Sports Films - Round 1 Movie Cup 2013

Ladies and Gents, the first round of the 2013 movie cup is up and could I ask you all to vote for your favourite two films from the list.

Even if you are not part of the nomination process, you can still take part in deciding which v2 member has the best film taste.

Round 1 covers all things sport based on film and the following are nominations from the 11 entrants into this years competition. Take a read and choose your favourite two.

As soon as this competition closes in a 5 weeks time, we will be moving on to the 2013 Music Cup, so make sure to put your name forward if you want to compete in that one.

But without further ado, please find this weeks nominations - the poll will close on Friday where we will move on to Round 2 which features the movies of Sylvester Stallone.

Nominations:

When Saturday Comes - Sean Bean at his finest, playing a character who faces test of character after test of character, fails them all, yet his persistence pays off as he nets a hat-trick on his Sheffield United debut against Manchester United. If that alone doesn't sway the vote, then consider also that the film has a superb performance from the late, great Pete Postlethwaite, and the fact that the football is of secondary importance to the commanding performance given by Bean.

Happy Gilmour

Remember when Adam Sandler was funny? No? well this is the film to remind you that at one time he did make very good comedy films. Happy Gilmore is film about a failed ice hockey player with a temper who discovers he has the ability to hit a golf ball an extreme distance and desperately in need of money so joins the Pro golf tour.
Like all good comedy films Happy Gilmore keeps it simple never deviating from it's intention of trying to make you laugh by becoming more than it is, a good old fashioned slapstick comedy that does make you laugh. This is why I have nominated Happy Gilmore as the best sports movie ever

PS. I would also wager that if you have been to a driving range you have tried to hit the ball Happy Gilmore another reason you should vote for this film.



Mighty Ducks - QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! QUACK! A great family fun film about a kids Ice Hockey team. A bunch of no hopers are turned into State PeeWee Champions by Emilo Estevez. Some great characters and comedy moments, leaves you on the edge of your seat cheering on 'The Ducks'!

the wrestler - mickey rourke at his best (after barfly). debatable whether wrestling's a sport but this film was more brutal and less sentimental than any other sports film I've seen

Chariots of fire - great soundtrack by Vangelis. Great characters and honorable men fighting for the highest prize an Olympic gold medal.In an age of glory rather than monetary gain.

Senna - Simply brilliant recollection of the man, his life, his career, and his death. Senna died before my time but I have a picture of him on my wall after seeing this film.

Rocky Balboa - the finale to the ultimate boxing franchise. Itself a great film but when contrasted to the original, a fantastic story of redemption and a mans journey to exorcise his demons. The ending is a knockout and just perfect in every way.

Raging Bull-Martin Scorsese famously said that the only person who had the right idea about boxing in the movies was Buster Keaton. There is a lovely irony that Scorsese, a sickly asthmatic child, has made one of the greatest ever sports movies

Caddyshack - Simply 'putt' its not just one of the greatest sports films of all times, not just one of the greatest comedy films of all time but one of the greatest all time films of all time. Gophers, explosions, Bill Murray, what more do you need in a film?

A League Of Their Own - A brilliant story about a womens baseball league in World War 2. One of Tom Hanks best performances plus star turns by Geena Davis and Madonna!

Any given Sunday - no reason given

Let us know if you would have picked something different below and your reasons for who you picked!

I assume I'm not allowed to vote for my own, so I didn't. I went with Caddyshack because it's hilarious - and I completely forgot about it, and with The Wrestler because it is a truly moving film.

I need to watch Any Given Sunday at some stage. I will get round to it one day and everyone I know says it's great.

Suprised there was no Jerry Maguire, actually.

Just to clarify, you can vote for your own!

Assuming you picked the film you thought was genuinely the best sport film as your nomination, then you should have voted for it plus one other!

Never mind, next week you'll know!

I was surprised that the original Rocky wasnt picked.

Other ones I thought might have got a mention would have been rollerball, slapshot and Days of Thunder.

I was going to go with Moneyball as another option too, but I didn't know whether many would have seen it because it's fairly recent. Intriguing film still.

I only voted for mine Didn't realise it was pick two.

Its like talking to a child! Do you not read the instructions anymore? It took you quite a bit of guidance to get your nominations right!

Well the other nominations are rubbish anyway so I wouldn't want to vote for them :p

Adam D wrote:I was surprised that the original Rocky wasnt picked.

