can’t overcome the memory of fumbling a pass in high school, failing to win the game.  He convinces the town and his high school best friend to replay the game, hoping for a different outcome.

Jerry Maguire (1996) – I include this movie, not because it’s really one of my favorites, but because it marks my husband’s first time wanting to buy a romantic comedy.  I guess if it’s about football, it can’t really be a chick flick, right?  It also introduced Cuba Gooding, Jr. as the college quarterback who stands firmly to his beliefs and refuses to sell out to the NFL.  Probably the reason this isn’t higher is because I’m truly not a Tom Cruise fan.

A few honorable mentions for Radio and Rudy, which I understand are great based-on-real-life stories, but I couldn’t sit through either of them.  Sometimes an underdog story just makes me want to yell at them to quit whining… Yeah, I know, I’m a bitch…