.
Missing sports? James Finnegan has five movies to watch to while a few hours away during the lockdown…
It is fair to say that Sport does not always translate easily to the screen, probably because actors are not always convincing athletes, and vice versa.
However, there are a few films currently available on Netflix that are well worth a watch, especially in the current absence of the real thing, but are also interesting and entertaining films in their own right.
First up is Friday Night Lights (2004). This is the film version of the book, and stays closer to the source material than the popular later television series.
It is the story of the 1998 Texas State Championship, especially the progress of Permian High School Panthers, who are expected to continue their recent dominance.
Continued below…
.
Under new Coach Gary Gains, played by the always excellent Billy Bob Thornon, this is a human drama with plenty of twists and turns in a pressure cooker environment.
Coach Carter (2005) is the true story of Richmond High School Basketball Coach, Ken Carter.
Played by Samuel L Jackson, Carter returns to coach the team for which he once played. However, Carter expects, and demands, the highest standards of his players, not only in the sporting life, but also in their academic progress.
So when he suspends the members of his undefeated team due to poor academic results, life lessons have to be learnt no matter what the cost to the team and the School.
The Fighter (2010) is a real life Rocky story. A small town boxer, Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) turns around a long losing streak to somehow win the WBU Light Welterweight title in 2000.
Surrounded by a dysfunctional family, there are as many fights outside the ring as there are inside.
Directed by David O Russell, and also starring Amy Adams, Melisa Leo and Christian Bale, the latter two winning Oscars in the Best Supporting categories, this is quality acting and drama.
The rivalry between two of the best Formula One drivers, James Hunt (Chris Helmsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) in their bid to win the 1976 World Championship is the basis of Rush (2013).
This is a clash of personalities and methods. Hunt, flamboyant and off the cuff, Lauda, calm and methodical, but both with a grudging respect and rivalry with the other.
Written by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen), directed by Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon, Apollo 13) with a great soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, this is well worth a watch.
Last, but by no means least, is Fighting with my Family (2019), the true story of the wrestling obsessed Knight family based in Norwich, and the dream of Saraya and Zak to compete in the WWF circuit in America.
Staring Florence Pugh as Saraya, who is better known as the Wrestler Paige, this is a wonderful performance from this very talented Actress last seen in Little Women.
Excellent support is given by Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden and there are fine cameos by Vince Vaughan and Dwayne Johnson.
Be warned that the language can lean towards the colourful, but this is very entertaining. Enjoy, and Stay Home!
