Its always interesting to think back which sports related films rise to the
top. Just in quantity it seems the most frequently used sports in films are
without question Baseball and Boxing. Is it because one is easily adapted
to following a group of characters to meld as one, and the other the triumph
of an individual over adversity both easily followed by moviegoers?
So its odd that the same story arcs can's be applied with similar success to
say volleyball , and shot put. I guess its a question of how compelling.
Baseball is a sport everyone plays at some point when young, whether at
school, little league or family reunions so the immediacy of familiarity is
instant with a moviegoer. But couldn't the same be said of volleyball or
hockey?
With respect to the individual, boxing is familiar and has the overriding
risk of physical harm, but so does long distance running, powerlifting or
downhill skiing.
Boxing may edge out in overall number the rather subjective notion of
greatness or classic status when compared to films about baseball even though
I
would think baseball is the sport most frequently used in film by almost
double. And a lot of the truly great baseball films one is still following
the
rise of a single individual
My Boxing List
RAGING BULL (classic character rise and fall brilliant and visceral)
THE CHAMP (King Vidor classic comeback with tragic results)
HARDER THEY FALL (underrated drama of corruption in boxing)
WHEN WE WERE KINGS (killer evaluation of the Ali-Foreman fight)
ROCKY/CINDERELLA MAN (basically the same well executed crowd pleasers)
CITY LIGHTS (comic genius set piece in a boxing ring yet to ever be equaled)
My Baseball List
FIELD OF DREAMS (baseball as metaphor for life and second chances)
THE NATURAL (mythic treatment of good Vs evil beautifully executed)
BULL DURHAM (comedy and sex never better folded into sports)
LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (funny, melancholy and great period detail)
freeman fisher
8601 west knoll drive #7
west hollywood, ca
90069
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