Sports Film Triumphs

Sports films have a unique place in the world of entertainment. While there are moviegoers who dislike sports and sports fans that are not film buffs at heart, sports films have a strange way of bridging the divide. For the sports fan, they get to see an artistic take on something that they all fully invested in. For the film buff, they get a window into the human aspect of what can appear to be a one-dimensional universe at times. As both as sports fan and a rampant film lover, I have compiled what I believe to be the Top 5 finest sports-related films to date (in no particular order):

Eight Men Out
As a die-hard fan of the Chicago White Sox, Eight Men Out was once (and still can be) a bitter pill to swallow. For those unaware, it depicts the tale of the 1919 Chicago White Sox team that accepted the promise of bribe money to throw the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Upon learning that the gamblers intended to bilk the players, the White Sox attempted to salvage the series to no avail. The film goes to great lengths to catapult the viewer back in time while capturing the slow downward spiral of 8 men who were eventually banned from Major League Baseball. It is a dark tale of mistrust and leaves one to wonder what could have been.

Remember The Titans
When I first saw Remember The Titans, I had no problem saying that I despised football with a straight face. In some ways, this story about a high school football squad's integration and eventual triumph in the face of tragedy seems almost too far-fetched. In 2 short hours, the viewer watches an entire town transform its long held prejudices in the wake of a game. However, the acting of Denzel Washington combined with then-unknowns such as Ryan Gosling and Ethan Suplee pulls you in masterfully.

Raging Bull
In many ways, this is much more a Martin Scorsese character study than it is a sports film. Like Travis Bickle or Henry Hill, Raging Bull follows the tragic breaking down of its main character. Jake LaMotta is a boxing machine on the cusp of superstardom, but his inner demons and rage issues never allow him reach the plateau he can clearly see up ahead.

The Wrestler
The title alone suggests something very generic and ridiculous. The entire world has been let in on the "secret" that professional wrestling is as scripted as your average sitcom. The Wrestler never attempts to do anything more than prove that the pain of a combatant is very real, inside and outside the squared circle.

Cinderella Man
In terms of tales of redemption, this one ranks as my all-time favorite. As opposed to many tragic characters, James Braddock unfairly had tragedy find him. Knocked down by mounting injuries and the depression, James Braddock does everything it takes just to keep his family together, leading him to a place he never thought he'd find.