By Sabrina Napolitano, ReMIND Magazine
The sweat, the frustration, the training montages, the upbeat music — these are hallmarks of classic sports films. There’s something about the struggle of a hero (or heroine) to overcome his or her own shortcomings that has us rooting him or her to victory and, win or lose, we all come out feeling great. Here are five classics:
Rocky (1976) — Rocky Balboa is a small-time fighter who gets the chance to box his way to the top. Rocky helped Sylvester Stallone, who wrote and starred in the film, do much the same, earning both critical acclaim and box-office clout. Rocky proves himself an excellent fighter, and though he loses his match, his determination makes him an inspiration to every average joe who wanted to be somebody.
Pumping Iron (1977) — With his ripped physique and unforgettable Austrian accent, most people know Arnold Schwarzenegger as the action movie star and former governor of California. But before all that, Schwarzenegger was a bodybuilder, and the documentary Pumping Iron shows the incredible commitment and hard work that go into bodybuilding competitions. The battle is both physical and psychological, as when we see Arnold insult his rival Lou Ferrigno (who went on to play The Incredible Hulk).
Flashdance (1983) — At first glance, Flashdance doesn’t quite fit as a sports film. What’s so inspiring about Jennifer Beals working nights as an exotic dancer? But Flashdance has heart where it counts. Beals’ character Alex is strong-willed and relatable, with a passion that has you rooting for her to kick the exotic dancing and make it into the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance, which, spoiler alert, she absolutely does.
The Karate Kid (1984) — Like Rocky, The Karate Kid is an underdog story. Daniel (Ralph Macchio) is a kid who’s constantly bullied until he’s taken under the wing of the martial artist/janitor Mr. Miyagi. Daniel is taught how to overcome the thugs who plague him. Along the way, Daniel learns that martial arts is about much more than fighting. Unlike Rocky, however, Daniel wins victory along with self-confidence. It’s a film that had us believing we can do anything.
Hoosiers (1986) — Based on a true story, Hoosiers gives us two underdogs — Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman), and the woeful Hickory basketball team. Dale has a shady past, and the basketball team needs work. Towns in rural Indiana take their basketball very seriously, and Dale is met with suspicion. But he takes all this in stride, and even if he alienates much of the town with his coaching style, he ultimately ends up putting a winning team together. In true sports-film fashion, the climax comes down to a nail-biter at the state championship game, with Hickory defeating a much larger rival with a basket at the buzzer.
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