With the Ron Howard-directed, Thor starring "Rush," a film about car racing and whatnot, hitting the theaters this past weekend and drawing both big box office numbers and early Oscar season buzz, the Scene staff takes a look at some of their own favorite sports movies.
By KEVIN NOONAN
Scene Editor
"Remember the Titans"
No explanation needed, really. But I'll give you three.
"We will be perfect in every aspect of the game. You drop a pass, you run a mile. You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile. You fumble the football, and I will break my foot off in your John Brown hind parts and then you will run a mile. Perfection. Let's go to work."
"A water break? Water is for cowards. Water makes you weak. Water is for washing blood off that uniform and you don't get no blood on my uniform, boy you must be outside your mind! We are going to do up-downs, until Blue is no longer tired, and thirsty."
"All right, now, I don't want them to gain another yard! YOU BLITZ ... ALL ... NIGHT! If they cross the line of scrimmage, I'm gonna take every last one of you out! You make sure they remember, forever, the night they played the Titans!"
And here's one more, just for good measure.
"Yes, you can. When I was 15 years old I lost my mother and my father in the same month Ronnie, same month. Twelve brothers and sisters, I was the youngest one of them. Now I wasn't ready either, but they needed me. Your team needs you tonight, you're the Colonel, you''re going to command your troops! Twins right 48 zero read, go!"
Best sports movie, or best movie?
Contact Kevin Noonan at knoonan2@nd.edu
By MEGHAN THOMASSEN
Managing Editor
"The Blind Side"
For someone who gets bored watching sporting events and is constantly asking questions about what just happened, sports movies are not exactly at the top of my Netflix queue. However, the 2009 film "The Blind Side" combined sports and drama perfectly with its deep storyline and outstanding cast. Based on a true story, this movie follows the life of underprivileged high school student Michael Oher, who goes from homeless to famous because of one random act of kindness.
Set in the South where high school football is everything, "The Blind Side" is less about football and more about the power of generosity and love, making it more of a chick flick than a sports movie, which is exactly why I love it. Sandra Bullock plays the rich housewife who adopts this helpless boy and turns his life around. In an authentic southern drawl, Bullock's character nicknames him "Big Mike" and teaches him the game of football, putting him on track to become an All-American player and first-round NFL draft pick. Speaking from experience, this movie is great for those who know nothing about football because we can learn alongside Big Mike and still get the emotion and storyline of a great drama.
Contact Meghan Thomassen at mthomass@nd.edu
By MIKOMALABUTE
Scene Writer
"Coach Carter"
The classic tale of the intersection of hard-street-living and hoop dreams that is "Coach Carter" quickly found its way into my heart back in 2005, and ever since then it has easily been my favorite sports movie. Watching Samuel L. Jackson be the advocate of strong, integrity-centralized basketball and competitive-minded academia was truly inspiring (and very impressionable on 10-year-old Miko), and the basketball scenes were extremely solid, to say the least. Also, watching him express respect to each of his players by referring to them as "Sir" and demanding respect back was truly great, and inspired a two-week-long stretch of me going out of my way to address everyone as "Sir" or "Ma'am."
Each of the players on the team was enjoyable and easy to sympathize with (to all who may be deterred by the "urban" feel of this film-Channing Tatum stars in this one), though my favorite was easily Timo Cruz, played by Rick Gonzales. The try-hard gangster bumps heads with Coach Carter for the majority of the film and quits basketball, but after a tragic murder in the family due to street violence rediscovers salvation through hoops, which makes for a heart-warming subplot.
Finally, Twista's best song by far "Hope" featuring Faith Evans is featured as the lead-single for the soundtrack.
Oh and before I forget, Coach Carter's team lost in the big game against the rival school. Way to epitomize "keeping it real."
Contact MikoMalabute at mmalabut@nd.edu
