Scoring at the Movies: Recent Episodes
Ryan Ellis & Chris Di Gregorio
Join Ryan and Chris every other Thursday as we talk and laugh about sports films, sweep the leg of critics, revel in the fine art of training montages, have pedantic arguments over romantic sub plots that are juuuust a bit outside, and discuss which sports movies had us at hello.
We've arrived at the series finale of Scoring At The Movies! We're wrapping up this every-other-Thursday chat show about sports films by digging into Rocky...again. Rocky Balboa is filled with emotion, nostalgia (oh, is it nostalgic!) and many references to previous films in the franchise, not to mention a slew of quirky, Rocky-specific details. It's one of the best of the first 5 sequels as it highlights the lonely ex-boxer struggling mightily with the death of his beloved Adrian. Sylvester Stallone's return to the series after the failure of Rocky V represents some of the best work he did in the original 6. He even gets to end Balboa's improbable boxing career on a "full circle" high note. Then after our hour-plus gab about this cheesy/fun movie, we spent around 15 minutes summing up our feelings about doing this podcast for the past 5 years. So race up the steps for the last time and get rid of the stuff in the basement as Ryan & Chris ring the final bell on Scoring At The Movies. To contact us, use email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).
We're talking about baseball for the last time as Kevin Costner plays a Detroit Tigers pitcher in For Love Of The Game. The film spends about an equal amount of time between the Costner/Kelly Preston love story and him trying to achieve something monumental: throw a perfect game. We thought the romance had too many tonal problems to take it seriously, although you can't say it was shoehorned in. It's essential to the way director Sam Raimi tells the flashback-heavy story. Even though we admired a lot of the action depicted on the diamond, we were pedants about A LOT of the errors. Costner's 3rd baseball flick is just a frustrating experience, although there are some moments that are as exciting as a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 9th. So clear the mechanism as we talk to ourselves on the mound and maybe shed some tears in our penultimate episode about For Love Of The Game. Our email address is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com and our Twitter accounts are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies.
In our 3rd-last episode, we're talking about a cynical, sci-fi movie about a made-up sport called Rollerball. Norman Jewison's dour 1975 film juggles a lot of balls and comments on many social issues (as Jewison often did in the films he directed), but he didn't draw either of us into his take on a dystopian future. James Caan mostly just mutters and sulks. He's not at his tough-guy best, although at least he and the stunt performers are convincing when they're playing this ultra-violent game. We agreed that the picture is absolutely well-made, showing a 2018 that was grounded in reality, not The Jetsons. It's just not a picture we ever care to see again. So instead of gleefully exploding trees with a hand cannon, why not be true to yourself and buck fascist authority figures, no matter who gets hurt? And while you're doing that, we'll be over here trying to figure out Rollerball. Oh, and for the record, we've covered 3 poker movies on this channel, not just 1 or 2: Rounders, Casino Royale and Molly's Game. Our email address is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com, while our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies.
Since we're counting down to our final podcast on June 7th, this represents both our final basketball movie and our final documentary. More Than A Game shows a remarkable amount of archival footage and plenty of behind-the-scenes home videos of LeBron James and his high-school teammates, but did Kristopher Belman ask them any truly hard questions? For instance, were the other 4 guys in the Fab Five jealous about just how rich and successful their megastar friend ended up? And what's it like to be best friends with arguably the greatest player the NBA has ever seen? We got into a long discussion about that exact point too...just who is the best ever, whether it's LeBron, Michael...or someone else. Chris didn't love the way Belman structured the doc with all the time-jumping and we both felt unsatisfied by the lack of real answers to the scandal that saw LeBron get suspended during their senior year. Still, the movie is fast-paced and very ntertaining. So get ready to root for the overdog as we spend a solid hour chatting about More Than A Game. Oh, and for the record: the boys went to Buchtel High School, not "Beck-tel". Also, LeBron won 2 NBA championships with Miami, 1 with Cleveland and 1 with the Lakers, so he's won 4 NBA titles, not 5. You can email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or type out some tweets (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).
Chariots Of Fire is one of the most-respected movies we will ever cover, what with all the critical & financial success, not to mention the Oscar for Best Picture. It's just a shame we didn't care more about this true story. All the religious talk definitely didn't help us connect with the material. Ian Charleson runs blissfully for God (except when he won't) while the Jewish character played by Ben Cross runs his heart out, even though he has to fight against quiet-but-cruel anti-Semitism. Then they and their fellow upper-crust, subdued, white Great Britainers head to Paris for the 1924 Summer Olympics to try to run faster than the (white) Americans et al. It's a pretty simple story handled well by director Hugh Hudson, who never topped himself after this film. We just wish his crowning achievement touched us more. So dash on the beach in slow motion as a famous song plays along while we enlighten you about the acclaimed Chariots Of Fire. Oh, and for the record, there were only 44 nations competing in the 1924 games while more than 200 countries have been competing in recent years. To make your voice heard, you can shoot us an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or hit us with some tweets (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).
On the day the 2023 MLB season begins, we're discussing the sequel to one of our favourite baseball movies. Of course, Major League II is pretty much the same film, as the Cleveland Redacteds bicker, stink, bond, then strive to win it all, even though nobody believes in them...again. It doesn't help that David Ward's follow-up to his iconic original doesn't have much new up its sleeve and it's rated PG to appeal/pander to kids. There are also some idiotic screenwriting choices in the big game at the end. Yet this movie was raked over every coal by critics, even though it made us laugh---Bob Uecker!---and the baseball action is certainly worth your time. These guys are pretty believable athletes too, especially Charlie Sheen and David Keith. Oh, and as a bonus, Ryan did a brief review of Bang The Drum Slowly at the end of this episode because that was our original film this week. So don't brawl on the field with your own teammates. Instead, think about lingerie magazines to distract you from your hang-ups as you blow it out certain body parts and enjoy us speaking better of Major League II than almost anyone else ever has. You can contact us by tweeting (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or by email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
We haven't reviewed very many MMA movies and we certainly haven't talked specifically about a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu film before, but writer/director David Mamet was the right guy to focus on that in Redbelt. He's a practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu, which also means he might not have always explained the sport as well as he could have. Maybe he was too close to it? While the first half is terrific, Redbelt is overstuffed with plot and has a vast & confusing conspiracy that unfolds during the inferior second half. Headlining a great cast, Chiwetel Ejiofor is wonderful as a man of honour in an honourless world. Does Mamet think that's what he is too? Anyway, we spent a lot of this episode trying to figure out the uneven film that is Redbelt, but there's much to praise too. Just play our podcast, there's always a way to play our podcast. To contact us, you can email (scoringatmovies@gmail.com) or hit us with some tweets (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).
Once Creed III is released on March 3rd, there will be 9 entries in the Rocky universe...and we will have covered 5 of them. We're obviously huge fans of Balboa & friends, but one of us was a bigger Rocky V apologist than the other one was. This is, after all, universally acknowledged as the worst in the franchise. Even Sylvester Stallone hates it. His script creates major problems with the scenarios, the characters and even one character's nonsensical name. Some of those blunders were truly maddening. We also both took issue with the way Stallone and returning director John Avildsen executed the angle where the Balboas go broke...and the repercussions of that when they end up back in the old neighbourhood.
Still, there are some sweet moments and touching call-backs to prior films. As always, the entire series was discussed, which it must be when the other films are referred to as often as they always are when the Italian Stallion is the topic and we're the ones doing the discussing. We didn't hear no bell, so fire up this lengthy episode to hear us share some laughs and express some exasperation about the valley in the franchise known as Rocky V.
If you want to contact us, our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com and our Twitter handles are @mvoiefiend51 and @scoringatmovies.
Not all sports movies are made the same. For instance, Logan Lucky isn't one. The car racing is at a minimum in Steven Soderbergh's well-reviewed, but under-seen heist comedy. On the very bright side though, there are plenty of stars and character actors who delighted us. The movie is snappy and funny in an Ocean's Eleven kind of way, which makes sense because Steven Soderbergh directed that series too. Just like the robberies in the Oceans flicks, there are some holes in Channing Tatum's master plan. The movie's geography also defies logic. So we quibbled the way we always do about issues like that, but we also acknowledged that the best move while you're watching is to just go with it. That's not hard to do when you've got Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, Riley Keough and Jack Quaid doing the heavy lifting alongside Tatum. So don't pre-judge a southern putz who just might be smarter than everybody else and certainly don't disrespect a slow-moving, one-handed veteran. Just devour our talk about Logan Lucky while you think about what you're going to do with all the money you'll get out of this job...eventually. We would love to hear your thoughts about this or any other podcast we've posted. On Twitter we're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies, while our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com.
As the Eagles & Chiefs prepare for the Super Bowl and since this is Groundhog Day, we thought we'd repeat ourselves and cover a football movie all over again: The Longest Yard. Okay, the 1974 version of The Longest Yard was 115 podcasts ago, while we're talking about the Adam Sandler remake today. Critics don't like this take on the Mean Machine very much, but we ranted about the way they often turn up their nose at comedies and remakes. We just think this is the funnier movie of the two, especially when Chris Rock or Kevin Nash are involved. And, hey, Burt Reynolds even has a major—and we think effective---supporting role. That doesn't mean that this version is perfect though, partly because director Peter Segal doesn't balance the tone very well and he hits most of the same beats the original did. A big plus was casting actual NFL players and pro wrestlers to play the cons and the guards, which allows for the gridiron action to look more real than it might have. So don't cheat at the game you love and then sulk your way through life. Instead, play as hard as you can and then risk your life just to one-up your tormenter as we say nicer things about this edition of The Longest Yard than you might have expected us to. Let's hear from you via Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
You can throw a pillow at our face or hit us with a knock-out dart (why?!), but also listen to us when we say that The Naked Gun really is a sports movie. About 1/3rd of the film is set at the ballpark with Leslie Nielsen doing what he does best: bumbling his way through somehow solving a tough case. Nielsen plays it straight through all the gags and jokes (often double jokes) that only work if you deliver them the way that he does. Credit to George Kennedy, Ricardo Montalban and Priscilla Presley for doing that so well too. This is also the rare baseball comedy that rewards repeat viewings. Just like in the ZAZ guys' Airplane, there are details you might not have picked up on the first time or the second time...or maybe even the third time. So try to look past the presence of a certain running back and appreciate the enduring hilarity that is The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad. Email us with your thoughts (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or blast off some tweets at us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).