Other ones I thought might have got a mention would have been rollerball, slapshot and Days of Thunder.

Voted for Rocky Balboa thinking it was the original. You must feel like a teacher in charge of a (very) special class.

I'd let Galted repick based on that.

where is cool runnings, best sports film ever

Good shout that one cherries

And Kingpin too, that film is mental

as ever to those running this show and those taking the trouble to make and explain their nominations (even if 2 or 3 of the greatest ever sports films have been scandalously overlooked! ).

Of the films listed above, my first choice is Chariots - great soundtrack and a captivating story. The second is Rocky - I actually preferred the first film and, yes, I know it's a comic book story with some of the sequels being real dross but felt that Stallone carried it off so well. To my great shame, I've never seen Raging Bull.

The ones I would have selected are -

* Field Of Dreams. Just loved the story and the journey (know it's an over used word but believe it really fits here) that Costner's character goes on. Cracking performance from him along with James Earl Jones and Ray Liotta in an early role. Beautifully judged cameo as well from Burt Lancaster in one of his final films.

* Fire in Babylon - you need to be a bit of a cricket nut to really appreciate this one. Film documentary about the great West Indies side(s) of the '70s and '80s. Possibly overdoes their attempts to overcome social and racial injustice but the burning intensity of some of those involved still makes a massive impact.

* Ben Hur - what do you mean it's not a sports film? Look again at that chariot race!

Voted for Raging Bull, as a boxing geek I have read the book it is based on and it is a pretty accurate portrayal of both La Motta and the mob influence on the sport in his era. Add into that a bravura performance by De Niro and Pesci as well as many others and faultless direction by Scorsese and what is not to love.

Guidford you are right to feel ashamed about not having seen it.

No 'Escape to Victory'???
Scandalous
Of those that have been nominated, I reckon 'Raging Bull' is possibly the only one that would be considered as one of the greatest films of all-time, so I'll go for that.
And 'Chariots of Fire', 'cause I like it.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:No 'Escape to Victory'???
Scandalous
Of those that have been nominated, I reckon 'Raging Bull' is possibly the only one that would be considered as one of the greatest films of all-time, so I'll go for that.
And 'Chariots of Fire', 'cause I like it.

Amazingly, someone has picked Escape to Victory for the greatest Stallone movie round!

Adam D wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:No 'Escape to Victory'???
Scandalous
Of those that have been nominated, I reckon 'Raging Bull' is possibly the only one that would be considered as one of the greatest films of all-time, so I'll go for that.
And 'Chariots of Fire', 'cause I like it.

Amazingly, someone has picked Escape to Victory for the greatest Stallone movie round!

Hardly the high point of Stallone's career I wouldn't have thought.
Being acted of screen by John Wark and Russell Osman must have embarrased him a touch, surely?

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

Adam D wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:No 'Escape to Victory'???
Scandalous
Of those that have been nominated, I reckon 'Raging Bull' is possibly the only one that would be considered as one of the greatest films of all-time, so I'll go for that.
And 'Chariots of Fire', 'cause I like it.

Amazingly, someone has picked Escape to Victory for the greatest Stallone movie round!

Hardly the high point of Stallone's career I wouldn't have thought.
Being acted of screen by John Wark and Russell Osman must have embarrased him a touch, surely?

He got out acted by the football.

Can anyone vote?

Was watching Field of Dreams the other day, and forgot how sickly sweet it was. Nice film, all the same.

Stella wrote:Can anyone vote?

Voting is open to everyone.
Just like the GOAT thread, this film cup is aimed at getting cross section discussion going.

When this finishes in a few weeks time, we will be starting a Music Cup which will be open for new players again.

I voted for first Rocky coz hes an all time great the best films he ever made were as Rocky and the second one I voted for was When Saturday comes just because Shawn Bean is a Blade lol.

No Space Jam?

Scandalous

Chariots Of Fire and Senna, stand out from this list, although the first Rocky is my favourite.

Have only seen half the nominations, and to be honest, not even sure whether I "liked" (i.e. enjoyed as opposed to "respected" for film-making) any that much - so don't feel qualified to vote.

I may have put forward various others though, all for different reasons; those that spring to mind are Million Dollar Baby, Dodgeball, Jerry Maguire and Warrior. Oh, and Real Steel if that counts.

