RUSH

 Sports drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Chris Hemsworth: British racing driver James Hunt

Danile Brühl: Austrian racing driver Niki Lauda

Pierfrancesco Favino: BRM Formula One team driver Clay Regazzoni

Christian McKay: financier Lord Alexander Hesketh

Olivia Wilde: supermodel Suzy Miller

Alexandra Maria Lara: socialite Marlene Knaus

REVIEW

This is the true story of two of Formula One’s best-ever drivers and the rivalry between them that made the 1976 season one of the best. Between exciting racing sequences time is given for in-depth character studies of the two men.

Strong performances by the entire cast and great attention to detail make this a must-see for every racing fan. But even those who do not follow the sport will find it an entertaining two hours as the focus is not entirely on the sport itself. The wonderful orchestral soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is an added bonus.

CLASSIFICATION

for sexual content, nudity, language, some disturbing images and brief drug use.

42

Sports drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Harrison Ford: Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey

Chadwick Boseman: baseball player Jackie Robinson

Nicole Beharie: his girlfriend Rachel

Andre Holland: sports writer Wendell Smith

Christopher Meloni: Booklyn Dodgers Manager Leo Durocher

Lucas Black: short stop Pee Wee Reese

Jonh McGinley: play-by-play announcer Red Barber

Alan Tudyk: raciest Phillies Coachr Ben Chapman

                

REVIEW

With unwavering commitment one man set out to make a change: Branch Rickey could see the future of baseball and did something about it. Fortunately one man was up to the challenge: Jackie Robinson. Rickey had the courage of his convictions and Robinson, well he had the courage.

This mostly true story of their struggle makes for an entertaining  insight into the ways of sport. Characterized by excellent acting throughout and close attention to period detail (except for one instance noted below) it runs a tad long at two hours and twenty minutes. The racist language might be disturbing to some.

CLASSIFICATION

for thematic elements including language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY

This is one of my classic all-time favourite nitpicks: at the end of the telephone conversation Branch Rickey hangs up and Leo Durocher is left listening to the dial tone. In reality the dial tone is only heard after picking up the phone before dialling. That’s why it’s called a dial tone.

TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE

 Sports drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS

Clint Eastwood: aging baseball scout Gus Lobel

John Goodman: his boss Pete Klein

Robert Patrick: team owner Vince

Matthew Lillard: his assistant Tom Silver

Amy Adams: Gus’s daughter Mickey

Justin Timeberlake: rival team’s scout Johnny Flanagan

Joe Massingill: hot high school player Bo Gentry

REVIEW

For the totally dedicated baseball fan who can’t get enough of the game this one is a winner. For the rest of us it is very much a “déjà-vu movie” following a proven formula to the point there is no doubt about the outcome, much less what transpires prior to that.

However even with all its shortcomings, it is entertaining and enjoyable, something that cannot be said for a lot of offerings out there.

CLASSIFICATION

for language, sexual references, some thematic material and smoking.

MONEYBALL

Sports drama
Based on a true story

F.Y.I.
Sabermetrics is the specialized analysis of baseball through objective, empirical evidence, specifically baseball statistics that measure in-game activity. The term is derived from the acronym SABR, which stands for the Society for American Baseball Research.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Brad Pitt: Billy Beane, General Manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team
Jonah Hill: Peter Brand, 20-something-year-old Yale economics graduate
Philip Seymour Hoffman: Art Howe, the A's manager
Robin Wright: Beane's ex-wife Sharon
Kerris Dorsey: their 12-year-old daughter Casey
Arliss Howard: owner of the Boston Red Socks

REVIEW
Sport teams rely upon scouts to check out players at the development level and assess their ability to move up to the big league. That is until a new unorthodox scouting method was developed. And that’s what the story is all about.

As one movie-goer leaving the theatre was overheard to say “even as a non-sports fan I enjoyed the movie and understood most of what they were talking about”. In fact the movie is more about the force of personalities and methods used than what the players actually do on the field.

Although Brad Pitt is terrific in his portrayal of Billy Beane, the rest of the supporting cast is also outstanding.

Despite a running time of over two hours what with its snappy dialog, quick cuts and intriguing story line it does not seem a minute too long.

CLASSIFICATION

for some strong language.