This 1980's relic was the hockey movie we could never find on DVD or streaming, but YouTube to the rescue and we finally get to cover Youngblood. Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze are convincing on skates and, man, are they handsome. Both play talented scorers who also have to fight their own battles on the ice. On that note, we didn't like the last 5 minutes of this movie, partly because we didn't buy almost anything about the post-game stick joust and then the punch-up. When Lowe isn't dealing with that goonery throughout his OHL experience, he's being hazed, seduced by his landlady and---just when his best buddy on the team starts to become a real friend---that friend is badly injured. Some have said Youngblood's biggest fault is that it's loaded with cliches, but better sports movies that came after this one had similar scenes, so this was at least influential. Anyway, keep your stick on the ice, but be ready to throw hands as we dissect Peter Markle's amateur hockey flick. Send us some love---or the opposite of love---on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
Sometimes the title of a movie tells you everything you need to know about it, but the biggest problem with Sylvester Stallone's arm-wrestling opus isn't that it's Over The Top. Sly underplays, if anything. He's not even as bad as you might expect, nor is David Mendenhall truly deserving of the Razzie he won for playing the estranged "I love you, now I hate you" son. The editing, the direction by Menahem Golan and the screenplay (co-written by Sly) are all atrocious though. Yeah, this is just about the most laughably illogical film we've ever covered. They can't even keep Stallone's character's name straight! At least the picture is entertaining, especially when you get to rag on it with your podcast partner sitting beside you. So the holidays are just about here and you're probably going to have to meet your family halfway, but don't drive a transport truck through anyone's house, even if it's to get your son back. Just bet on yourself to defy insurmountable odds as you listen to us verbally annihilate Over The Top. Go ahead and follow us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and maybe email us too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
Walter Hill's Undisputed is a gritty boxing movie in which the big fight takes place in prison. There's potential in that concept, right? Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames play the 2 main characters. Hey, that HAS to amount to something cool, doesn't it? Well, this film could have and should have been vivid and dynamic, but instead it's a disjointed, unsatisfying, anti-Rocky. We couldn't even figure out who we were supposed to root for, mostly because one pugilist is a rapist and the other is a murderer. It doesn't help that neither of them has much of an arc, nor are most of the many (many) story threads tied up. Yet because the boxing scenes hit home and all the actors do the best they can with this shabby material, it's more that Hill's flick is empty than is actually a bad film. It's just a shame because Undisputed could have been something truly cool, even if Ving Rhames' camp would deny the whole thing ever even took place. If you want to talk to us, we're reachable on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
Sometimes we cover obscure sports films on this channel. The Winning Season is a prime example. It barely even played in theatres 12 years ago. Since it's another in our recent run of "pleasant experience" movies, it probably deserved at least a little more attention back then. Sam Rockwell is the ne'er-do-well coach of a girls' basketball team in this dramedy that co-stars pre-stardom youngsters Emma Roberts and Rooney Mara. Even though the biggest name in the cast is Sam The Man, this film easily passes the Bechdel Test. There are many connections to boys' b-ball flicks in this though and it often follows their lead a little too closely. That's the biggest problem. The story isn't fresh or original in any way. Anyway, don't threaten to get a restraining order against your own father just because you're mad at him. Take a breath, learn to appreciate dear old drunken dad and his team of underdogs and---while you're doing that---listen to us jam about The Winning Season. We're always curious to hear your feedback through Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and/or email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
Six Pack is a racing movie starring a half-dozen kids and a popular country singer who had never really acted before. What should've been an obnoxious failure is actually a genial experience with Kenny Rogers doing pretty solid work alongside a young Diane Lane and an even-younger Anthony Michael Hall. All 7 of the main characters get in trouble with the law at one time or another, so this road movie is filled with getaways and clever escapes. Families might enjoy settling in with Daniel Petrie's unchallenging picture. So let love turn you around (turn you around) as we rev up our car on southern racetracks and try not to let this Six Pack weasel their way into our camper. If you're so inclined to contact us, you can do it on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
Rather than covering Six Pack this week as we had advertised, Ryan got caught monologuing about Harold Lloyd's 1925 classic The Freshman. While Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin remain legends a century after the height of their stardom, Lloyd is the sometimes-forgotten clown of the silent era. He's cheerful oblivious in this football farce, a "young" college kid who doesn't realize other students are always bullying him. Lloyd himself and the character he plays here certainly get to prove how gutsy they are. The man in the glasses takes a pounding throughout the film, usually with a smile on his face. The problem with Lloyd's star vehicle though is that it just isn't funny, which is a common complaint about the older comedies we cover. So get ready to hear about pratfalls, goofballs, footballs and romance as one man gives you his rundown on The Freshman. We'd love it if you would subscribe to get all our episodes, but also follow us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and/or email us your thoughts (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
Even though George Herman Ruth is arguably the greatest baseball player of all time, The Babe is not even a good movie, never mind a great one. The problems start with John Goodman, who's a terrific actor, but he's miscast in the titular role of the man-child who started as a pitcher with the Red Sox and then became an outfielder with the Yankees. It also doesn't help that this gregarious, larger-than-life baseball legend is depicted as moody, needy and a sad sack for most of this lifeless film. The biggest crime of all though is how much Arthur Hiller and his team stretched the truth (or messed up the chronology of momentous events) about Ruth's incredible real-life story. We got very pedantic about those facts and figures. So shrug off the non-stop insults about your weight because it's clear that you're a natural who just likes to hit home runs as we shuffle our way through the glum disappointment of a biopic they call The Babe. We don't mind if you keeds tweet us. We are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies. You can also email us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com.
While the satire in North Dallas Forty didn't make us laugh, Ted Kotcheff's well-regarded film was ahead of its time with how it shows the brutality of football and the price players pay to do something they love. This is also a movie about cold, hard analytics...and it beat Moneyball to the punch with that theme by more than 30 years. Despite the ingratiating peformances by Mac Davis and the (supposed) rebel Nick Nolte, Chris couldn't figure this movie out on his first viewing, although we both respected it for its honesty and for most of the performances. The most memorable scene is the opening when a beat-up Nolte recalls his team's win the night before, but the sequence where the players get psyched up to go out and smash (and get smashed) in the playoff game zings too. A shortage of giggles notwithstanding (okay, Nolte's "sorta" was pretty funny), there's plenty of meat on North Dallas Forty's bone. So learn how to play more than just the game of football as you ease your aching body into a bath with this episode in your earbuds and a mix of happy & frustrating sporting memories in your head. You can talk to us in 2 easy ways: our tweets are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies while the email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
It must be hard work to have this much fun surfing enormous waves in Maui, but have you tried also working as a maid at a posh hotel? In Blue Crush, Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez and Sanoe Lake get to do both and, rumour has it, hijinks ensue! At least that's the theory. Director John Stockwell's film has tonal problems and it's also hard to figure out who he made it for. No one can deny though that the surfing is shot very well. We'll let the use of obvious stunt doubles slide, considering how dangerous those huge waves must be even for the most-experienced water-lover. If only the screenplay was more fun, a lot more intense or even a zany combination of both of those things. This is certainly no Point Break. Anyway, get over your fears of being hurt while doing what you love as you fall for the perfect quarterback who's on vacation...and going home soon We'll be hanging 10 and presenting our critical thoughts about Blue Crush in this podcast, bruh. If you tweet, look for us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies). We're very open to getting emails too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
After the massive success of John G. Avildsen's first Karate Kid, this even-more-successful sequel has Ralph Macchio & Pat Morita in Okinawa. The focus (oh, that infamous focus) in Karate Kid Part II is on Miyagi and the life he ran away from decades earlier. Don't get hung up on the name of the movie though. Daniel is barely even necessary this time. Although make no mistake, these 2 characters are iconic and the 2 stars are always good in their roles. Story-wise, this isn't a complete rehash of the first film, but they sure didn't avoid hitting a ton of the same beats. This time though you get the improbable ice chop, the puzzling drum technique and not one but two love stories balanced with a running theme of dangerous rivals who are more blood-thirsty than even the Cobra Kai guys. This is far from a perfect sports flick, but it's entertaining and sometimes even touching. So honk a sitting duck's nose rather than beat him to death with your bare hands as we dig into the many corners of The Karate Kid Part II, listener-san. If you like, you can chop a few tweets at us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or you can email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
Our review of The Great White Hope is a little souffle here in the dog days of August. Ryan recorded a solo podcast several years ago and now we find out what those 3-year-old thoughts were. Howard Sackler's Tony-award-winning play was turned into a meh movie by Martin Ritt that's more about race relations than it is about fisticuffs. At least the film feels brutally honest about race. James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander have white-hot chemistry and were both nominated for Oscars. He's the ferocious Jack Johnson stand-in and she's the lady he loves but isn't allowed to love (cuz...white). The movie is a mixed bag with the highlight being the strong performances by the two leads. So don't let The Man get you down. Just punch The Man (and everybody else, for that matter) as this one-man chat digs just a little into The Great White Hope. Contacting us is easy. Our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies and our email address is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
This episode is a change of pace because we're discussing the venerable art of arm wrestling for the first time. Golden Arm is lighthearted fun that emulates Kingpin's zany road trip while also taking some plot elements from The Karate Kid. A jacked-up Mary Holland (the scene-stealing sister in Happiest Season), Betsy Sodaro and the funny supporting cast certainly commit to this nutty material. Are they doing a lot of improv? It feels like it. And they're good at it. Director Maureen Bharoocha finds the right tone in her debut and she doesn't let Golden Arm overstay its welcome. So don't be freaked out about having to lock up in an angry handshake. Celebrate your victories, get over your fear of a powerful rival, begin a romance with a sexy guy (or girl) and fire up our conversation about ladies locking palms.
If you care to tweet us, we are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies. As for our email address, that's scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
Our "Summer Of Quaid" continues, this time with Dennis playing real-life Tampa Bay relief pitcher Jim Morris in The Rookie. John Lee Hancock has directed many biopics and The Rookie is perhaps his most inspirational. It's certainly trying to be. Still, the movie just isn't an ahem home run. Disney was in the middle of a successful run of films just like this , but we felt that--for all of The Rookie's merits---the Mouse House simply did it better with Miracle, Glory Road and even Invincible. Like those, this is a story about an underdog who wants to do the impossible...and we've seen that story many times before (and those other ones weren't so mopey). Hancock has Quaid playing Morris as a sad-sack 38-year-old with no confidence, even though he was able to throw a baseball harder than almost anyone else in the world. Where's the joy? Anyway, it's a well-made baseball movie and at least that's right up our alley. So fire up our talk about a popular version of "same old/same old" because it's your turn, Coach.
We're always ready to hear what you think on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
It's July, so it's time to talk about the Tour De France. This is the first cycling movie we've ever covered, but it's not the first episode we've ever done that gets into "toxic nostalgia". We don't think Breaking Away has aged all that well, even though it was beloved in 1979 and has remained that way with most critics & fans since. Paul Dooley (who is otherwise one of the best characters in the movie) throws around casual bigotry in a way that was probably a lot funnier 4 decades ago. For a movie known for its relatability, Breaking Away just wasn't terribly relatable to us. And it's yet another sports comedy from the '70s that didn't make us laugh very much. Peter Yates knows how to shoot action though and his 4 main characters (the ultra-buff Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley and Dennis Christopher in the leading role) have chemistry. Whether or not you liked this flick more than we did, take a dip in your personal quarry and then lounge on a rock with your earbuds in as we (mostly) naysay a bike classic. We're eager to hear from you on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or by email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
Hustle has only been out for a few weeks, but the vast majority of opinions seem to be that this is one of the best things Adam Sandler has ever done. We're with the majority. It's not perfect and it riffs on many movies that came before it, but Jeremiah Zagar's 2nd film has a big heart, dynamic basketball action and features terrific performances by Juancho Hernangomez and the Sand Man. Their chemistry makes the movie work, although the husband-wife glue between Sandler and Queen Latifah is key too. Okay, yeah, Zagar wastes the great Robert Duvall. Ben Foster doesn't get much to do either, but any movie that showcases so many real-life b-ball stars and pays off this many set-ups will always get a rave from us. So don't drive while distracted (or while drunk), but trash-talk your sensitive opponent to throw him off his game and for Bob's sake never back down as we point out the many upsides of Hustle.
We can be tweeted (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) about the fact that the Golden State Warriors DID win another NBA championship or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) about that or anything else sports-related
The Ernie Davis Story is another sports biopic that's about the human struggle just as much as it is a film about college football. Davis had to regularly endure racism throughout his brief life, although there was a measure of vindication when he became the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy. Rob Brown is as solid as an Orange rock playing the tough-but-saintly Ernie. Dennis Quaid is pretty good as the smart, but so-accepting veteran coach who learns a thing or two about what's right and what's really wrong. Gary Fleder's picture has a weird title though because the movie is certainly not well-paced and they rarely ever actually call Davis "The Express". In fact, we found it to be an inconsistently structured film from start to finish. Plenty of scenes confused us and some set-ups are just not paid off. It IS fair to say though that Davis was worthy of being featured in a film. Now do one about Jim Brown! So suit up and let yourself be honoured by an adoring crowd as we articulate our feelings about The Express. Don't be shy. Tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
The gentlemen driving in the Indianapolis 500 will be starting their engines on May 29th, so we decided to gear up for that by yapping about a car racing movie. Ron Howard's Rush is one of the most-underrated flicks he's directed in the past 20 years, although almost nobody paid to see it. Perhaps the attendance wasn't very good because the film has a well-earned R rating... and that adult material makes it a better flick. Howard and his writer Peter Morgan are doing what they both do so often by making a biopic, and a well-cast one at that. Chris Hemsworth and the outstanding Daniel Bruhl look a lot like the actual James Hunt and Niki Lauda, but they also excellently embody the F1 racers. But do you root for the handsome Brit who goofs off all the time or the machine-like Austrian who, despite being the best driver, eventually finds himself in the role of underdog? It's a compelling rivalry. So climb out of your hospital bed to get back behind the wheel and risk a fiery death (at least 20% of the time), but also be wise enough to know when it's time to pit and quit as we discuss Rush.
Our Twitter addresses are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies and our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
We weren't completely in sync about Bruised, although we agreed Halle Berry's gritty directorial debut has very few dashes of originality. The story and the action rips off several other sports movies, including many parts throughout the entire Rocky franchise. Chris didn't love Halle Berry's performance as an MMA fighter either or her "one lousy struggle after another" life outside the octagon. She shouldn't need to face THIS many obstacles to get us on her side. There's just too much jammed into this underwhelming screenplay. Most of the performances are authentic though, especially Sheila Atim as Berry's MMA trainer. Their chemistry has some sizzle, even if we didn't really buy their character's motivations in that, shall we say, scorable scene. So fill your spray bottle with spirits and try to click with your kid who can't bring himself to speak to you as we try to figure out what's going on in Bruised.
We can be tweeted (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and we accept your emails (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
We've only covered horse racing on this channel once before, which was when we jawed about Seabiscuit several years ago. That movie is more famous and was more successful, partly because it beat Randall Wallace's biopic to the starting gate by 7 years. In Secretariat, Diane Lane and John Malkovich make a fine owner/trainer team, but good performances don't offset the fact that there's nothing really at stake in this film. This record-setting horse and these silver-spoon people were not underdogs. They were going to be fine no matter what happened on the race track. To compensate, Wallace pumps in lots of made-up (or at least exaggerated) drama. On the bright side, the picture is entertaining and well-made. So mind-meld with your lady friend before easily winning the Triple Crown, but then have some fun breeding excessively as we break down the happenings in Secretariat.
