There’s nothing that I love more than an inspiration baseball movie.
Okay, perhaps that’s an exaggeration, but seriously. Let’s consider the facts.
Angels in the Outfield (1994). Josheph Gordon Levitt, Danny Glover, Christopher Lloyd, and young pre-tan Matthew McConaughey all working together for the sake of family, faith, and fast pitch? You can’t argue that.
Bull Durham (1988).There’s no denying that love story.
Damn Yankees! (1955). Alright, so this one isn’t a movie. It’s a musical. I’m in theatre. Sue me.
Hardball (2001). Not only does this movie completely outshine every other “let the white people help the poor ghetto kids” movies of the 2000s (*cough* Honey (2003) *cough*), it has a ballin’ soundtrack, a Keanu Reeves that doesn’t completely suck, and it’s actually extremely touching. Now, everytime I swing a bat, it’s for G-Baby. (Not actually, but you get the point.)
Field of Dreams (1989). Okay, sure, it’s hokey. Sure, Kevin Costner was already in Bull Durham and, I agree, once is enough BUT baseball legends and James Earl Jones? Fuck off if you can’t find your rainbow in that shit.
A League of their Own (1992). “There’s no crying in baseball!” Also, Madonna. That’s all.
Moneyball (2011). True, this movie is more about economics than it is about baseball, but it still counts. And it was fucking good.
Rookie of the Year (1993). This movie made me seriously want to break my arm as a child. That’s some powerful shit.
The Sandlot (1993). Now this is perhaps the king of all baseball movies. It’s a kids movie, but it’s also timeless. The soundtrack is amazing. The acting is solid. The story is ridiculous, but amazing. The characters are loveable. The movie is almost perfect: a classic, well-done film about loving the game. I will love it, “forever. Forever. Forever. Forever.”
Of course, other sports films have their moments.
Remeber the Titans (2000) Basketball. Segregation. Tears.
Space Jame (1996) Basketball. Jordan. Buggs.
Cool Runnings (1993) Bobsledding. Jamaica. Mon.
The Fighter (2010) Boxing. White Trash. Comeback story.
Bring It On (2000) Cheerleading. Rah. Rah.
The Cutting Edge (1992) Hockey/Figure Skating. Love. Hate.
Happy Gilmore (1996) Golf. Adam Sandler. Bob Barker.
Karate Kid (1984) Karate. Duh.
Wimbledon (2004) Tennis. England. James McAvoy being hilairous.
The Wrestler (2008) Wrestling. Comeback story in the movie. And in real life.
Million Dollar Baby (2004) Boxing. Death. Morgan Freeman
Hoosiers (1986) Basketball. Gene Hackman. Kind of a true story.
Still, though these may be great movies, some Academy Award winners, they’re all about winning, or proving a point, or changing the world. In basball, it’s just about loving the game.