THE FIGHTER

Sports drama
Based on a true story

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Mark Wahlberg: professional boxer Micky Ward
Christian Bale: his older half-brother and sparring partner Dicky Eklund
Melissa Leo: their mother Alice Eklund, Micky’s manager
Jack McGee: Alice’s second husband George Ward
Mickey O'Keefe: Lowell police Sgt. Mickey O'Keefe, Micky’s trainer
Amy Adams: barmaid Charlene

REVIEW
Central to a movie about a boxer trying to make it to the top, there are a lot of fight scenes. But they are not nearly so violent as other films about this sport with more emphasis on his career and how he overcomes adversity.

Fantastic performances by Wahlberg, Bale, Leo and Adams makes for riveting stuff.

CLASSIFICATION
for language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality.

P.S.
During the end credits the real brothers ham it up a bit.

SECRETARIAT

Sports drama
Based on a true story

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Diane Lane: housewife and mother Penny Tweedy
Dylan Walsh: her lawyer husband Jack
Dylan Baker: Penny’s brother Hollis, a Harvard professor of Economics
Scott Glenn: Penny’s father Chris Chenery, owner of Meadow Stables
Margo Martindale: Miss Hamm, Mr. Chenery’s Personal Assistant
James Cromwell: Ogden Phipps, owner of Wheatley Stables
Fred Thompson: Bull Hancock, owner of Claiborne Farms
Nelsan Ellis: Eddie Sweat, Horse Groom
John Malkovich: veteran horse trainer Lucien Laurin
Otto Thorwarth: jockey Ronnie Turcotte
Nestor Serrano: Pancho Martin, owner of Secretariat's chief nemesis Sham

REVIEW
This unhurried telling of a Denver housewife who takes over her father’s horse farm and how her determination led to a notable sports triumph has the likeness of a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie: the highest production values, excellent acting for the most part and great attention to detail. In addition, it feels authentic.

Since not everyone is that well acquainted with the sport of horse racing, the timely expository material is welcome so we can all understand and appreciate what unfolds on the screen.

The producers have wisely kept the race sequences to a minimum since a camera following a group of horses running around an oval track can quickly become very boring. Instead using different camera angles, tight close-ups and crisp editing they have captured the excitement without overdoing it.

CLASSIFICATION
for brief mild language, very brief.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
Miss Hamm is called into the room with others and stands near the threshold. As she is about to leave the camera angle changes to show the entire group but somehow she has magically moved in by 5 or 6 steps.

RUDO AND CURSI

In Spanish with English subtitles
Original title: Rudo y Cursi
Sports drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Diego Luna: Beto nicknamed Rudo (rude, gruff, loutish) Verdusco, banana plantation foreman
Gael García Bernal: his younger half-brother Tato nicknamed Cursi (corny)
Dolores Heredia: their mother Elvira
Guillermo Francella: soccer scout Batuta (baton)
Jessica Mas: sexy TV weathergirl Maya

REVIEW
Nicely paced with some good performances (and one really bad one) this is the story of two half-brothers beng exposed to the big leagues in the big city. Not unexpectedly, they have to come to grips with many challenges, on the field and off.

Although their lives are centered around soccer, there is very little of the game actually shown on screen. Mostly it’s the reactions of the coach or the spectators. That gives you some idea where the emphasis is: it’s mainly about things off the field except for the inevitable “Big Game”, an essential component of every sports movie ever produced.

CLASSIFICATION
for pervasive language, sexual content and brief drug use.

SUGAR

Sports drama
Some Spanish with English subtitles

F.Y.I.
US baseball teams recruit many of their most promising talent at training camps in the Dominican Republic, where boys start practicing at a very early age, seeing the sport (with encouragement from their families) as one of the few tickets available to them for upward mobility.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Algenis Perez Soto: 19-year-old Miguel Santos (a.k.a Azúcar)
Rayniel Rufino: Jorge Ramirez, a longtime friend
Andre Holland: Brad Johnson, 2nd baseman with the Kansas City Knights
Ann Whitney: Helen Higgens, a big fan of the Bridgeton Swing baseball team
Richard Bull: her husband Earl
Ellary Porterfield: their teenage granddaughter Anne

REVIEW
One thing should be made clear right off the bat (sorry about that) is that this is not a baseball movie. Sure there are baseball scenes (frequently encapsulated by the play-by-play commentator) but it is more about a person playing baseball.

His name is Sugar (the English translation of his native nickname “because he’s so sweet”) a baseball pitcher starting off in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. And then he moves on.

This character study is beautifully shot with excellent acting, crisp editing, some humorous moments and a strong storyline. It is well worth viewing, even for the non-sports fan.