Don't worry if you get covered in mud while you tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or while sending us an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
Put on your uniform, control your temper and don't swear around your adopted kid because---as Paul Douglas learned in 1951---there are Angels In The Outfield. This is the oldest movie we've ever covered, it's also our first black-and-white film and it has to be the most religious. Then again, who CAN'T relate to hearing a heavenly voice and then taking advantage of divine assistance so they can win baseball games? It's a Pittsburgh miracle! Speaking of fantasy, both versions of Miracle On 34th Street cropped up a lot because there are many comparisons, particularly in the "courtroom" scene. We've got quite a bit to say about Clarence Brown's pseudo-classic that inspired Disney's goofy 1994 remake, so pour a gallon of ketchup on your steak, begin an improbable romance with Janet Leigh and turn yourself into a better person so an orphan will love you as we yap about Angels & Pirates.
You can contact us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or you can email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
To celebrate our 100th episode, we decided to go back to the beginning. The Mighty Ducks was the subject of our very first podcast and it was passably entertaining, so surely this sequel could hit some of the same heights, right? Well, no. This is pretty much the same movie all over again, only far worse. The emotion in the Gordon/Charlie relationship is just not there and all the attempts at comedy are dreadful failures. As for the story, the Ducks...Team USA...whatever travel to Los Angeles for the Goodwill Games and run up against the powerful Iceland "kids". Will our overdogs (or overducks) overcome? Will they?! When you have a secret weapon like the knucklepuck and a bunch of wacky new recruits for Emilio Estevez to coach, it's a foregone conclusion. So miss important commitments while you rollerblade forlornly on the boardwalk, but be sure to stick our talk about D2 in your earbuds as you skate around and contemplate the meaning of your life. You can tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies). You can email us too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).
King Richard is the timeliest movie we've ever covered because it was released just 4 months ago (not 3, as we said in the podcast) and it's up for a slew of Academy Awards on March 27th. Will Smith will likely win an Oscar for Best Actor and he clearly loved telling this story, but director Reinaldo Marcus Green's movie is just "The Richard Williams Experience". A biopic about Venus & Serena Williams still needs to be made because this isn't it. On the very bright side, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton play the tennis phenoms in their preteen days and they're quite good in the film, as is Aunjanue Ellis as their mother, although the girls & their 3 half-sisters also have to play it like they're the beatific Von Trapp kids no matter the obstacle. Is that real? When you're this competitive and this driven to be the best? When you aren't rich and you aren't white, but you're trying to break into an elitist, white sport? When you have a "tennis dad" who's demanding and borderline abusive? We dig into all that. In any case, you too can be a soothsayer about the remarkable success of your kids, but make those pre-birth predictions while hearing us volley back and forth about King Richard.
If you thought we were way off the mark or if you thought we nailed it, drop us a line on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and/or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
We've covered them out of order, but Rocky III represents our 4th time reviewing an entry in the Balboa boxing saga. This 3rd one is a lot of fun, but it's packed with flaws we couldn't help nitpicking. One big problem is that, despite the financial success and the movie's lasting fame, this one (and IV) has Sylvester Stallone at his least-interesting. The guilt-ridden champ has become corporate, well-dressed and even dull compared to the lovable underdog who had an original way of stringing words together in the 1st two films (and, interestingly enough, also in later Rockys). Talia Shire, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith & Carl Weathers are back once again to love and support Sly, but Mr. T was of course the breakthrough newcomer who's too busy being angry to feel pity for fools. So don't let your Stallion self get all civilized. Just fire up Eye Of The Tiger on your device, somehow beat your more-talented trainer in a footrace on the beach and then repeatedly punch a hard-punching battler in the face while we gab about Rocky III. You can find us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can also email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or find all our episodes on our website (scoringatthemovies@podbean.com).
Since the 2022 Winter Olympic Games are winding down, we decided to talk about Eddie The Eagle. Taron Egerton & Hugh Jackman make for a likable combo in this ski-jumping biopic. They and the other actors are responsible for why the movie is even as good as it is. We've seen this paint-by-numbers story so many times before. Cool Runnings is a good comparison. Ironically, both films are based on true stories that actually happened at the same Winter Olympics in Calgary. These are inspirational stories of determined underdogs who have more far more passion than talent. Their enthusiasm is infectious, but Dexter Fletcher's movie also has a small sense of Rudy-esque entitlement. Perhaps poetically, in an Eddie The Eagle touch, we came up short of Chris' goal to make this a 61-minute episode. So throw on a winter jacket, put away your whiskey flask and pour a tall glass of milk as we show you our moderate Olympic spirit.
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Oh, what could have been. George Clooney's football flick had the potential to be an excellent homage to an old-timey rat-a-tat rom-com. However, just like so many comedies we've covered over the years, Leatherheads is muddled, has tonal problems and, worst of all, isn't particularly funny. What's really lacking is a script that's worthy of the cast and the talented pros behind the camera. We also wondered if Renee Zellweger was up to the challenge of coyly bantering with her co-stars. Also, couldn't Clooney have found a better way to use John Krasinski's charm? The production design is outstanding though and we always enjoy George being his movie-star self, so there are definitely things to admire. Anyway, America needs its (phony) heroes, so if you've pulled a Homer, then cover it up as you listen to us poke a few pigs in our Leatherheads chat. We can be approached on Twitter (amoviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and an email is always welcomed (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
Will Ferrell starred in a sports movie for 4 years in a row in the mid-2000s, but this is the only time he seems like he was desperate to make us laugh. Even in some of his zanier non-sports projects, it didn't usually feel like he was straining this hard. Being saddled with a flimsy co-star like Jon Heder doesn't help, but the jokes just don't work as well as they do in Talladega Nights or even Semi-Pro. Blades Of Glory is more ridiculous than it is funny and it doesn't feel like the novice writers & directors fully committed to the ludicrous stuff. If you're going to make a movie about gay panic, then just let the two goofy guys take things to their logical conclusion and have them, well, get it on already! As for the figure skating, it isn't well-depicted, but the F/X-laden skating scenes also aren't as funny as the filmmakers think they are. Okay, we obviously didn't love Blades Of Glory, but we had a pretty good time talking about it. So put on that flashy costume and learn to love the man-child who was once your enemy because our podcast about the World Wintersport Games (DON'T SAY OLYMPICS!) awaits you.
You can say some words to us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can always email us (scoringatthemovies.gmail.com)
This is the 5th time we've covered a Kevin Costner film, so that makes him the undisputed champion of this channel. Unlike in Tin Cup though, he's not the one playing the sport. As the high school coach of a track & field team in McFarland (and if you're not Canadian, you can add "U.S.A." to that title), Costner is the older mentor in a movie filled with young Hispanic characters. It's a likable film, but McFarland is similar to many other Disney movies... and it isn't always a favourable comparison. While Niki Caro does a lovely job of filming her diverse cast in sun-bleached California, the story she's telling is a little cliche. Sometimes, it's a lot cliche. Still, kudos to the director and her writers for addressing those lame "immigrants took our jobs!" complaints by showing how these produce-pickers work harder every day than most of us ever have or ever will. So find your pace, Blanco, and overlook the second-act flaws in this gentle movie about family, friendship and cross-country running. We would love for you to say ola on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
Our final episode of 2021 is one of the best Bond movies of all time. Casino Royale doesn't rely on gadgets or corny humour. Instead, it's slick, smart, modern and the action sequences are exciting, especially during the parkour chase early on. The casting of Daniel Craig surprised many naysayers, but he was always a great fit for a new 007. Outside of Connery, he's been as good as Bond gets. Mads Mikkelsen is also terrific as the poker-playing villain who likes to torture super-spies below the belt and Eva Green is simply one of the greatest Bond girls ever, especially when you think about the secret her complex character is hiding. As a bonus, Professor Chris takes all of us to poker school as he breaks down the Texas Hold 'Em scenes. The card games are fun, but they're often a bit laughable. So avoid crashing your cool sports car and REALLY avoid falling in love with the wrong woman. Just wrap a few Christmas gifts and enjoy a martini or two while our chat about Casino Royale keeps you company.
We can be reached with something called a tweet (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can certainly email us too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
The Bad News Bears might not have been the original story of a surly old man coaching plucky underdogs who bond as they improve, but it at least nailed the concept. It also seems to have created a template that's been emulated on a regular basis ever since. But is Michael Ritchie's crass '70s baseball classic actually funny? Well, not so much. The anti-everybody rants Tanner often spews out might have been hilarious to packed houses 45 years ago, but they're just cringey these days. The baseball is pretty good though and the movie DOES work quite well in the sincere dramatic scenes between Walter Matthau & Tatum O'Neal. So don't climb a tree in shame. Just recruit a couple of superstars and keep drinking a variety of beers until you pass out on the grass as we discuss the sandlot flick about Bad News Buttermaker and his Bears.
We can be contacted on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and also via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
If you've always hoped to see a combination of Shia LaBeouf and backyard wrestling with a Huckleberry Finn framework, The Peanut Butter Falcon is your answer.
This debut by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz (who both wrote and directed) has such a huge heart. Their film is compassionate and loves all its quirky characters, including real-life wrestlers Jake Roberts and Mick Foley. As far as the leading characters go, Dakota Johnson is warm and charming in one of her best performances, but it's the chemistry between LaBeouf and newcomer Zack Gottsagen that makes the movie work.
Okay, so what about that ending? Is it real? Is it fantasy? Something else? We discuss. So run away from retribution, launch a raft, eat some peanut butter and practice your wrestling moves as you listen to us heap praise on this delightful indie hit.
If you tend to tweet, look for us @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies. As for email, you can contact us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
Like so many movies last year, The Way Back was hurt badly by the pandemic after theatres were shut down. We recommend you rent or stream Ben Affleck's high-school basketball picture though because it's one of the best films we've talked about all year. The subject matter of alcohol abuse hits very close to home for Affleck, of course, but Gavin O'Connor's direction finds all kinds of effective ways to carefully ladle out information about why this damaged coach is the way he is. There are cliches in The Way Back, but without getting maudlin, O'Connor makes it heartbreakingly real and he even pays off his set-ups better than MANY movies we've covered. So abide at least half of the dress code, but for the love of your b-balling boys try harder to curb your swearing as we unfurl our gab on this Veterans/Remembrance Day. Discover us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or buzz us with an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
If you're looking for a chat about The Greatest, you're going to have to tune in our latest. We threw around words about butterflies and birds, but we also did agree about that bad man Ali. Muhammad's extraordinary life is given short shrift because Michael Mann's film is too slow and yet too swift. M ister Ali of course did so much more than just fight in the ring, but Mann's attempts to jam so much in makes the movie feel lacking. Will Smith is normally a charisma machine, yet here he's mostly quiet and serene. Then again, everything is too tamped down and muted in this biopic about a world champion who was undisputed. So just days before the Rumble In The Jungle's anniversary, we hope you don't rope a dope, but just listen to our podcast about Ali. Our Twitter contacts are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies and our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
It took Jim Carrey nearly 10 years to become a movie star, but the super-talented, one-of-a-kind comic finally hit it big with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Tom Shadyac's football flick (yes, it actually is a sports movie) is a mystery masquerading as a ridiculous comedy that somehow finds a way to be clever while also being very dumb. It's also crude and tacky and sometimes very tasteless with all that mean-spirited transphobia, which should have been considered over the line even 27 years ago. In any case, Ace Ventura is a movie that aims for laughs at any cost and you have to admire what Carrey will do to get them. So keep the laces out and please let go of old grudges, but DO go in there and download our surprisingly in-depth chat about the zany Pet Detective. Contacting us is easy. On Twitter we're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies while our email address is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
61* is pure gold for baseball lovers, especially for those who love statistics & history. Actually, our chat was more about stats than Billy Crystal's TV movie was, but this isn't the first time we've spent half an episode discussing some of our favourite MLB numbers. We also talked so much about the infamous McGwire/Sosa home-run derby that you can almost call this "98". Anyway, the charismatic Mickey Mantle and the quiet Roger Maris are the stars here, just as they were the stars of that 1960s Yankees dynasty. Crystal's direction is often heavy-handed, but he gets the authenticity of the period right and he also gets top-notch performances out of his entire cast...especially Thomas Jane as Mantle & Barry Pepper as Maris. So make sure the doctor gives you a safe flu shot in your hip and don't let the pressure from the media drive you insane as 2 men talk about 2 other men chasing history. You can throw some tweets at us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or you can rip off an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
The 1973 man vs. woman tennis match that was the Battle Of The Sexes represented an important event in history, but this Dayton/Faris biopic greatly disappointed one of us. That "one" is Chris and he didn't appreciate the murky route the filmmakers took to tell this story, nor was he sure who to root for. We agree that Emma Stone & Steve Carell did the best they can with inconsistently drawn characters. We also spent time hashing out tennis then vs. tennis now and carefully sifting through the role of gender in sports. So whether you're a showboat has-been like Bobby Riggs or a serious (and seriously underpaid) young superstar like Billie Jean King, you'd be well-served to hear us yap about this mediocre movie. Our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies, plus you can email us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
The Waterboy was a huge hit for Adam Sandler. This was one of the first of his goofy, rage-filled comedies, but it also has lots of sweetness to offset the fury. The Sandman is actually very likable as the Louisiana linebacker. The Waterboy also features one of the best casts in any of his blockbusters. Kathy Bates and Henry Winkler are game for the silly stuff, but they also lend the project credibility. Then the two of them just go ahead and walk off with the movie. So don't be a sheltered footballer who can't be honest with his overbearing mother about who he loves or what he loves to do. Instead, gear up for the start of the NFL season by listening to us jaw about the angry college football player who just might make you smile a time or three. You can tweet at us, if you care to: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies...or you can email us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com
The Running Man is about as deep as a puddle, so it's fair to say that we put more thought into the plot details than the people who made the movie did. Ah-nuld is the innocent man falsely accused in this pure '80s kill extravaganza. He's miscast, but the bigger problem is that the script (based on Stephen King's terrific book) is mostly just a string of repetitive one-liners. However, the flick was prescient about pop culture and reality TV, not to mention fake news (no, ACTUAL fake news). Also, smarmy game-show host Richard Dawson gets to play a smarmy game-show host. Oh, and if you like Predator, then the other action pic that Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura made together that same year came up a lot too. So place your bets on the overdogs, you bloodthirsty wagerers, as we underdogs have fun racing through The Running Man. If you're a Tweeter, do it at us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)
Snatch is slick, cool and funny, but it also owes so much to Quentin Tarantino that it's easy to call it "Diet Pulp Fiction". This is also a film that neither of us really cared about all that much once the credits rolled. That's not exactly a dig, just a reality when you watch Guy Ritchie movies. On the very bright side, the huge cast is so much fun (especially Brad Pitt , Alan Ford and Vinnie Jones) and they're fully committed to Ritchie's exercise in style. So don't speak unintelligibly and act goofy while you knock guys out with one punch and REALLY don't let your dog swallow squeak toys and enormous diamonds. Instead, avoid prison or death by just settling in to hear us talk about Snatch.
