Football is America’s greatest sport. The epic spectacle taking place
over four quarters contains more athleticism, passion and drama than all other
sports combined. I believe when it comes to football, there is no rival. So
it should come as no surprise that the greatest sport movies are those that
center on tossin’ around the ol’ pigskin.
The next time you’re flipping channels on a day when football is not being
televised, or you’re looking for a good DVD to pop in your player to kill
time, consider these great football films. It’ll make the wait until the
next big game go that much faster.
1ST DOWN
The Ultimate Football Movie Top Ten List
1. The Longest Yard (1974 classic version)
Burt Reynolds set the bar high for football movies in his role as Paul Crew
– quarterback, badass and convicted felon. The climactic game pits the
prison guards against the prisoners. The struggle for touchdowns between the
Guards and the Mean Machine is football you only wish you could see played on
the field. (Or, you could just go to any Raiders game and see it for real.)
Burt and company fight for their lives, kick guys in the balls and break friggin’
necks. It doesn’t get any better than this.
2. Brian’s Song
The 1971 original starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams is the only movie
where a guy can get a free pass to openly cry. (Okay, maybe Field of Dreams
qualifies too, but that’s baseball.) This story of the real-life friendship
between Chicago Bears teammates Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers is touching. If
you don’t cry during the final scenes, you’re a pussy.
3. Rudy
Sean Astin plays Rudy, a kid who dreams of one day playing for Notre Dame. Everyone
tells him he’s too small to play football – and not just because he
played a hobbit in those Lord of the Rings movies.
This is one of those heartfelt dreams-can-come-true movies that avoid getting
overly sappy. Okay, maybe it gets just a little sappy.
4. Remember the Titans
We’ve seen this kind of sports movie a thousand times, but you know what,
I like that kind of movie. This instant classic stars Denzel Washington as real-life
coach Herman Boone, who brought together a racially divided community by leading
the Titans to victory with a winning season. Hope I didn’t ruin the ending.
5. Friday Night Lights
Billy Bob Thornton plays real-life Gary Gaines who coaches the Permian High
Panthers in Odessa, Texas where high school football rules all. This gritty
drama explores the pressures high school kids encounter when their lives are
made or destroyed based on one football play. If you think pressure is playing
"Madden" on Xbox, then watch this movie and see what it’s really
like.
6. Varsity Blues
James Van Der Beek, formerly of TV’s "Dawson’s Creek", puts
on the pads and joins the football team! In New Canaan, Texas, (Texas seems
to figure a lot in football movies) the high school football team is the center
of the universe. The Coyotes, under pure evil coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight),
have won 22 straight divisional championships.
Can back up QB Dawson fill the shoes of their injured star quarterback? While
there are some amazing football set pieces, this film is perhaps better known
for one involving whip cream and actress Ali Larter.
7. The Waterboy
No sporting event is complete without someone randomly chanting, "You can
do it!" Yes, it was Rob Schneider who first uttered this classic catchphrase
in The Waterboy and now it is spoken, screamed and well, more likely it is loudly
slurred, by football fans in stadiums all over America.
If you like Adam Sandler, football and low-brow humor, this is for you and all
your tailgating buddies. Another highlight includes coach Fonzie as the wimpy
coach who finally has his day.
8. Death & Texas
This indie gem tells the story of football superstar "Barefoot" Bobby
Briggs in mockumentary fashion. The Austin Steers running back has been convicted
of murder. Will he be allowed to play with his team on Mega Bowl Sunday before
he is executed? Seek out this surprisingly smart indie that takes a satirical
look at pro football and capital punishment.
9. Any Given Sunday
Football is a violent and intense sport. Director Oliver Stone attempts to capture
these harsh realities in this behind-the-scenes drama focusing on a fictional
team called the Miami Sharks. (Stone was unable to secure an NFL license for
his film due to some of the dangerous subject matter portrayed such as drug
use, violence and sex.)
Aging star quarterback, Jack "Cap" Rooney played by Dennis Quaid suffers
a potentially season ending injury and is replaced by unpredictable newcomer
Willie Beaman (Jaimie Foxx). Coach Tony D’Amato (Al Pacino) must battle
back from four straight losses to earn a place in the playoffs while feeling
the heat from team owner Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz).
A brutal look at the NFL that was not endorsed by the NFL is certainly worth
seeing.
10. H.O.T.S.
This forgotten 1979 camp classic is the female version of Revenge of the Nerds
and it features a climax involving a legendary strip football game. Where else
can you see an underneath shot of an all topless female huddle?
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