I like Any Given Sunday, Invictus and Million Dollar Baby.

Adam D wrote:

Stella wrote:Can anyone vote?

Voting is open to everyone.
Just like the GOAT thread, this film cup is aimed at getting cross section discussion going.

When this finishes in a few weeks time, we will be starting a Music Cup which will be open for new players again.

I'll be up for the Music Cup!

I've just thought of another one. Brewsters Millions. Why didn't I think of that earlier......

Love the mighty ducks, watch it with my son for the first time on sunday, he loved it too! Amazing Feel Good Family Film!

The Wrestler and Raging Bull for me although voted for Any Given Sunday by mistake.

No Remember the Titans? 1 of my favourite ever movies!

Base-ket ball is a beast of a film, think i would have picked that

Mean Machine?

Blades of glory?

Definitely the best all male ice skating movie of all time.

VDT wrote:Base-ket ball is a beast of a film, think i would have picked that

Dammit, Baseketball is one of my all time favourite movies and I can't believe I didn't pick it!

The fighter - Another good film I totally forgot

There's Only One Jimmy Grimble.

A superb film.

Ok I choose happy gilmore and the wrestler with Caddyshack a close thrid!

I would have preffered the fighter or the warrior mind!! but hey I am not part of this!!

Can I just point out at this juncture, wrestling, of the kind portrayed in the film, is not a sport.

thats a good point- change it to the warrior- best sporting film ever and true fighting not wrestling

no changing allowed !

I think that two of the leading films dont pass the shoe test! DQ them!

Rowley wrote:Can I just point out at this juncture, wrestling, of the kind portrayed in the film, is not a sport.

Actually it's "Sports Entertainment"

Fernando wrote:

Rowley wrote:Can I just point out at this juncture, wrestling, of the kind portrayed in the film, is not a sport.

Actually it's "Sports Entertainment"

And when we do the poll of top sports entertainment films I will be only too happy to champion its cause.

Rowley wrote:

Fernando wrote:

Rowley wrote:Can I just point out at this juncture, wrestling, of the kind portrayed in the film, is not a sport.

Actually it's "Sports Entertainment"

And when we do the poll of top sports entertainment films I will be only too happy to champion its cause.

There is one going on in the Wrestling section which has proved as popular as Chlamidia,

You Brits should get behind your Country and celebrate Chariots of fire...

Hard to leave out any Given Sunday for it's Inches speech, but as a movie it isn't anywhere near as good as Remember The Titans.

I went for Happy Gilmore, as a comedy that made Adam Sandler funny and non-annoying which is a near impossible task rarely ever repeated, and the Wrestler, despite not really being a Sport Movie, because IMO it is by far the best piece of acting and film-making on that list and one of the best movies made in the 21st century

ChequeredJersey wrote:Hard to leave out any Given Sunday for it's Inches speech, but as a movie it isn't anywhere near as good as Remember The Titans.

I went for Happy Gilmore, as a comedy that made Adam Sandler funny and non-annoying which is a near impossible task rarely ever repeated, and the Wrestler, despite not really being a Sport Movie, because IMO it is by far the best piece of acting and film-making on that list and one of the best movies made in the 21st century

Jeez its not that good. Thought it was kinda sh1t actually.

GunsGerms wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Hard to leave out any Given Sunday for it's Inches speech, but as a movie it isn't anywhere near as good as Remember The Titans.

I went for Happy Gilmore, as a comedy that made Adam Sandler funny and non-annoying which is a near impossible task rarely ever repeated, and the Wrestler, despite not really being a Sport Movie, because IMO it is by far the best piece of acting and film-making on that list and one of the best movies made in the 21st century

Jeez its not that good. Thought it was kinda sh1t actually.

And I respectfully and very strongly disagree

Adam D wrote:

Stella wrote:Can anyone vote?

Voting is open to everyone.
Just like the GOAT thread, this film cup is aimed at getting cross section discussion going.

When this finishes in a few weeks time, we will be starting a Music Cup which will be open for new players again.

I'd be up for the music cup when it comes around.

Chariots and Raging Bull for me.
Does anyone remember when Harold Abrahams was better known for being BBC Radio's athletics commentator than for the expolits depicted in Chariots of Fire?

Personal faves:
Bull Durham
Friday Night Lights
And I must include Slap Shot as a v2 poster was in it as an extra . . . . .