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One day in advance of the opening ceremonies for the 2020 (2021?) Summer Olympics, we dig into Without Limits, the long-distance running flick that almost nobody saw back in 1998. Billy Crudup is well-cast as the often unlikable, running-obsessed Steve Prefontaine, but Robert Towne's writing & directing of the "rube" and his running buddies is not the smoothest. Pre tries to expose the corruption in amateur athletics, but then that storyline doesn't really go anywhere. Monica Potter is Pre's love interest, but she's given almost nothing to do. At least it's the sexiest movie we've had in a long time. Pre loved the ladies. He also loved (and also bristled against) his coach Bill Bowerman, who's played by Donald Sutherland in one of the best performances of his long career. So if you're not a quiet shoe designer or a front-runner going on pure guts, well, perhaps you'd enjoy hearing us talk about people who are!
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The performances of Christian Bale and Matt Damon are the best reasons to recommend James Mangold's racing movie: Ford v Ferrari. In fact, the entire cast is stellar, as is the production design and the sound. For some reason however, we just didn't connect with Ford v Ferrari, even though it's been widely embraced by our fellow middle-aged white men. Much like when we talked about Jackie Robinson's life in 42, we either wanted a shorter movie or a miniseries. Chris also felt short-changed by the many things Mangold didn't include about the real friendship between Carroll Shelby & Ken Miles. On the other hand, if you love to see cars burning rubber at Le Mans and constantly aggressive/reckless driving (on the track...or just on city streets), you're in luck. So get in your runner's stance and sprint across the track before you even get in the car, but rev up our chat about Ford v Ferrari to keep you company during the trip. Our Twitter addresses are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
Lucas is one of the sweetest movies we'll ever cover, but there are many troubling stories about alleged awfulness behind the scenes. While Charlie Sheen is about as likable in this film as he's ever been on-screen, he might not have been so likable off-screen. Corey Haim is also terrific and he's at his best as the smart weirdo who wins big in the end and (eventually) learns to stay in his romantic lane. The football in Lucas might be as inaccurate and downright dopey as it gets, but that's redeemed by a climax that manages to give us a GOOD version of the dreaded slow clap. So don't suit up for a high school football game when you're just not up to the challenge, but learn to recognize when you're firmly in the friend zone as we gab about puppy love, bullying and stubborn determination.
We're reachable on Twitter: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
To "enter" our 3rd year of this sporty podcast, we head overseas to register for a martial arts tournament on a mysterious island of drugs, enslavement and death in Enter the Dragon. Fun! Actually, Enter The Dragon IS fun and it feels so much like a James Bond movie that you almost wonder why they didn't just cast Sean Connery in (one of) the lead role(s) instead of John Saxon. Then again, Saxon and of course the inimitable Bruce Lee are better at MMA exploits than most other actors are at, well, anything. This Kung Fu megahit is the foundation for Lee's legacy, a legend that will live on forever. Is the movie itself worthy of that reputation? Well, cozy up to the dragon to find out what we thought as we provide you with emotional content. If you feel like contacting us (emotionally or not), the Twitter machine awaits: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
We haven't covered very many soccer movies, but we HAVE been covering a lot of true stories in the last several months, and we cover both bases talking about The Damned United. Fact versus fiction came up a lot in this episode too as we hashed out what director Tom Hooper is trying to say about legendary coach Brian Clough and Leeds United. The trouble is, Hooper's film is unfocused. We weren't sure what to feel or if we should even care. Should we sympathize with Michael Sheen (who's really great in a surprisingly flinty role as Clough) or should we hate him? Should we be impressed that Hooper chose a 1-on-1 interview between two bitter rivals as his "big game" or feel cheated because the movie has no 3rd act? You might already have those answers, but dribble that play button and find out what we thought about The Damned United. We have been known to tweet from time to time. We're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
Audiences and critics don't have much affection for The Legend Of Bagger Vance, but we were moved by it. Robert Redford's genial golf movie stars some very good actors and it has some touching moments. Then again, it's also got a lot of tonal problems and it isn't very focused. The dynamic of having real-life golfers Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones trade tee shots with Matt Damon's fictional character works well enough, but Will Smith is clearly playing an angel or God or something. That's a big reason Chris thought Bagger Vance has more in common with Field Of Dreams than with Tin Cup or Happy Gilmore. It's also a film that's too pleasant (or too indifferent?) to deal with racism in a movie set in Georgia in the 1930s. Redford tried to tackle a dozen other issues, so why avoid that one? Anyway, the links await you golfers this spring and so does our gab about the wise young caddy. We can be discovered on Twitter, doing the social media thing. We're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
If you're in the mood for a genial, laid-back podcast about a genial, laid-back movie, our talk about Necessary Roughness is going to feel as welcoming as Southern hospitality. This football comedy isn't hilarious, but its mediocrity doesn't overwhelm its sweetness. It's also hard to hate an underdog movie that's as watchable as this one certainly is. "Old man" Scott Bakula plays the heartthrob quarterback of a Texas university team that's been ruined by scandal and now has to make do with a roster of nincompoops. Led by Hector Elizondo's straight arrow head coach and Robert Loggia's very passionate assistant coach, can these plucky dopes (and 1 lady placekicker) win even one game? It's a modest goal, but we like modest goals sometimes. And we like Manu. Our Twitter @s are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
It's a gift of good timing that we can post a podcast about a Jackie Robinson movie on Jackie Robinson Day. The Brooklyn Dodgers star is portrayed very well by the great Chadwick Boseman, who played a lot of real-life legends in his tragically short career. 42 is well-made, looks good and gives us what feels like an accurate version of some terrible realities for Black people in America then and now. As for politics, we spent a lot of this episode discussing social awakening (including our own) and we give you what we think is a pretty solid history lesson, complete with lots of stats about Jackie's Hall Of Fame career. The 2 biggest problems with Brian Helgeland's picture are that it feels rushed and plays it too safe. Is a grittier miniseries made by a Black person in our future, maybe? So don't take a bat to a brick wall. Just put on a gruff Harrison Ford voice and ready yourself for a civil fight as we spend over an hour speaking about 42.
We can be reached on Twitter: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
Casting legit good guy Keanu Reeves as a degenerate gambler with anger issues is a curious choice, but Hardball is a bit of a curious movie. The gritty gambling story is mashed up with a spunky underdog/kids' baseball story. Let's say the tone isn't always balanced. We weren't in complete agreement about Keanu's acting in this one and we also debated if he's playing a white saviour in this, but we were on the exact same page about the effectiveness of the emotions. All the kids are likeable (hey, that's Michael B. Jordan!), but G-Baby in particular is a charm machine. So we'll break down Brian Robbins' flick while you Big Poppas feel the rhythm on the pitcher's mound and maybe, just maybe, you'll go to the 'ship.
Glory Road was unappreciated by the critics and by the crowds 15 years ago, but we think they were out to lunch. This is one of the best pure sports movies we've ever covered. Director James Gartner and his team do a good job getting the facts right about this true story and they certainly captured the emotions of how these young men dealt with brutal racism in the '60s. The NCAA basketball action is just terrific and the actors/athletes are naturals, especially Derek Luke. Josh Lucas is fine as the coach, but Luke dominates as his feisty point guard. So whether or not the 2021 March Madness goes off without any hitches, fire up our chat about a well-executed true underdog story. And how about some Twitter time? Sure. We are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
We probably don't have "it", but we're back in the wrestling ring to cut some awesome promos about Fighting With My Family. Florence Pugh is (to use a very appropriate expression) rock-solid as WWE's Paige, the goth girl from England who struggles to find her way and fit in as she trains in America. We were even more impressed though with Jack Lowden as her secret-weapon brother Zak, whose George Bailey-esque journey back home might be even more interesting than Paige's. So don't be a diva. Just listen as we turn up the bass, adjust the treble and break down Stephen Merchant's rasslin flick for you jabronies. You might see a tweet or two from us on occasion. Follow us @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
Our recent trend of biographical sports pictures continues with Invictus, but the poker princess, the rock-climber, the chess prodigy and the walk-on football player have nothing on the one and only Nelson Mandela. Morgan Freeman does a terrific job and it feels like he was born to play the Madiba in Clint Eastwood's rugby flick. Eastwood's filmmaking style certainly isn't subtle, but using sport to try to bond a country that's been ripped apart by apartheid is an effective approach. If you don't know much about rugby, you aren't going to learn much by watching Matt Damon and company play it in this movie, but that's just a clothesline for the racial reconciliation that Mandela was trying so hard to achieve anyway. So get into a scrum and empathize with someone different than you as we chat about Invictus. Also, a couple of corrections: Eastwood will be 91 this May, not in December, and Dina was his much-younger wife, not his daughter, when they were making this movie over a decade ago. Compliment or criticize us on Twitter. We are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
The Super Bowl is only a few days away, so a somewhat glum movie about a real-life special teams player from the Philadelphia Eagles in the '70s is exactly what the Brady ordered, right?
Okay, perhaps not, but millions of people around the world are struggling more than ever this past year and we can all be inspired by Vince Papale's blue-collar story in Invincible. Mark Wahlberg plays Vince so low-key that it doesn't make for the most enjoyable film we've ever covered, but his co-stars (especially Elizabeth Banks and Michael Rispoli) provide the colour Marky Mark doesn't. So hear our take on Disney's version of Rudy or Rocky as we dig into the beginning of the Dick Vermeil era with the Iggles.
