Sports movies vs. rock n roll movies

[Wes]

I just hope this doesn't turn into a heated debate over which side gets to lay claim to BODY SLAM.

I can't help but feel this is directly addressed to me, because I was absolutely going to bring this up.

How about a sports movie which is also a rock n roll movie? IS THERE SUCH AN ABOMINATION?

Obviously, Martin has not seen Body Slam. Even a cold, emotionless Swede would be moved by Kick's "American Way".

In general, I think there have been more decent sports movies than rock movies (maybe just because there have been more sports movies in general?), but that rock movies have a much higher potential and chance to be great because they don't necessarily have to be locked into the Sports Movie Formula. I'd like to see fewer straight biopics among rock movies and have more attempts at the fictionalized route. Going this way, though, you do run into the added difficulty of having to come up with passable original music, while you have more options to fudge it a little bit when filming sports scenes. On the other side, sports movies really need to break out of their rut in terms of approach and presentation. Is there a sports movie equivalent to Help!, A Hard Day's Night or 24 Hour Party People? I know I would watch a film about the 1985 Bears that was also a spy movie like Help!. In fact, I would write a film about the 1985 Bears that was also a spy movie like Help!.

One area where sports movies have an advantage is in documentaries. The best of them can hook even those without an interest in the sport being covered because the stakes and human element become palpable, while a rock movie will always have to clear a somewhat higher hurdle if the viewer has no interest or active dislike for the music on display.

[nec13]

Is there a sports movie equivalent to Help!, A Hard Day's Night or 24 Hour Party People?

Is there a rock movie equivalent to The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh?

[Chris L]

On the other side, sports movies really need to break out of their rut in terms of approach and presentation. Is there a sports movie equivalent to Help!, A Hard Day's Night or 24 Hour Party People? I know I would watch a film about the 1985 Bears that was also a spy movie like Help!. In fact, I would write a film about the 1985 Bears that was also a spy movie like Help!.

This is why it was disappointing that Soderbergh's Moneyball was scuttled by the studio before it went into production.  It might have taken a different approach for a change.   Can someone get Todd Haynes a copy of The Bad Guys Won?

I can't think of a sports movie equivalent to the films you mentioned (Shaolin Soccer?), but Space Jam might be the equivalent of the Bee Gees' Sgt. Pepper's movie.

[Wes]

Yeah, there were certain elements of the talk around the Moneyball movie that sounded odd, but I agree that it would have at least forced a different take on how you go about making/presenting these kinds of movies. I think my favorite sports movie is still Eight Men Out, and that's probably due in equal parts to the facts behind the story requiring the movie play out differently than your average baseball movie and the way Sayles edged it outside the usual way even period baseball movies come off.

Shaolin Soccer is a great example of telling the same kind of story but presenting it differently. I don't think it was a complete success - I found the first half kind of a slog to get through while waiting for the exploding soccer balls, Kung Fu Hustle greatly improved on that - but it was still a great idea to mix up how you can do it. Is Rollerball (the original) the only other successful sports genre movie mash-up? No offense to any Rollerball '02 or Prayer of the Roller Boys fans.

Is there a rock movie equivalent to The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh?

Well, both The Fish That Saved Pittsburg and Sgt. Pepper featured climactic hot air ballooning scenes. I think Dr. J may be hidden in the Hearts Club Band chorus, too. He, Monte Rock and Bowser from Sha-Na-Na were pretty tight back then.

[jbissell]

For a good both-at-once scenario, When We Were Kings is pretty untouchable.

Makes a great paring with Soul Power.


I'm disappointed no one has mentioned Mark Wahlberg's Rock Star vs. Mark Wahlberg's Invincible. They even have pretty similar stories.

[gravy boat]

rock movies have a much higher potential and chance to be great because they don't necessarily have to be locked into the Sports Movie Formula. I'd like to see fewer straight biopics among rock movies and have more attempts at the fictionalized route. Going this way, though, you do run into the added difficulty of having to come up with passable original music, while you have more options to fudge it a little bit when filming sports scenes.

Agree. I think the Sports Movie Formula is generally aimed at the "wholesome family" crowd, so not so good. 

I think the following Wholesome Family formula has been applied to every sport:
Ragtag bunch of misfits and castoffs + new coach (usually fallen star and seeking redemption) = transformation of both = culminating in -- beating the rich snobs across town. 

For "passable original music" I think Hedwig had great music -- movie not the best.

[SJK]

Music...Gimme Shelter, Almost Famous
Sports...Hoosiers, The Foot Fist Way

How do those stack up? I enjoyed them a great deal.

[Reeleyes]

Wildcats Vs. Rock Star

[betheboy]

Light of Day Vs. Air Bud II and III

[jbissell]

As far as loveable losers go, my favorite is the original Bad News Bears.

[Christina]

Slap Shot vs. Hard Day's Night

[ChrisRawk]

Prey for Rock and Roll vs. the Rocky movies.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Anvil vs. Tyson?

[crumbum]

As far as loveable losers go, my favorite is the original Bad News Bears.

I was going to bring this up and pit it against Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains.

Maybe it's just because they're from the same era and have a similar shaggy quality, but I think of them as roughly equivalent.

[Joe Rogaine]

Hoop Dreams v. Heavy Metal Parking Lot

What about Neil Diamond Parking Lot?