sports movie nostalgia

Disney's new film Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg based on a real guy who went to open tryouts for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970s is coming out today. Early buzz is that it's not too bad, similar to The Rookie and Miracle (also Disney releases).

So along that theme, I wanted to present my favorite sports movies list.

1. Raging Bull - One of my all-time favorite films, with or without the boxing.
2. Bull Durham - The best written and funniest baseball movie ever.
3. Breaking Away - Great cast and story, hey maybe Lance watched this growing up.
4. Field of Dreams - Fantastic premise and memorable writing.
5. Eight Men Out - The story of the infamous 'black sox', good companion to Field of Dreams.
6. Friday Night Lights - The ugly politics of high school football on display.
7. Major League - Second funniest baseball movie of all time, sadly too true to reality yet again.
8. White Men Can't Jump - The movie that introduced streetball to all us white kids growing up.
9. Hoop Dreams - Documentary that follows two promising high school players for four years on their heartbreaking quest to make it to the pros.
10. Million Dollar Baby - One of Clint Eastwoods' best directed films; and like all great sports movies, it's more about life in general than sports.

I know what you're thinking, where's Rocky or Hoosiers? I'm so ashamed... I've never actually sat down and watched either film.

Here's a link to the IMBD's top 50 sports movies list based on user votes so you can see where your favorites stand.

There's been a lot of buzz about the documentary Jesus Camp; how it was screened at Michael Moore's film festival after the makers tried to have it pulled from the lineup claiming they didn't want the film to be labeled too liberal, and then Moore later stating that was a shameless publicity stunt saying that the makers begged for it to be screened. Well here's the trailer for Jesus Camp, and holy crap it's scary.

You can also now see the trailer for Little Children, the latest film from the director of In The Bedroom, this one has quickly become one my biggest I-need-to-see-it movies that are coming about over the next few months (Oscar season!).

Finally, if you absolutely have to know everything about the Tom Cruise/Paramount fallout, there's a good piece that explains all involved and their likely motives.