We wanted to do something bawdy for our 69th episode, but we're disappointed to report that BASEketball just isn't as hilariously crass as expected. Bad language aside, this silly comedy doesn't really earn the R rating. Also, despite having Trey Parker & Matt Stone in the not-so-lovable leading roles and Airplane co-director David Zucker at the helm, this won't go down as one of the best laugh-fests for any of them. In any case, we two dudes have some air balls and psyche-outs to pass along in #69, so stop reading and start listening. Our Twitter info is @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
Are you looking for a lighthearted baseball movie? Well, look elsewhere! The Fan has Robert De Niro playing a psychotic stalker going after Barry Bonds-ian superstar Wesley Snipes in this schizophrenic movie. The first half about toxic fandom is a lot better than the second half about child abduction and murder. There's also a lot of (unintentional?) subtext in this macho movie. There are more levels of race relations, sexual oppression and even homosexuality in this movie than anyone seemed to notice 25 years ago. Still, this baseball flick knows nothing of baseball and does not portray it well at all. Tony Scott was always an ace at directing slick violence, but he's not good with the action on the diamond. Anyway, there's a lot to chew on here, so don't be a know-it-all on a call-in radio show, but DO give us an hour of your time to hear about Bobby D in prime Cape Fear mode. We tweet at least a few times a year. We're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
So it's come to chess, huh? Well, there's obviously no athleticism in all these innocent moves, but this "sport" is actually a polite version of war. Searching For Bobby Fischer shows us a clash of sober thought with speedy brute force. What this is more than anything though is a family movie where people, especially the adults, learn life lessons. There are many lovely moments in this picture, but it's far from perfect. Chris felt director Steven Zaillian's portrayal of chess was disappointing, especially compared to the fascinating way it's shown in the recent miniseries sensation The Queen's Gambit. Anyway, give us a listen on Christmas Eve while you play speed-chess to impress a bunch of guys in the park. Tweet us. We're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
A film about rock-climbing sounds like a strange choice for a sports-movie podcast, but Alex Honnold is truly one of the greatest athletes we've ever seen. He's mastered this one-of-a-kind mix of art and science. He also does what all great athletes do...practice, practice, practice. As we discover early on, he's also literally fearless. Anyway, it's a joy just to sit and stare at this breathtaking movie, both for the incredible camerawork and for the beautiful people in it. So if an Oscar-winning documentary about an obsessive mountain climber sounds good to you, then listening to us yap about Free Solo will be great for you. Our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
Picking a football movie to jaw about on the American Thanksgiving is a no-brainer, so it's too bad the football movie in question isn't one with a lot more zing. It's not like The Replacements doesn't have a talented cast, because Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman play the two leads. Keanu is as likable as he usually is as the cheerleader-romancing, picket-line-crossing quarterback. Hackman is just playing this football coach the way he played the basketball coach in Hoosiers, but the man is still pretty good in this because he was always good. Let's just call this inoffensive entertainment that you'll forget about 10 or 20 minutes later. What might not be so forgettable to those who don't like unions is our discussion about strikes and organized labour. We have sympathy both for union members AND to scabs who cross picket lines. It's a complex issue. Anyway, DON'T sack your own QB, but DO sack that play button. Twitter, anyone? We are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
If you thought we'd never talk about a poker/skiing movie, well, you clearly underestimated us. Or maybe you vastly overestimated us... Anyway, in Molly's Game, Jessica Chastain is as solid as a rock in the title role and she's also the chillest drug addict you've ever seen. Her quip-filled scenes with Idris Elba are filled with chemistry and heat, but we questioned if all the legal scenes helped or hurt the film. Besides, if you're going to have these two actors spark off each other like this, then, for once, we want a romance in a sports movie! At least the poker scenes are authentic and Tobey Maguire is a highlight at the card table. Wait, that's Michael Cera! We had an amusingly hard time keeping that straight. So don't go on tilt or take a rake, but DO be a poker princess (or prince, we aren't here to judge) as we jabber about Molly's Game. Our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
We've covered some goofy flicks over the years, but Rookie Of The Year is definitely one of the goofiest. It's also among the worst... The people who made Rookie of the Year seem to know absolutely nothing about baseball. In fairness, if we were still 12 years old like Thomas Ian Nicholas is in the film, maybe this episode would sound a lot different. Then again, even 12 years old have a little bit of taste and knowledge about their favourite sport. Anyway, we disagreed about Gary Busey's uncharacteristically subdued performance and there's a rare role reversal concerning which of us liked the movie more. So play ball and hear us rag hard on the only movie Daniel Stern has ever directed. Sorry, Danny, but there might be a reason a studio never gave you the bullhorn again. Tweet your love or your rage at us: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
In a nice coincidence, we talk about basketball in Los Angeles just a few days after the Lakers won yet another NBA championship, as we discuss Love & Basketball. Sanaa Lathan & Omar Epps share the court and the bed in this one and they're good together, even though Epps has to play an unlikeable jerk for a whole bunch of the movie. That said, it's hard to find fault with a flick that features strip b-ball between 2 young people in love. Director Gina-Prince Bythewood definitely knows how to craft a fun & romantic film. So get out of your child-sized bed, throw a blanket and a pillow to the neighbour who's crashing on your floor and toss back our Love & Basketball gabaroo. Whether you prefer the Lakers or the Clippers or neither, tweet us: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
We haven't covered hockey in nearly a year and THIS is what we chose to do?! Well, in fairness, how could a Russell Crowe flick in the late '90s go wrong? Mystery, Alaska has a terrific cast, a blockbuster-making director in Jay Roach and it was written by TV legend David E. Kelley, but their dramedy is over-stuffed and all over the place. There are tonal problems, the comedy is weak and does ANY character have a meaningful arc? Geez, we even have issues with the movie's entire concept. It sure isn't "The Mighty Ducks for adults" that we think it's trying to be. So please, for the love of Wayne Gretzky, don't let Burt Reynolds talk you into doing the slow clap, but DO fire up our gab about pond hockey. Pedantry Alert: The outdoor game between Detroit and Toronto in Michigan's Ann Arbor Stadium drew even more people than we thought. The attendance was 105 THOUSAND people, while other cities have often drawn 60 or even 70 thousand people to their own outdoor games in football stadiums. Find us on Twitter: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
For the first time on this channel, we talk about soccer with Bend it like Beckham!
Parminder Nagra and a pre-stardom Keira Knightley are best buddy soccer-lovers in director Gurinder Chadha's feminist flick. Clearly Bend It Like Beckham wasn't made for a couple of middle-aged Canadian men to discuss, but we were quite entertained all the same. We talked about male/female double standards (especially as it relates to scars), we talked about the strange "girl, you need a boyfriend ASAP" mandate from the parents and we talked about how a couple of those funny parents steal the whole movie.
Well, you have never heard us talk about the footie, so it's time to do that right now, innit?!
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In 14 days, we'll be kicking snow in a goalie's face as we prattle on about the Russell Crowe hockey flick called Mystery, Alaska
Bruce Willis & Damon Wayans crack a lot of wise and take a lot of beatings from some terrific villains in The Last Boy Scout.
This is a strange "sports" movie (hey, it has football in it!) because Shane Black's dialogue is incredibly quotable and the actors are pretty good, but Tony Scott sure could direct some slickly brutal violence and nihilism when he wanted to. In short, this movie is cool, but ridiculous.
We talked about Boy Scout's version of the NFL, Jimmy Dix's justification for taking drugs & gambling and we discussed who the real hero is. With any luck, she just might end up a sociopath when she grows up!
So don't scream in pain even when your life is in constant danger. Just dance a jig as you devour our 59th episode.
You can holler at us on Twitter: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
In 2 weeks, we'll header our first soccer movie, Bend It Like Beckham
Hang on, man, two consecutive boxing flicks? Yeah, why not. The Fighter is 10 years old and it was heaped with plenty of critical and financial kudos back then. Does it still deserve those raves? Well, one of us was a lot more enthusiastic about David O. Russell's Raging Bull-esque hit than the other.
Russell works with his frequent leading man Mark Wahlberg again as Marky Mark lives in the skin of real-life pugilist Micky Ward. Wahlberg, for good or bad, has to play second fiddle in his own movie because Christian Bale and Melissa Leo (oh, and those sisters!) take over completely. Scenery? Oh, it's chewed.
Bale certainly does a tremendous job of portraying a drug addict and former star boxer cum trainer. He, as always, is a remarkably committed actor and this is HIS film. And that's how Dicky Eklund would want it.
So if you're in the mood to hear about an authentic boxing picture (complete with a sexualized Amy Adams), the 58th episode of Scoring At The Movies is your welterweight champion of the world.
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In 2 weeks, we'll cover a "football" movie in preparation for the NFL season, The Last Boy Scout
What? Another podcast about Rocky on this channel? As the Stallion himself would say (and he would say it often), absolutely. This makes 3 out of 57 episodes of Scoring At The Movies (that's 5%, y'know) that have made the run across Philly to punch and/or pack some meat, to fly now and to improbably win boxing matches. Rocky II is a bit of a schizo movie. It's so grounded and real for an hour, then Mister Balboa turns into the Superman we would see for the next few sequels.
Ryan loves the first half (especially the hallway scene that's been discussed in other episodes), but Chris is an unabashed fan of the entire 2 hours of this boxing flick. We discuss another possible reason (besides absolute fantasy) that Rocky beats Apollo in Superfight 2 and we also devise a theory about Adrian's "win" blessing. So turn up the volume so you can hear stupid things better as we go back and forth about Sly Stallone's one that sequeled 'em all.
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It's an unexpected theme of Boxing Month here in August, so in 2 weeks, we'll be digging into the Irish guts of The Fighter.
Scoring At The Movies gets into some more American Dream type stuff in the fact-mixed-with-fiction Tonya Harding story "I, Tonya". Margot Robbie and her cast mates were worthy of several gold medals for their spot-on and often hilarious performances in Craig Gillespie's comedic biopic.
Great movie though this is, Chris struggled to get past an intense dislike for the real-life people and events in this conspiracy of dunces. We certainly agree that the (allegedly, but probably) abused Harding was in a constant battle with class snobbery in the world of figure skating and a brutally tough Whiplash-like mother. Steroids and politics even came up, but our thoughts about those topics aren't as inflammatory as you might expect.
So don't ask "why, why?" should you listen to the 56th SATM episode because, if you don't, threatening letters or a pipe to the back of the leg by some incompetent goon might be in your future! (note: we aren't going to hire a goon to hit you with a pipe).
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Rich-what? Richmond!
Two white Canadian adults tackle a movie about the real-life basketball adventures of black & Hispanic Californian teenagers in Coach Carter, the 55th edition of Scoring At The Movies. Samuel L. Jackson holds his R-rated tongue in this one, but still gives yet another dominant performance as Coach Ken Carter. The man who demanded his young players focus on their grades as much as their game also challenged his young sirs to stop belittling others…and themselves. What an excellent message we all need to hear right now! And always!
We didn’t entirely pick this more-than-adequate movie for the subtly-handled racial issues. That was just a timely bonus. So don’t be a Timo Cruz and quit (then come back, then quit…) on this podcast. Be a good sir and invest some time in hearing us jaw about an underrated b-ball flick. Otherwise, we might make you do a lot of push-ups...and we aren't going to volunteer to do some of them for you!
Pedantry Alert: Coach Carter is actually rated PG (as was Deep Blue Sea), not PG-13. Also, the season depicted was indeed 1999, although Ken Carter started coaching at Richmond a few years earlier. Also also, Lebron James was drafted in 2003 and was still too young in 1999 to be THAT well known, so being name-dropped in this movie is just an anachronism. Also also also, Richmond lost in the 2nd round of the district playoffs, not in the 1st round of the state tournament.
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Scoring At The Movies #54 gets deep into the weeds of the real-life story about the little franchise that could, the 2002 Oakland Athletics, in Moneyball. We also lay plenty of advance stats and insider terminology on you, so get ready numbers nerds, this is the episode for you!
The actors certainly help make this film as good as it is, particularly Chris Pratt, in one of his breakout roles as well as Brad Pitt as A's intense GM Billy Beane. This is a movie about tradition v adaptation, luck & chance v computer analysis. Also, does team chemistry mean anything? How about a baseball player's mental outlook? We discuss.
There's even a lot of comparisons between Michael Lewis' excellent book and Bennet Miller's movie. At the end, we also jaw about the real-life turmoil in the MLB/MLBPA money dispute. Ugly scene there. So get on base and sample our podcast about one of the best pictures of the past decade, Moneyball.
Pedantry Alert: "Moneyball 2" actually started in 2012 when the A's made it back to the Division Series. In fact, they've been in the playoffs 5 times in the past 8 seasons. Also, Johnny Damon is a respectable 224th on the career WAR list, which is higher than Hall Of Famers Kirby Puckett and Jim Rice. Also also, Barry Bonds had MORE than a .600 on-base percentage in 2004 and got close to .600 in 2002.
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We sink our MMA-ignorant teeth into Warrior for the 53rd edition of Scoring At The Movies.
Even though we're out of our element talking about this sport, we found Gavin O'Connor's movie to be effective and even quite touching. It's also yet another Rocky story. Sly's brainchild comes up yet again on this channel. Anyway, Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy---not to mention papa Nick Nolte---are all terrific. Too bad their father/sons relationships were given short shrift to make room for Tommy's unnecessary military backstory.
Also, is there too much time spent on the sports in this sports movie? That'll come up. Regardless, this one impressed us a lot more than we expected. So have more courage than we ever could and get in the octagon. Wait! Stupid idea. Just listen to our podcast instead. Also, do what the brothers (eventually) do in this movie and take care of each other. It's a rough time right now and we can use all the bonding we can get.
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The 52nd issue of Scoring At The Movies takes us back into the boxing ring in this Rocky-as-a-teenaged-girl fight flick, Girlfight!
Just like Rocky, there's more romance and training than actual boxing. That isn't a criticism, mind you. Michelle Rodriguez and director Karyn Kusama each made their debuts with this gritty film and they didn't waste time establishing their trademarks. For M-Rod, it was the snarl & the glower. For Kusama, it was a recurring theme of female empowerment. Chris DID take issue with how the father/daughter relationship plays out and also with some elements of the final fight, but Ryan sees a little more upside in both of those angles. In any case, this low-budget sporty drama from 20 years ago is a keeper.
Pedantry Alert: We have indeed covered 1 other movie directed by a woman. It was Kathryn Bigelow, who helmed Point Break. Our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
It was 20 years ago that Disney tackled race relations with their ultra-successful Denzel Washington football movie: Remember the Titans.
