Sports Movies

This was the second saddest weekend of the NFL season for me. The saddest is the week between the championship games and the Super Bowl, when all you have to watch is the Pro Bowl and are faced with the cold realization that the season is almost over. But next to that is my team's bye week, which was today. Though I enjoyed watching Michael Vick stick it to Peyton Manning and the Colts while leading my fantasy team to victory, bye weeks are also a good time to take in a movie. Especially with this blissful winter weather!

So in honor of the bye week, I thought I'd continue my list of personal favorites with my favorite sports movies. Here are the top five in ascending order:

5. Miracle (2004)
Do you believe in miracles! That call from Al Michaels remains a classic, as does the 1980 victory over the U.S.S.R. that the United States posted at Lake Placid during the winter Olympics. This film — starring Kurt Russell as coach of the squad — celebrates that team and their glorious run to gold. This is one of the most special sports movies, which is quite an achievement considering most people don't care about hockey.

4. Varsity Blues (1999)
There is really no justification for my love of this film. The plot is a little predictable, James Van Der Beek's accent is weak, and there are a number of infamous scenes in this film. But it seems that most sports movies are a little edgy, and at least this one in fun. I have no defense, but I like this film.

3. Seabiscuit (2003)
This film was an under-rated Academy Award contender. This is a magical film, it tells a great underdog story and features some great performances. This is the best horse-racing film in my opinion.

2. Field of Dreams (1989)
This film is somewhat overly sentimental, but it is the quintessential father-son sports movie. There are a lot of quotable lines and a good performance from Kevin Costner. Though some favor "Bull Durham," to me this is Costner's best sports movie.

1. Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Sure, you could consider this a drama. But I think it's also a sports movie, so I put it in this category. This was one of my favorite films of the last decade. Though many get caught up in the powerhouse final act, the lead up to that point — the part that's all about boxing — is pretty great too. There's a reason this film won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor. Just an incredible film.

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