So, hopefully, on Tuesday, Scarface, our local sports writer, will write one of these blogs too, seeing the difference between what a movie fan likes and what a sports nut likes. While making this list, I also made some changes where the movies were technically better, so a few predictable movies I liked, I took off. So, here’s my number 5.
5. Million Dollar Baby: Boxing
One of the two Best Picture winners on this list, its hard not to like one of Eastwood’s best. This is the story of a female boxer who gets help from an old trainer. I promise you, Million Dollar Baby will bring tears to your eyes after seeing it. The acting and story are strongest here, bringing a memorable story that may change your views on… something.
4. Rocky: Boxing
Rocky is the second Best Picture winner. While the last 5 in the series are more about the action in boxing, this is on the character. The whole story is completely predictable, but it works. Rocky will get cheering during the ending boxing match and most everyone should be satisfied with it after the end. Its cliche to a T, but still a classic sports movie.
3. The Hustler: Pool
Now, we start getting from the mostly predictable to the greats of any genre. The Hustler is about a pool hustler that is one of the best. He challenges another guy, Minnesota Fats, also one of the best, to play. For a 40 year old movie, the pool scenes still keep you excited, and the editing is also still great. Paul Newman did an excellent job bringing this character to life. The sequel is not quite as good, but a more fun watch.
2. The Wrestler: Wrestling
Especially these top two, they are not about the sport. The Wrestler is mainly about those who have nothing else but a body for work. Mickey Rourke, a wrestler, and Marisa Tomei, a stripper, did excellent jobs bringing these people to life, and show that they don’t have too much outside of what they do. As hard as Rourke tries, he just can’t live a “normal” life like the rest of us, and all he has is wrestling. Everything comes together perfectly in Aronofsky’s latest, and the pain that the characters feel, we feel.
1. Raging Bull: Boxing
Hardly any sports list, or even all time greatest movies list, can come without Raging Bull near the top. I see no flaws in this portrait of Jake La Motta, and Scorsese made a masterpiece while he was still getting over his drug addiction. This was his rehab, and actor Robert De Niro gave his all in the part, and on the side to help out Scorsese. The beginning and end are amazing, while the whole way through we see how brutal boxing really is. It also brought back the use of black and white coloring for an artistic purpose. Raging Bull is far and away the best sports movie I’ve ever seen.