This flick is stuffed with cliches, but we were easily won over by director Boaz Yakin's likeable cast (many of whom are big players in the biz now) and his pretty faithful adaptation of real-life happenings.
The movie does feel a bit rushed and some scenes should have been given a touch more time to breathe. This, however, is a perfect example of "their hearts are in the right place". Plus, the movie is very satisfying, just as Disney's similarly themed Glory Road was 6 years later.
So it's time to start burning through the 51st Scoring At The Movies episode because what's right is right. Wait, maybe that should be what's left is left. After all, LEFT SIDE! STRONG SIDE!
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This is our 50th episode of Scoring At The Movies and this time we're talking about a genius dog who seems to be able to read, pick locks and of course... play basketball!
This comedy for kids is jammed with dog-related hijinks (oh those jinks are so hi), but the flick would have been better if it had just stayed serious. It's not terrible, just not really a motion picture for 2 middle-aged dudes.
The real draw of this episode though is that at the 34-minute mark. We start talking about our Top 5 of the 50 episodes of the podcast to date. We also low light the worst movies we've covered, aka the "Toilet Bowl Awards". Get to it!
Pedantry Alert: Buddy the dog died before he could reprise his starring role in "Golden Receiver" the next year. Also, we reviewed Friday Night Lights in September, so it had been several months since the Toronto Raptors were in the midst of their successful playoff run last year.
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Meet the abusive, racist, sexist baseball great Ty Cobb in Ron Shelton’s disappointing road movie: Cobb.
Shelton is one of the greatest directors of sports films, but this time his work just doesn’t sing like his best stuff does. Case in point: Tommy Lee Jones gives one of his best performances (think Sam Peckinpah), but Robert Wuhl is either miscast or just not up to being a leading man. It also doesn’t help that this unbearable version of the Georgia Peach has been debunked in the 26 years since the flick was released.
We tried to figure out if we can even trust any of Ty Cobb’s stories, but we also dug pretty deep into the intricacies of the Baseball Hall Of Fame and we even got into the Cobb v Ruth debate. Many tangents!
So let us fill nearly an hour of your COVID-affected day as Scoring At The Movies #49 unravels what works and what doesn’t in Shelton’s take on one of the absolute best in the history of the game of base and ball.
Pedantry Alert: Cobb is actually 6th on the career WAR leaderboard (Barry Bonds is 4th). Also, the fastest player ever according to Willie was Cool Papa Bell. Also also, Roy Campanella had to retire just before the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. Also also also, the 1908 Cubs actually hit .249 as a team, not .230. And finally, before Mariano Rivera & Derek Jeter’s recent inductions, the highest percentage of votes went to Ken Griffey Jr., Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and then Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball Reference links to: Cobb and Babe Ruth and Hall Of Fame induction years and WAR Leaders.
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Famous sports comedies like The Longest Yard & Slap Shot have often failed to make us SATM’ers spend much time laughing out loud and—spoiler alert—Caddyshack did indeed fail us too.
Comedy often does not age well, even when you’ve got funny dudes like Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield and Chevy Chase heading up the cast (and really stealing the focus away from the caddies). There are some high points in Harold Ramis' first flick as a big-screen director, but this one is just a double bogey for us.
Anyway, this year’s Masters has been postponed and you’re probably not going to be allowed to golf anywhere at all for a while, so escape into a fantasy world by listening to the 48th edition of Scoring At The Movies for a tidy little 37 minutes.
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Our website remains scoringatthemovies.podbean.com
Twenty years ago, Barry Blaustein took a break from writing hit movies for Eddie Murphy to dig very deep into the pain-filled lives of professional wrestlers. Mick Foley, Terry Funk and Jake Roberts are the 3 legends who got Blaustein’s focus in this ultra-dark film: Beyond the Mat.
We broke down that brutal “I Quit” match, wrestlers’ addiction to fame, Vince Mc-freakin-Mahon, the need for a wrestlers union (partly because of Vince Mc-freakin-Mahon), and Ryan’s Foley guilt. If you don’t mind taking a dozen chair shots to the head…well, don’t even think about doing that. Settle for five.
Anyway, you’ll have a fun time getting through the pandemic by firing up the 47th edition of Scoring At The Movies where the main theme is a bunch of tough SOBs taking ungodly punishment every night for our entertainment. What a weird business.
Pedantry Alert: ECW’s first PPV was actually in April 1997. Also, we didn’t mention Beyond The Mat’s Rotten Tomatoes numbers…which were 82% of critics with an average of 6.7/10 and 83% of audiences.
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We’re talking about the dirty business of a world-class athlete being recruited by colleges in the 46th edition of Scoring At The Movies. We also got into the hypocrisy this dirty game entails.
Mooches, vipers and practically everyone else can offer just about any kind of bribe, but the young superstars have to always do the right thing no matter what pressure is being put on them. Maddening! Oh, and let’s not forget it’s also a basketball movie. Spike Lee probably won’t be covered by SATM again (and he might not go to another Knicks game either), but the basketball nut’s only hoops joint is definitely a winner.
Denzel Washington is great as usual, but Ray Allen is also very fine considering he’s not even an actor. So get ready for our back-and-forthing about one of the sexiest sports movies we might ever cover on this channel: He Got Game!
Pedantry Alert: The filthy ball we mentioned is the one Jake has in prison, not the one that young Jesus throws over the playground fence. Twiddily twitter stuff: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies
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Scoring At The Movies ep #45 gabs about a less-than-great movie, but at least we had a fun time picking it apart. The Fast and the Furious, or “Point Break In Flashy Cars”, is often obnoxious and it would be charitable to say it’s well-acted. The cars are cool, the actors are beautiful and it’s hard to deny how popular these never-ending F&F blockbusters are though.
We got into a lot of themes in this one: family (it’s always family with these guys), the unfinished love story between Vin Diesel & Paul Walker (which would intensify in the many, many sequels), Ryan’s ideal last meal (!) and Fred (!!) Toretto.
So work on your bad Vin Diesel impression, grab someone else’s Corona, fire up your NOS and enjoy the hell out of this podcast.
Pedantry Alert: Breaking Bad started its run in 2008, so it was 7 years after this movie, not 10. Also, Ted Levine only did the voiceover for the villain in Joy Ride, he didn’t actually play the dude in the flesh.
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Bruh, it’s hard to find a more entertaining choice to be the 44th episode of Scoring At The Movies than Point Break!
We all know that Point Break is a remarkably silly “sports” flick, but do we all know that Johnny Utah can do ANYTHING? He’s conveniently brainy almost as much as he's conveniently dumb (and he has a knee that gets wonky at the worst times), but everything he tries, he aces. Law school, football, shooting guns, federal agenting, surfing (sort of), skydiving, putting handcuffs on a guy while being drowned. Keanu Reeves can do it all! He’s even good at falling in love with—Patrick Swayze and to a lesser extent—Lori Petty.
So put on your rubber mask and prepare to infiltrate the ranks of a bunch of hypocritically chill/thieving surfers and also…get me two.
Pedantry Alert: The drugs displayed in the Warchild house are actually 2 kilos of crystal meth, not heroin or cocaine.
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Whatever you’ve most wanted in your life can’t compare to how badly Daniel Ruettiger wanted to play football for the Fighting Irish. And he did. The end...
... Okay, it’s not, and you might get sick of hearing him talk about it ALL THE TIME.
Scoring At The Movies #43 delves into Rudy’s obsession and we certainly got on his case about all his whining. We debate whether this is a movie for dads or a movie for kids. There’s talk of the dreaded slow clap (good God) and the absurdity of the “Rudy, Rudy” chant (gooder God). So if you love this flick, you will not love us for the next 50 minutes, but listen anyway. After all, we’re entitled white men who tell people they want something they don’t even deserve. We ARE Rudy!
Pedantry Alert: Sean Astin WAS 21 during shooting, so he was indeed the right age to play this character. Also, Notre Dame was in a bowl game in 1975 and 1976...and they’ve won 11 (!) National Championships.
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Get nostalgic about a movie that’s all about nostalgia in the 42nd episode of Scoring At The Movies.
The Sandlot takes us back to our own baseballing youth, especially as we both can relate---in some ways, at least---to Scotty Smalls. Those aspects are what make us, and many other people, feel like this movie is better than it probably is. The creepy Squints/Wendy angle though? Yipes. Not so good. But this is a movie about tall tales, so maybe we can pretend what Squints does is just a big exaggeration?
Well, our conversation about the “Endless Practice” movie is not a tall tale at all, so sit down and let James Earl Jones regale you with baseball stories as long as you love his dog. It’s a win win!
Pedantry Alert: This movie doesn’t actually seem to be based on a book, as Chris implies. Also, David Mickey Evans is working on a prequel to this movie, not another sequel. Also also, Stan Musial was actually still playing when this movie is set (1962) and Ted Williams had retired just a few years before.
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The 41st episode of Scoring At The Movies is a looooong look at a rom-com-football…fantasy? Yes, Jerry Maguire is a fantasy. We explain.
Cameron Crowe’s legendary picture is romantic and funny (big score on the rom-com scale, in fact), but it’s also a bit tragic. After all, Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Rod Tidwell might have a shorter shelf life than the movie wants to admit. Plus, Jerry and Dorothy’s already unbalanced love affair might not have the happy ending you think it does. We explain. But, man, let’s get back into the smiley spirit of the season and rejoice in the lovely time at the movies Gerald Maguire is!
Tom Cruise has pretty much never been better, Gooding deservedly won an Oscar and Renee Zellweger is terrific too, but Regina King & Bonnie Hunt STILL manage to steal the movie. You’ll hear just how much the AFI loves this one. You’ll hear us jam in a lot of Simpsons quotes. And you know what? We'll explain some things. Complete us!
Pedantry Alert: Craig Stadler is NOT the golf coach in an early scene and the talk show host is Roy (not Rod) Firestone. Also, Jerry’s first “hello” greeting at Dorothy’s house happens when he walks in on the Divorced Women’s Group the first time. Also also, Candice Bergen is the host who closes out the “100 Years, 100 Passions” AFI show, not Geena Davis. And finally, Beau Bridges plays Matt Cushman. A Thought While Editing: Does Jerry learn ANYTHING? An injured hockey player should probably be told to stop playing and the player’s kid shames Jerry about it. Then we see throughout the movie that Rod should probably stop playing because of repeated concussions, but Jerry negotiates a big contract ENSURING Rod will play another 3 years…and maybe have serious C.T.E. when he retires.
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Our 40th episode of the Scoring At The Movies podcast goes back to the 1980 Winter Olympics as we gab about one of the greatest upsets of all-time, in one of the best pure sports films we’ve covered yet: Miracle!
We dug into the world-shaping issues of the late-’70s, problems that went way beyond USA v USSR on a hockey rink. Both of us also watched the actual “miracle” game on YouTube, so we were able to spend plenty of time comparing what’s portrayed to what really happened. The hockey action is vividly done by director Gavin O’Connor and the acting (led by Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks) is as good as it needs to be. After all, most of the players were athletes more than they were actors.
So jump on the bandwagon, but play like a bunch o’ commies (we’ve got a hot take on that!) and hear us tongue-wag about Miracle…again…again…again…
Pedantry Alert: Mario Lambert was Montreal’s coach and Ronald Corey was the team’s president when Patrick Roy said he’d just played his last game for the Canadiens. Also, plenty of other Soviets from this dominant USSR team other than Vladislav Tretiak are in the Hockey Hall Of Fame. Also also, just to be clear, Wayne Gretzky was an executive for Canada’s ’02 Olympic team, not a player. Also also also, Mark Johnson scored 2 goals in the miracle game, not a hat-trick (Buzz Schneider and Mike Eruzione scored the other two).
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Because it’s more of a courtroom movie than a sports flick, The Hurricane makes for a curious choice for our 39th Scoring At The Movies episode.
Denzel Washington is outstanding in director Norman Jewison’s penultimate film and the rest of the cast is certainly fine, but we had issues with how they presented Rubin Carter’s checkered history. He was wrongly imprisoned, but also wrongly depicted.
We could have used a lot less of the Canadians (doesn’t everyone feel that way?) and we’d rather have had more prickly Rubin instead of (mostly) saintly Rubin. So this one is far more about racial bigotry and America’s messed-up justice system than it is about boxing, but… Well, just hit that play button on the ‘Cane 'cast to find out so much more.
Pedantry Alert: The 4th movie we’ve covered this year that Ryan hadn’t previously seen before doing it for the podcast was Creed II. Also, When They See Us was actually released this year, not last year. Also also, when talking about the bleak palette, Ryan wasn’t very clear about saying “a prison AND Canada”, not “a prison IN Canada”.
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The website: scoringatthemovies.podbean.com
The performances by the blue-chip prospects (not to mention Nick Nolte as their complicated coach) in Blue Chips, the 38th episode of Scoring At The Movies, are so much better than the movie as a whole.