CLASSIFICATION
for language, some sexuality and brief drug use. (Not justified in my view: PG would be more appropriate)

THE WRESTLER

Drama

F.Y.I.
Professional wrestling is a non-competitive sport, an athletic performing art containing strong elements of mock combat and theatre. It usually features striking and grappling techniques modeled after other pugilistic styles from around the world. Most wrestlers develop a specialized technique as their “trademark” move.

While each wrestling match is ostensibly a competition of athletics and strategy, the goal of each match from a business standpoint is to excite and entertain the audience. Although the competition is staged, dramatic emphasis is utilized to draw out the most intense reaction from the audience.

Professional wrestling is a billion-dollar industry, drawing revenue from ticket sales, television broadcasts, branded merchandise and home video. It was instrumental in making pay-per-view a viable method of content delivery.

There are three ways to win a match:
By pinfall: a wrestler must pin both his opponent's shoulders against the mat while the referee slaps the mat three times. This is the most common form of defeat.
By submission: a wrestler must make his opponent give up, usually, but not necessarily, by putting him in a submission hold.
By a countout: this happens when a wrestler is out of the ring long enough for the referee to count to ten (or twenty), and thus disqualified.

To satisfy the bloodlust of some fans, a more violent form of the sport is promoted as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) with the combatants using just about anything to inflict punishment on their opponents such as with thumbtacks, barbed wire, chairs, tables, neon lights, fire and even ladders. It is bloody and brutal.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Mickey Rourke: 50-year-old professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson
Marisa Tomei: his friend Cassidy, a stripper in a local bar
Evan Rachel Wood: Randy’s teenaged daughter Stephanie

REVIEW
Given that this is CZW style wresting the squeamish like me will of necessity have to look away on more than one occasion during the first twenty minutes or so.

What follows is more like a documentary about the world of wrestling than a regular movie with a hand-held camera providing that sense of intimacy with the characters. Although it has a “low budget” look about it that only serves to make it all that more real. And you actually feel for the guy, in large part because the way Rouke handles the role.

CLASSIFICATION
for violence, sexuality, some nudity, language and brief drug use.

RESURRECTING THE CHAMP

Sports drama
Based on a true story

BACKGROUND
Bob Satterfield was born November 1923 in St. Louis and was a heavyweight boxer who fought from 1945 – 1957. He retired with a record of 50 wins, 25 losses and 4 draws. Ring Magazine places him at number 58 in their list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Josh Hartnett: Erik Kernan, sportswriter for the Denver Times newspaper
Alan Alda: his boss Sports Editor Ralph Metz
Kathryn Morris: Erik’s wife and fellow journalist Joyce
Dakota Goyo: their 6-year-old son Teddy
Samuel L. Jackson: Battlin’ Bob Satterfield aka Champ
David Paymer: Whitley, Editor of the glossy Sunday supplement
Teri Hatcher: Andrea Flak, executive for the Showtime cable tv network

REVIEW
Although it’s almost two hours long, the crisp editing and intriguing story make the time fly by. As a sports drama there is some footage of boxing matches but without all the gore often seen in these types of movies.

The acting is all over the place. Samuel Jackson nails his role and his performance is worth the price of admission alone. The other guys (Hartnett, Alda and the little kid) do quite a good job. But the women do not come off as well: it’s hard to imagine anybody dressing to go to the office like Morris does and her hard edge makes her less likeable. Hatcher hardly makes an effort to do more than look pretty.

CLASSIFICATION
for some violence and brief language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
He was known professionally as Bob Bombardier not Battlin’ Bob.

Joyce is wearing a white sweater while talking with Erik outside. From one shot to the next the sleeve on her right arm is either on her shoulder or part way down her arm.

ROCKY BALBOA

Sports drama

BACKGROUND
Each year on the anniversary of Adrian's death, Rocky takes her brother Paulie on a tour of the old haunts: the pet shop where his departed wife worked; their old apartment; the site of the ice rink where they had their first date.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Sylvester Stallone: Rocky Balboa, restaurateur, retired boxing professional
Burt Young: Rocky’s brother-in-law Paulie
Geraldine Hughes: bartender Marie
James Francis Kelly: her son Stephenson (aka Steps)
Milo Ventimiglia: Rocky’s son Robert (aka Rocky Junior)
Antonio Tarver: Mason Dixon, the current heavyweight boxing champion
Tony Burton: Rocky's trainer Tony "Duke" Evers

REVIEW
There is a message for all of us in this one: life sometimes hands you a raw deal and you have to rise to the challenge and overcome these obstacles. Seen from this perspective, the movie is less of a boxing match than it is of someone trying his best against some rather tough odds.

