2. Hoosiers

Gene Hackman in "Hoosiers." Photo: http://www.overthinkingit.com/2008/02/04/henry-rowentgardner-vs-lou-gehrig/

It seems fitting that "Hoosiers" came in number two on the list of the greatest sports movies of all time after "Rocky." After all, movie audiences love an underdog, and you'd be hard-pressed to find two more enjoyable underdog sports movies. The story in a nutshell, is about the Hickory Huskers, a small school in Indiana, and their run to glory under coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) and their obstacles on the way to making history for sports teams from small towns. Sounds predictable and boring right? But it's not. While predictable, the story is really involving because the characters are so well realized.

At the center is Hackman, as a coach with a checkered past. He hasn't coached in 12 years and back then he was coaching at the college level. Now he is coaching at a small high school in Indiana. Even before meeting the team he is met with obstacles: a skeptical teacher played by Barbra Hershey and the townspeople. The town lives and breathes basketball. Winning players are treated like gods. The fans are obsessive, but not to the lengths of say the fans in "Friday Night Lights." Myra Fleener (Hershey) tells coach Dale that she wants him to stay away from the best player because she wants kids at the school to look beyond basketball and the small town in which they live. Dale does, but then, eventually, that player decides he wants to play because he believes Coach Dale deserves a chance. In fact, he says he won't play unless Dale coaches. This sets in motion Hickory's run to the state championship.

There is also a great subplot involving Dale and Shooter, the town drunk (played by Dennis Hopper). Shooter's knowledge of basketball, especially about the Huskers, is encyclopedic. His son also plays for the team and he used to be a player himself. But he has become an alcoholic. Dale decides to give him a chance and make him an assistant coach. The ups and downs of Shooter create great human drama and Hopper is amazing in one of the best performances of his career.

Many movies have tried to be "Hoosiers." Not surprisingly, most fail. From the style of film editing, to the music, to the Cinderella plot, "Hoosiers" has been ripped off, but never duplicated. While the story is predictable the characters are continuously engaging and it doesn't hurt that the plot is based on a true story. When Hackman's greatest performances are listed, "Hoosiers" rarely comes up. This is probably because it's not flashy and edgy. What Hackman does here is more subtle and moving. Great performances and an inspiring story makes "Hoosiers" a winner.

1. Rocky

One of the many icon images from "Rocky." Photo: http://www.boxofficereport.com/media/my100.shtml

The #1 greatest sports movie of all-time according to "The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies" is "Rocky." The plot (if you've been living under a rock and somehow missed it) is about Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), who works as a debt collector and also as a fighter. But alas, Rocky is a struggling fighter. Enter Apollo Creed, champion boxer. Upon arriving in Philadelphia and having no luck arranging a fight with a known boxer he decides to fight an unknown. The USA is the land of opportunity after all and how appropriate to give a nobody like Rocky a chance to be a somebody. Creed thinks it will be a cakewalk but he ends up getting more than he bargained for. That's the story in a nutshell.

"Rocky" is one of the most iconic of sports movies. Whenever an underdog achieves something that person is often called "Rocky" after Stallone's character. And of course their is Bill Conti's score. You can't walk into a sports arena without hearing "Gonna Fly Now" from "Rocky" (or "Eye of the Tiger" from "Rocky IV"). I thought that since it had become such a part of our culture it would get old upon repeat viewings. I was wrong.

"Rocky" holds up better than I imagined. It's not just an underdog sports movie. It's a real story with fully-realized characters. Stallone is great in the title role and of course he is the heart and soul of the film. If we don't buy him as a boxer the movie is done. But he really makes you believe he is a boxer. What a shame that Stallone's career has gone downhill in recent years. He fought to get this movie made and his performance is nothing short of amazing.

While "Rocky" is a showcase for Stallone, the rest of the performances deserve equal credit. This time around the performance that I was really drawn to was Talia Shire as Adrian. Her performance as Rocky's love interest is so subtle, tender, and honest. Pay close attention to the scene where she finally confronts her brother Paulie (Burt Young) about how he treats her. She almost steals the movie. And then there is Burgess Meredith as Mickey, Rocky's trainer. He is in the great pantheon of sports mentor figures in movies: gruff, unforgiving, but also a true believer in his athlete.

I'm not sure I would rank "Rocky" #1 on my list of all-time great sports movies, but it would surely be in my top ten. The fight scenes are quite good, but I found those in "Raging Bull" to be the best ever. That is a minor quibble with a great movie. This movie more than goes the distance.

Ultimate Sports Movies Challenge

Earlier this year I set out to watch all of Roger Ebert's "Great Movies." I realize now I bit off a little more than I could chew. As much of a movie buff as I am, there is just no way I could get through all of them. That, and the list is constantly growing so it would never end. I have decided instead o a more reasonable goal: make it through the 100 greatest sports films as laid out in "The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies." 100 seems a little more reasonable number of movies to watch and blog about. I will be watching and writing about all of them. This is mt New Year's Resolution. I look forward to feedback about my take on these 100 movies. Stay tuned for the first installment: my review of "Rocky."