Was the problem with the script, even though sports-movie guru Ron Shelton wrote this? Was it poor choices in William Friedkin’s direction, particularly the inappropriate use of so much classic rock on the soundtrack? Was it studio interference? Well, something was missing in any case, especially in the movie’s crappy second half. We DID appreciate the main theme of the massive corruption that’s long been present in “amateur” sports. The students are really just unpaid servants.
This episode isn’t all serious criticism though. We enjoyed some of the film’s humorous touches, plus Ryan has a fun rant about “directional” schools. So don’t take a payoff...or abruptly quit because you were the payoffer. Just dunk this one into your earholes!
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Our website: scoringatthemovies.podbean.com
How disappointing. It’s Halloween today and this movie was supposed to be frightening(ly bad), but it’s actually…almost bloody good fun. That doesn’t mean Lionheart, or is it “Lyon’eart”?, isn’t without a great many flaws. We touched on plenty of those with vim and also vigour.
Jean-Claude Van Damme does okay work in the leading role and the AWOL’er is suitably handsome & chiseled. JCVD is also the blonde-babe-avoider, the prude who would rather kick people and stalk his family than relax and make out with JR’s secretary. We have a theory as to how he could resist this sexy and oh so willing woman.
So hit that button to hear episode #37 of Scoring at the Movies justify how this is an MMA movie (stop arguing, it kinda is)! But don’t forget that at the 43-minute mark, as we segue into our favourite horror flicks and our most horrifying scary-movie moments.
Pedantry Alert: We said that JCVD is “playing a French guy”, but of course everyone—including us SATM’ers—knows he’s from Belgium (as in, “The Muscles From A Certain City In Belgium”), not France.
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The website is scoringatthemovies.podbean.com
Place your bets on the 36th edition of Scoring At The Movies. Or maybe just listen to it and don’t bet at all because gambling is what got these guys in trouble in the first place.
Eight Men Out is the authentic but somehow also fake-sounding dramatization of the fixed World Series from 100 years ago. Sometimes it feels just right and sometimes it feels like they want to jam all that old-timey straight down your piehole, whether you bushers want it jammed down there or not.
Chris sets the record straight about some of the facts of this era (especially about the Black Sox trial), while Ryan brings up an old pet peeve: the steroids v. gambling comparison. So get in your third-sacker stance (ugh) and hear our straight dope about John Sayles’ morose baseball picture.
Pedantry Alert: Bull Durham came out in mid-June 1988, so it was not REALLY released “in the spring”. Also, the 1920 White Sox roster was indeed mostly the same, but 1919 was the last season of Chick Gandil’s nine-year career. Also also, it’s more accurate to say that Babe Ruth hit more home runs by himself than most teams did in 1920 when he hit 54, not in 1919 when he hit 29.
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The website: scoringatthemovies.podbean.com
The 35th drop in the Scoring At The Movies bucket slugs its way into a hockey comedy that stars Paul Newman: Slap Shot!
Curiously, one of the greatest of movie stars is overshadowed by 3 of his fight-lovin’ co-stars. And maybe that’s fair. They’re dumb, but he’s playing their coach and he's barely smarter than they are. Everybody seems to love the Hanson Brothers and their antics probably WERE funny back in the ’70s. However, their behaviour and many of the insults shouted by a lot of the guys haven’t aged all that well. So what we’ve got is another sporadically funny cult-favourite from the ’70s in The Longest Yard mode. Rats, was hoping for better.
Anyway, drop the gloves (because there are more fisticuffs in this than in a boxing movie) and find out what we thought about this opus about the Charlestown Chiefs.
Pedantry Alert: Michael Ontkean was not the sheriff in Blue Velvet, of course, but in the TV show Twin Peaks. Also, there IS a Peterboro in New York and a Peterborough in New Hampshire, but the distance from Pennsylvania is about the same as it is from the city in Ontario, so that just strengthens our point that you don’t need to drive anywhere near 15 hours for road games in the Federal League.
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The website: scoringatthemovies.podbean.com
Scoring At The Movies’ 34th go-round is a lengthy yap about one of the 3 or 4 best movies we’ve covered yet: The Wrestler!
The usually-trippy Darren Aronofsky directed his most realistic film here and it's just plain wonderful. Even though it’s about the over-the-top world of pro rasslin', it's filled with subtlety and so many great moments. Mickey Rourke gives one of the greatest performances—by anyone—in decades, and he’s incredibly genuine in what so many have always called a “fake” sport.
We spent some time discussing the origin of Randy The Ram’s real name and we jawed about the issue of athletes living with pain…and regret. The topic of unions in wrestling came up, so we even got to fly some socialist colours.
So, spring chickens, take what might be your last dive off the top rope and enjoy our not-one-trick-pony podcast.
Pedantry Alert: Rourke does cry in at least 1 other movie (The Pledge) and he’s only even in that for a few minutes. Also, what Ram hears in his head before going out to work at the deli counter is crowd noise, not his music.
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Our website: scoringatthemovies.podbean.com
The 2019 NFL season is now upon us, so for Scoring At The Movies #33, we’re back on the (high school) gridiron with Friday Night Lights!
Billy Bob Thornton is the stoic mentor & coach of a bunch of young actors (including Lucas Black) in this intense, serious film. There’s not much backstory for any character, but the subtle touches tell us more than first meets the eye. Many facts were fudged and the movie is filled with “truthiness”, but we agree that this is still a rock-solid football flick.
Director Peter Berg finds ways to make us care about all these Permian Panthers, although not as much as their football-obsessed community does because that isn't possible. So don’t pressure children to win at all costs. Just hold hands with the guy beside you and pray as you gulp down our chat.
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The beefy, glistening (and sometimes cheesy) Pumping Iron might be the most unintentionally homoerotic movie ever made, and it helped make Ah-nuld the star he’s been for over 4 decades.
Just as the movie does, Scoring At The Movies #32 focuses on the rivalry between the Schwarz and his psyche-out victim Lou Ferrigno, a lot of which was ginned up for this documentary/docudrama. The then-reigning Mister Olympia is fond of telling tall tales, but the man clearly always had charisma (our word of the day) coming out every sculpted muscle.
We rekindle the steroids discussion we’ve had in prior episodes (how could that NOT come up in a movie about body-building?) and we even did our own posedown. Wait, that’s not true... or is it? With fabrications like that, maybe we could have been characters in this movie…
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The 31st episode of Scoring At The Movies tears the layers back on our first, and maybe the only, “and they’re off” movie we’ll ever review: Seabiscuit!
Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper are very solid, although the world-class awesome Elizabeth Banks is miscast and was wasted way too much for our liking. This prestige production is an old-school crowd-pleaser that generally pleased this crowd of 2 people. There ARE issues though and writer/director Gary Ross’ dialogue & narration lay it on thicker than 75 coats of paint. Maybe a lot of that are flaws in Laura Hillenbrand’s book? Anyway, the movie is still worth seeing (even if some people “can’t SEE out there”) and this podcast is most definitely worth hearing (out there).
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Hey yo, folks. For the 4th time (and for the 3rd time in the past 14 months), we drop a 'cast about the Rocky Balboa odyssey on this channel, this time talkin' Creed 2.
The 30th “Scoring At The Movies” episode takes us back to just this past fall when Creed 2 was all the rage (or at least some of the rage). Michael B. Jordan & his co-stars are rock-solid and the movie is vivid enough, but it doesn’t have the emotional kick (punch?) of the 2015 Ryan Coogler picture, nor the stupid enjoyability of the Sly Stallone-directed ’80s entries. Chris didn’t love the overstuffed hyperbole either.
Some of this sequel is great, some of it is just…not. We're just hoping Florian Munteanu won't hunt us down for butchering his name. It's pronounced "Mun-tee-aw-new". Anyway, we spend nearly an hour ruining his name and explaining our viewpoints, so stop reading and start listening!
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While it's cool that Bret Hart got his catchphrase from this film (and did we ever take advantage of that fact!), we sure didn't feel like The Natural was the best there is, was or ever will be. There just wasn’t enough divine influence (a theme we didn’t really discuss in this 29th Scoring At The Movies episode) or movie magic to make us love Robert Redford’s ultra-famous baseball flick the way we used to.
The star is as likable as always, but he’s REALLY miscast...and not just because of his age. Director Barry Levinson’s fantasical flicker show is a logical mess, which brought about a slew of Reasonably Good Questions… even though we didn’t actually call them that. Maybe the best angle on this movie is to see it as Roy’s fever dream or maybe even a sensationalized story written by Max Mercy. It’s got some great moments (the ending, man, the ending!), but we spent over an hour ripping on the not-so-great ones. Oh and to answer Chris’ question about better casting for Roy Hobbs? Kurt Russell!
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Bring It On? But it's already been broughten!
For Scoring At The Movies’ 28th episode, we covered---yes---a cheerleading movie.
Kirsten Dunst & Eliza Dushku are a pretty good team and director Peyton Reed made his movie bright, enthusiastic and fun. The depiction of the sport seems pretty bang-on (but what do we know) and the story has a nice Hoosiers-esque feel as our (mostly) lily-white underdogs take on black, inner-city kids who are clearly more talented than them.
Unfortunately, the flick just isn’t very funny and Jesse Bradford rubbed Chris very wrong in a series of ways. So, yeah, maybe this one just wasn't our bag. Anyway, we've got a lot to talk about here, so engage your cheer hands, Meet Ranchers!
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Scoring At The Movies’ 27th episode has us gabbing about our first documentary, Murderball, as we watch jocks in wheelchairs play quad(riplegic) rugby.
This is one of Ryan’s favourite documentaries, but Chris had mixed feelings and was troubled by the (very) politically incorrect choice of words used by the movie's alpha males.
Disabled or not, these athletes are shown to be real people with some serious character flaws, and those flaws only make them more interesting. It’s a big bonus that the ongoing USA v Canada drama is as exciting as you’ll find in any fictional sports flick. Bitter rivals Joe Soares and charisma machine Mark Zupan get the majority of screen time, but all of the half-dozen main characters are fascinating to watch. Scrum it up and listen in!
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The 26th heaping helping of Scoring At The Movies drags us along with Michael Jordan into the world of cartoon lunacy that is Space Jam.
Bugs, Daffy, the Monstars and the rest of the Tune Squad do their wisenheimer thing, but the flick never really clicks. Maybe it’s the lack of good jokes, the excessive fawning over Jordan, the awkward shifts in tone or the attempts to satisfy too many masters? Or maybe just that it's not 1996 anymore...
We get into MJ’s Fred Flintstone-esque gambling proclivities, we discuss who’s the greatest b-baller of all time, and we get real about how Bugs Bully (not a typo) is an arrogant jerk. Oh, and as basketball fans know by now, the Toronto Raptors beat the odds and did make it to the 2019 NBA Finals against the dynastic Golden State Warriors…and that series starts tonight!
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This episode of Scoring At The Movies takes us to the quarter-century mark… and this is one goofy way to hit that mark.
Tom Cruise’s passion project, Days of Thunder, is one of his worst pictures, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. Robert Duvall actually does some of the most-underrated work of his long career (no, seriously) and North America was introduced to Nicole Kidman (who just wanted out of the “cah”).
This movie has surprising insight into concussions & brain trauma and it’s got that trademark Tony Scott slickness in the racing scenes, so bully for all that. We’ve got plenty of Reasonably Good Questions, some of which blew Chris’ mind.
So buckle up, shut your brain (nearly) all the way off, do your Duvall exhale and try to outrun the thunder!
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This is just our second boxing pic out of 24 Scoring At The Movies episodes and it's a much-loved flicker show, especially with mature viewers: Million Dollar Baby. This movie won many Oscars, it made great bank at the box office, and it's well-regarded by both critics and its fan base.
Hilary Swank does her best-ever work (bonus points: she's the first woman to play the lead in one of our two dozen sporty ventures) and Clint Eastwood & Morgan Freeman are rock-solid as always, but Paul Haggis' writing and Eastwood's direction are problematic. There are a few too many potshot stereotypes and there's waaaay too much Danger. Chris also took issue with some of the story beats. But it's hard to deny that it's an unusual boxing film (especially in the 3rd act) and is an effective gut-puncher.
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Another Kevin Costner sports movie? Yup, this is our 3rd K.C. flick out of 23 total episodes of Scoring At The Movies, this time with Draft Day.
Costner's a man that likes to sweat, but in this case he’s a G.M. doing everything EXCEPT sweating… on the field. And he does a bang-up job as the Cleveland Browns’ miracle-maker. This flick was not a hit and it’s got a multitude of flaws, but we dug it anyway, even if we found much to critique. It’s practically a fantasy film where EVERYTHING works out… or is it actually more believable than you think?
We also got into what is the BIGGEST fantasy in this movie (ie. civility from sports fans) and we hash out all the wheeling & dealing by Costner and his rivals. So as we approach the NFL’s 2019 Draft (which is on April 25th), huddle up for our take on Ivan Reitman’s football-in-the-boardroom picture.
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With the 2019 Masters just around the corner, the 22nd dose of Scoring At The Movies finds us gaping at Adam Sandler’s club-throwing rage on the golf course in Happy Gilmore.
