Hip Hip Hurray!!

Last Friday, Disney's Invincible starring Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights,The Italian Job) and based on the story of Vince Papale hit the theatres. It looks like one of those movies that make you stand up and cheer, movies that inspire you and really touch your heart. So I thought why not create a list of sports movies that I think are magical and inspirational.....

 again not in any order....

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander - One of the few Hindi flicks that achieved a cult movie status in the minds of Indian youth. This coming of age tale used the underdog formula to perfection. The final race between Aamir Khan and Deepak Tijori is just awesome. I remember I watched this movie by myself at the theatre and at some point I realized my fists were clenched and I was shaking my legs furiously. Funny stuff, but this is why we love our movies....

Lagaan - When I saw Lagaan I was a little older and therefore mature enough not to clench my fists. What really surprised me about the movie was the gradual build up in movie's tempo that reaches its highest point when that last ball is caught. I had not seen a 3.5 hour long hindi movie before that had been successful in doing that. You truly feel for Bhuwan's rag tag team, and not because they are Indians fighting against the British, but because they represent the good, they are the underdogs who are fighting the Goliath's of the world. Its a universal story and has been told a million times in different languages and everytime it draws a cheer from the crowd....

Sea Biscuit - A movie about a horse? are you kidding me? Anyways I walked into the theatre thinking I'll be yawning half hour into the movie. But anyone who has seen this movie knows its hard to do that. It keeps you glued to your seat until the very end, when you stand up and clap. Excellent performances by Tobey Maguire (your neighbourhood Spiderman), Jeff Bridges (The Dude from Big Lebowski), Chris Cooper (the creepy closeted gay man from the American Beauty) and of course the horse. Must rental if you have not seen it.

Rudy - A lesser known movie and only claim to fame of Sean Astin before he played a second fiddle hobbit in Lord of The Rings. For those who have not seen this movie, its a true story of a boy, Rudy who grew up in a steel town and always wanted to play football for the University of Notre Dame. The only problem was that he was half the size of the players, but his determination was huge. What happens next is a wonderful ride which any sports fan should witness. The movie also stars Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn (in a small role) who later went on to make "the guy movie extraordinaire" - the Swingers....

Hip Hip Hurray - Wow!! remember this movie? Directed by Prakash Jha and starring a skinny Raj Kiran and Deepti Naval about, a high school soccer team. I dont remember much of the story, but its about this coach, played by Raj Kiran who earns the respect of his soccer team and then ultimately leads them to victory. A well made movie that was quickly forgotten, much like most of the art movies from the 80s....

Friday Night Lights - This is by far my favorite football movie. Starring Billy Bob Thornton (Bad Santa) as Texas high school football coach, Lucas Black( Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift) as the Quaterback, Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher) as the unstoppable tailback and Tim McGraw (superstar country singer). Its not an ordinary high school team, it belongs to a town where football is everything. The residents only care about state championship. This true story brings out the pressure, frustration and the fighting spirit of these kids brilliantly. A must watch for everyone who has ever wondered, why this country(US) is so crazy about this game....

Remember The Titans - Okay one more and I'll change the game. Another true story, that explores the larger theme of racial tension between black and white. The trouble begins when an African American coach, Denzel Washington (The Training Day, Man on Fire) is appointed the head of a high school football team over a white coach. The players of the different races don't want to be on the same team, but the tensions are eased on a 2 week training camp under new coach's tough training regime. However when the team returns back to the town they find racial tension has the city in turmoil. Ultimately the team's success brings the town together and by the time they end their perfect season, the Titans, bring everyone in their town closer than ever...

Hoosiers - The movie's tagline says it all - An Inspiring story of second chances. Gene Hackman plays Norman Dale a star player turned alcoholic coach leading a small-town basketball team in Indiana. Based on the true story of Milan (Indiana) Indian's state title of 1954, the movie has been figured in top 5 sports movies in a number of ratings. The movie is an incredible ride where the coach has a number of hurdles in his path, but he dribbles past each to guide his group of undisciplined athletes to achieve what they had never dreamed about...