Although it tends to get overly dramatic at times, for the most part it has its heart-warming moments and a few chuckles, largely at the expense of Rocky’s less than intellectual views of the world.

CLASSIFICATION
for boxing violence and some language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
1. Boxers usually wear protective headgear when training with a sparring partner.
2. Combatants are required to wear a mouthguard during competition but neither fighter does.
3. Unlike Championship bouts that go 10 rounds, Exhibition matches are 6 rounds at most.

P.S.
The so-called Rocky Steps are the front steps leading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art which are well known for the role they played in a famous scene in the first film of the series released in 1976 entitled Rocky and in all but one of the five sequels. As the end credits roll, real-life footage of visitors to the museum are seen mimicking Rocky's famous run up the front steps at the end of his training run. The steps represent the ability of an underdog to rise to the occasion.

WE ARE MARSHALL

Sports drama, based on a true story

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Anthony Mackie: Nate Ruffin, Captain of the Thundering Herd football team
David Strathairn: Marshall University President Donald Dedmon
Ian McShane: Paul Geffen, prominent citizen and MU Board member
Matthew McConaughey: the new Head Coach Jack Lengyel
Matthew Fox: Assistant Coach Red Dawson
Kate Mara: Annie, a waitress in a local diner

REVIEW
Where have all the Film Editors gone? Seems virtually every movie nowadays has to be at least two hours long. Most, if not all, need not be so lengthy. Such is the case for this one.

Having said that, this is a good story about dealing with tragedy but with a twist in that not everyone is in agreement regarding what action should be taken. Football fans will enjoy the on-field activity and we can all relate to coping with setbacks.

CLASSIFICATION
for emotional thematic material, a crash scene, and mild language.

INVINCIBLE

True sports story

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Mark Wahlberg: Vincent (Vince) Papale, 30-year old substitute teacher and part-time bartender
Michael Rispoli: owner of Max’s bar in South Philly
Greg Kinnear: first year coach of the NFL Philadelphia Eagles Dick Vermeil
Kevin Conway: Vince’s working class dad
Elizabeth Banks: Max’s cousin and new bartender Janet

REVIEW
As usual when one of the senior crew is responsible for more than one key production area (Ericson Core is both Director and Cinematographer) the results are often less that ideal. Both aspects generally suffer: in this case the acting is generally mediocre at best while the cinematography is pretty unexciting with only the few overhead shots even remotely of interest.

Although it is a good story, one that to many would be considered inspirational, it is unfortunately not one that’s been well told. Die-hard Eagles fans will no doubt overlook any shortcomings. But the rest of us can’t.

One more thing: it has one of the worst endings I’ve seen in years. Seems like someone stood up on the set one day and said “That’s it. Go home.” And they did.

CLASSIFICATION
for sports violence

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
During the open try-out it is evident it was filmed over a period of time because the shadows cut across the yard lines at different angles from one shot to the next.


P.S.
Bit of an exaggeration to title the movie as Invincible.
 Definition: incapable of being conquered, overcome, or subdued.
Granted Vince has to deal with some difficulties, but don’t we all? That hardly warrants his being described as someone who is invincible.

ON A CLEAR DAY

Drama

BACKGROUND
The Strait of Dover is the narrowest part of the English Channel being only 21 miles from Dover to Cap Gris Nez. In 1875 Captain Matthew Webb made the first observed and unassisted swim across it from England to France in 21 hours and 45 minutes.
In the next 50 years ten swimmers managed to emulate the feat (or claimed they had) so in in 1927 the Channel Swimming Association was founded to observe, authenticate and ratify cross-channel swims in the Strait of Dover.
 Total number of ratified swims under CSA rules up to 2004:
948 successful crossings, 456 by men and 214 by women.
 Fastest swim: Chad Hunde (USA) on the 27th September 1994
in 7 hours 17 minutes.
 Oldest male swimmer: George Brunstad (USA), 70 years old when he crossed on the 27th and 28th of August 2004, taking 15 hours 59 min.
 Slowest crossing: Henry Sullivan (USA) in 26 hours 50 minutes
 Shortest ever attempt: Bruno Tajana (Swiss) gave up after just 100 yards while the water was still only knee-deep

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Peter Mullan: Frank Redmond, foreman in a Glasgow shipyard
Brenda Blethyn: his wife Joan
Jamie Sives: their son Rob, a stay-at-home dad
Sean McGinley: Frank’s best buddy, also a factory worker at the shipyard
Billy Boyd: Danny Campbell, who thinks highly of Frank
Ron Cook: Norman, the shy quiet type
Benedict Wong: Chan, owner of a local take out store

REVIEW
Sometimes our simmering secret desires manifest themselves in the strangest of ways. Such is the case with this endeavour, undertaken by someone who should be seriously contemplating how to take it easy rather than pushing himself to new limits.