This was his second starring role and even at that point he was hitting his now trademark beats: he’s a violent sociopath, embarrasses his rival and gets the girl. This is one of his funnier flicks though and Christopher McDonald, Carl Weathers & Julie Bowen are all as responsible for that as Sandler is. Oh, and Bob Barker! It’s a hockey movie a la Goon early on, but then it all comes down to the big golf match between the hero and the villain…only, which of them is the real villain?
So don’t eat pieces of sh*t for breakfast. Just enjoy our pithiest episode yet!
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Tear ducts, prepare thy selves for this 21st edition of Scoring At The Movies, as we analyze the best film we’ve covered yet: Field of Dreams.
This ghost story has a sense of humour, along with a midlife crisis, father/son regret, spirituality...and lots of corn. Kevin Costner was the ideal choice to head up the eclectic Field Of Dreams cast. He’s given a lot of credit for this movie, but writer/director Phil Alden Robinson did a masterful job of walking the tightrope and finding the correct It’s A Wonderful Life type tone. To Chris’ dismay, it also shares a major plot point with Jimmy Stewart’s Christmas movie—money woes. Also, while the miscast Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe doesn’t hurt the picture, he’s just too scary and New York-y for that role. Fortunately, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones and especially Burt Lancaster are perfectly cast.
Dig into our lengthy teeth-rattle about one of the sweetest and oddest sports movies ever made.
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Spring training is in full ahem swing, so the 20th installment of Scoring At The Movies slugs onto the baseball diamond with Mr. Baseball.
Tom Selleck brings his hirsute charm to this fairly authentic baseball comedy, although Chris thinks Magnum P.I. isn’t Magnum P.I.’ing it enough. We definitely agreed that---once again---the sports comedy in question just isn’t very funny. We also talked about Japanese culture, the surprising lack of product placement and Selleck’s character’s stubborn refusal to assimilate. We got into his stormy relationship with his manager & with his lady friend Hiroko and, dumbly, we forgot to talk about the fact that the manager, “Chief” Uchiyama, is her father. We certainly hashed out the “bad baseball” going on in the big game. So bunt a few shuutos and hear us nitpick “Jack In Japan”.
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Alley oop your way into the 19th edition of Scoring At The Movies as we discuss Semi-Pro.
This was Will Ferrell’s last sports flick after a whole run of them through the middle of the 2000s. While neither critics nor audiences appreciated it, we had a good time with this lunacy. Ferrell is just a funny fellow. That’s not to say the movie doesn’t have a lot of fouls against it. Chris highlights (lowlights?) a bunch of those, but Ryan is more forgiving of the flaws.
So put on your ’70s duds, stabilize your spine and spend 46 minutes hearing us jam about a goofy b-ball comedy.
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Wrestle-heads, lend your jacked-up ears to the 18th installment of Scoring At The Movies as we discuss Ready To Rumble!
Ready to Rumble is, in short, the worst movie we’ve reviewed yet, so we branched off into all kinds of other angles on rasslin’ just to find something worth discussing. We talked about wrestlers in movies, DDP Yoga, the Montreal Screwjob, gay panic, “fake” vs. “scripted”, the triple cage concept, Macho Man, Mick Foley and much more.
As for R To R, David Arquette & Scott Caan are obsessed with the now-defunct WCW and they get to rub baby-oiled elbows with the likes of DDP, Goldberg, Sting and Oliver Platt as Jimmy The King. If only any of it was funny... Also, sorry about the eardrum-bursting Randy Savage impressions. Dig it!
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A few days late, but here at last is the 17th edition of Scoring At The Movies! As the Super Bowl approaches, it’s the right time for a gab about one of the most-famous football flicks of ’em all: The Longest Yard.
We show much love for Burt Reynolds, who was just starting a run of dominance at the box office…and in fan’s cockles. We talked a lot about the Adam Sandler almost-good remake and also about how Burt's original version just isn’t very funny. Robert Aldrich’s flick has some real tonal problems. It deals with some serious issues like racism and prison brutality, then doles out some dated and often offensive “jokes”. This bag is mixed. But as Mo from The Simpsons might say, it’s not without its charm. Get to listenin’!
Feel the rhythm of the 16th edition of Scoring At The Movies as we travel to Calgary and Jamaica, mon, to laugh at the 1988 Winter Olympics. Okay, we didn’t laugh at the Olympics themselves, just like we didn’t really laugh while watching Cool Runnings.
Disney’s sports flicks always have a heart, but they sure are duds if you pine for consistent frivolity. It’s great to see John Candy in one of his last films though (what a treasure we lost when he died in 1994) and the 4 bobsledding stars do solid enough work in this heavily adapted real-life story.
In addition to our bobsled chat, we’ve got some social media and website news about future Scoring At The Movies eps!
Scoring At The Movies wraps up 2018 by socking you in the bloody kisser with our first boxing picture: Rocky 4!.
This might be the dumbest flick in the entire franchise, but it’s also an adrenaline-pumping 90 minutes of jingoistic euphoria. And those songs! Pure 80's joy. We discuss all the movies in the Balboa series fairly equally here. Controversial stances abound! Does Apollo have a lust for fame that turns into a death wish? Why is Paulie still kicking around to wreck everything? Just how did these actors get those bodies? And “Hearts On Fire” > “Eye Of The Tiger”!
All that and so much more awaits yous in SATM episode #15!
Gene Hackman brings his steady excellent-ness to the high-school basketball classic Hoosiers in the 14th edition of Scoring At The Movies.
This is one of Ryan's most-beloved sports pictures. Chris, on the other hand, isn't 100% down with it, particularly with Jimmy's Hamlet-esque struggles to play or not to play. We also share our favourite scene (they're vastly different), we talk about how much sports are in this sporty flick, about Coach Dale's on-going clash with the whole town of Hickory, and about how Ryan is Ollie.
The lucky 13th episode of Scoring At The Movies whips rubber balls at your head (and sometimes your nads) and gabs about Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
Vince Vaughn is practically catatonic, but Ben Stiller is unquestionably committed to the comic cause and nails the best lines. It’s a fun flick, but just like most of the humorous sports pictures we’ve covered, it’s a pretty shallow enterprise. Chris & Ryan went off on a record-setting number of tangents in this one, sharing personal experiences of dodging, dipping, diving & ducking (not to mention dodging) and also about steroid-using smear artists like Lance Armstrong. Rich tapestry.
So bleed your own blood and ear up our chattage.
Bare your knuckles and sock us in the face because the 12th episode of Scoring At The Movies intends to body-check your audio canals! We’re back on the rink with our 2nd hockey movie, chatting about Goon.
We spent a lot of time jawing about the merits of fighting in hockey (or the lack of merit) and about the game as a whole. What can you do? We’re Canadian. The thrust of the talk though, of course, is about Seann William Scott’s Doug Glatt, the guy who just wants a purpose and just wants to belong. He’s the super-sweet, non-psychotic Travis Bickle.
Onward!
The 11th Scoring At The Movies episode lines up our checks and doesn't splash the pot as we yack about the Damon/Norton poker picture Rounders.
Those two are terrific together, but John Malkovich's infamous take on how a Russian mobster acts steals the show and robs the flick away from everyone else. His goofy work also allowed us to do a series of bad impressions of that wacky Malk accent. But there's a lot more than that in this ep, so settle in for a long session.
Chris is a bonafide card sharp, so he's in his element with this movie. Deal!
Scoring At The Movies hits the airwaves for the 10th time and the boys have a complicated one this week: Kingpin!
Well, complicated considering the dopey subject matter.
The bad-haired dudes (Woody, Quaid, Mister Murray) are tremendous, but we’re split on the work of the good-haired Angel. Also, the Farrellys directed a funny flick, but does it suffer in comparison to their more legendary laugh-fests Dumb And Dumber and There’s Something About Mary?
Ryan also unleashes some moral outrage about people who get outsmarted by hustlers, Roy Munson’s ability to bowl with a rubber hand and more. Mister Literal over here.
So marvel at the sight of so many great athletes as we chew the fat about a bowling pseudo-classic.
The fictional & half-decade-early-in-reality rise of the longtime laughingstock Cleveland (redacted) is the order of the day in our 9th dose of Scoring At The Movies as we discuss Major League.
Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes and the dynamite cast hit a ringing triple in David Ward's crap-to-great baseball story. Why not use the tired cliche and just say they hit a home run? Well, the flick is stuffed with controversy (sexual assault and stalking, not to mention the team's name), but the movie is still fun personified. So...let's call it a triple.
When it comes down to it, if you can't find electric joy in the "Wild Thing" scene, then you might as well just move to Florida!
For episode #8 of Scoring At The Movies, we nail our first jump shots in a basketball movie, which remains one of the funniest sports flicks of ’em all, talking about White Men Can't Jump.
Chris has issues with one of the 2 leads (not the charismatic fellow's performance, just the character’s selfishness) and has plenty of justification for that bad feeling. Still, Wesley & Woody have chemistry out every cool (and nerdy) pore, while Rosie Perez just about walks off with the whole movie. And hey…Jeopardy! Everything is made better with liberal doses of Jeopardy.
Stay in the zone, man, and, as always, listen to the woman (and also to our podcast).
Lucky #7 edition of Scoring At The Movies injects some steroids into the run-time and gives you our most in-depth (read: longest) episode yet, as we discuss Any Given Sunday.
Chris & Ryan were conflicted about this one, admiring a lot of parts in the bombastic flick, but not truly connecting with other parts. But Al Pacino & Jamie Foxx nail it and the movie as a whole feels like an accurate depiction of the dirty machinations behind the football scenes. In fact, we talked about those angles almost as much as we talked about Oliver Stone’s opus.
So let the concussions and body trauma begin!
The 6th shot of Scoring At The Movies does the NASCAR thing with Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Sacha Baron Cohen goofing it up as race-car drivers in Talladega Nights.
This podcast could have been a quote-fest (and we definitely enjoyed referring to the best lines), but we also steered down some chat-worthy avenues. Is the movie homophobic? Is it a bit too hard on NASCAR fans, especially those from the south?
Also, this became the unofficial Tom Cruise podcast, partly because Mister Scientology is hilariously referenced in Talladega, but also because we just felt like branching off into Cruisian territory.
The 5th Scoring At The Movies podcast covers Ryan’s second-favourite “sport”… and that’s watching Tom Cruise be goofy, as we chat about The Color of Money.
Okay, the intense superstar playing it silly is fun, but really the love is of pool. This solid sequel to The Hustler has Paul Newman reprising his classic role of Eddie Felson, now a liquor salesman who takes the flaky but wickedly talented Cruise on the road to learn and earn. But what are Eddie’s true motivations for taking Vincent under his wing? Is Eddie doing as well in life as he portrays or is it a sham? And does it even matter which of the two leads is the better pool player?
Make your aggressive break on the snap…but then hear what what we have to say about Marty Scorsese’s pool opus.
The 4th kick at the Scoring At The Movies can gives Ryan & Chris their first chance to talk about baseball, chatting about Angels in the Outfield.
And what an ignominious movie that gives us that first chance! T’aint good, but its crappiness is part of the fun. We dole out some much-needed Batman impressions. We question why a violent man would be awarded custody of 2 small children. We also branch off into a whole discussion about sex, but only because the movie sports some pretty risque innuendo (in one scene anyway).
Oh, we forgot to promote ourselves! Don’t forget to tweet Ryan @moviefiend51 and Chris @scoringatmovies
Crane-kick the 3rd Scoring At The Movies epidode right in the schnoz as Ryan & Chris wax (on) fairly eloquently about this childhood fave: The Karate Kid.
Mr. Miyagi is the most relatable character here, although Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio were both typecast in their famous roles. But questions abound. Is this really just a soccer movie disguised as a karate movie? Why so little backstory for a film that’s more than 2 hours long? Does Ali pose a bigger threat to Johnny than Daniel does? And is Daniel-san really the bad guy?
There’s only one way you’re gonna find out, so start finding!
The 2nd installment of Scoring At The Movies finds Chris & Ryan knocking it onto the green (after a monumental number of bad strokes) while discussing Tin Cup.
It’s the Costner/Russo (and, really, the Costner/Cheech) lovefest… with golf! Chris is a student of the links, so he’s got you covered with credible details and history about the Game Of Checkered Pants, but we’ve got a lot more than just minutia about 3 woods and shanks.
Wanna bet? If you don’t, then you can’t be a golfer.
The Top 100 Project branches off yet again as we bring you our debut episode of Scoring At The Movies!
Ryan will sit down with good friend Chris bi-weekly to jabber about movies of the sporting kind.
We kick it off with the kids flick that spawned an NHL hockey team: The Mighty Ducks! And we’ve got questions. Is Hans actually Gordon’s “ghost dad”? What is Coach Reilly’s real job (and is it plastic surgery)? Did Gordon learn anything about integrity when he pulled his “redistricting” move to steal Adam Banks? Is Fulton on the juice? And what if Batman funded and coached the Ducks?
Those queries and so many more will be answered in our chat about high-stakes peewee hockey.