Even with this premise of hope, somehow the movie lacks punch, in part because of several sub-plots which tend to “muddy” the main point of the whole thing. With few exceptions, the acting is just so-so and the pacing somewhat ponderous.

CLASSIFICATION
for some language.

GLORY ROAD

Fact based sports drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Josh Lucas: Don Haskins, coach of the Texas Western University Miners basketball team
Red West: his senior assistant, Ross
Evan Jones: his younger bespectacled assistant, Moe
Derek Luke: the team’s most talented player (and lady’s man), Bobby Joe Hill
Mehcad Brooks: Harry Flournoy, wanting to do well to make his “momma” proud
Damaine Radcliff: Willie "Scoops" Cager, playing despite a medical condition
Al Shearer: Nevil Shed, struggling with his own self doubts
Sam Jones II: Willie Worsley, the team’s shortest player at 5’7”
Jon Voight: Adolph Rupp, legendary winningest coach of the conference leader Kentucky Wildcats

REVIEW
Predictable in terms of the outcome of the game, the movie brings to mind issues that have been previously glossed over. At the same time, it shows how one man changed the game of basketball back in the mid-sixties by not accepting the "informal rules" regarding black players.

CLASSIFICATION
for racial issues including violence and epithets, and momentary language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
While walking off the court, Bobby Joe Hill stops abruptly when Coach Haskins calls his name. He turns around to face the Coach and he is midway between the free throw circle and the centre circle. He remains immobile while they are talking. But when the camera pulls back, we see now he is somehow almost completely inside the free throw circle.

MAURICE RICHARD

Sports drama
In French with English subtitles

BACKGROUND
Maurice Richard was one of the best players in NHL history. Not an outstanding stick-handler nor great skater, he excelled through sheer force of will. Driven by desire so fierce his glare unhinged rival goaltenders, the Montreal Canadians star set numerous records. "The Rocket" thrilled fans everywhere and was regarded as a cultural icon among Quebecois who revered him as "Saint Maurice”.

Born in Saskatchewan and educated at England's Oxford University, NHL President Clarence Campbell is often described as imperious and arrogant. Most French Canadians regarded him as a symbol of the disdained anglophone ruling elite. In March 1955, against the advice of many, he attended a Montreal Canadians home game and the consequences made headlines worldwide.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Roy Dupuis: Maurice "The Rocket" Richard, hockey player
Julie LeBreton: his wife, Lucille
Michel Barrette: her father, Père Norchet
Diane Lavallée: her mother, Alice
Pierre-Francois Legendre: Maurice’s brother-in-law, Georges
Stephen McHattie: Dick Irvin Sr., Montreal Canadians Head Coach
Tony Calabretta: Frank Selke, Montreal Canadians General Manager

REVIEW
An honest depiction of one of the greatest stars of the game and an insight into the internal politics of hockey as practised back in those days. The acting is uniformly excellent, the sports action well done and the story well written. Even for the non-sports fan, it is an entertaining movie because a lot of the story takes place off the ice.

CLASSIFICATION


P.S.
Everything is historically correct even to the salt shakers on the tavern tables which were used to “salt” each draft beer, a practice no longer in vogue.

TWO FOR THE MONEY

Sports drama

BACKGROUND
Betting is illegal in 49 states, but giving people advice on betting is not.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Matthew McConaughey: former football player turned Las Vegas odds maker
Al Pacino: Walter Abrams, owner of a sports betting hot line business operating out of New York city
Rene Russo: Toni, Walter’s long-suffering wife
Jeremy Piven: Jerry, one of Walter’s star sports line win-predictors

REVIEW
This is a terrific insight into another one of those “grey zone” activities that are legal but just. Helping people to gamble for some is a question of morality. Not for these guys. It’s their living.

And it’s a business full of energy; especially as played by Al Pacino who’s at his volcanic best…it’s almost scary to watch.

There are several loose ends, questions that don’t get answered but hey, the movie does not pretend to be a documentary.

CLASSIFICATION
for pervasive language (frequent use of the f-word and other swear words), a scene of sexuality (can hardly tell if they’re naked or not) and a violent act (not really).

P.S.
Promoted as “based on a true story”, perhaps those who make use of these hot lines know without having to be told, but for the rest of us there is nothing in the credits or elsewhere providing any clue as to who was the real person.