[Wizard of Os]

Cheers all.

Roght. I’ve been looking for an excuse to do this for a long time, so what better place than the GoTeamsGo forum?

Though boxing, baseball and (according to one source) auto racing have all been the subject of more films than basketball, this writer would argue that no sport has produced a consistently higher level of cinematic entertainment.

Without further ado, then, let’s begin the greatest argument starter since you were asked to name your starting five on the All-Time team. The top eight basketball films:

Hoop Dreams – A no-brainer. Some critics called this the best film of the 1990s; they may be on to something, Pulp Fiction or no. Perhaps the single best documentary ever made (apologies to Michael Moore).

White Men Can’t Jump – The best film by Ron Shelton, scripter of Bull Durham, Tin Cup and the absolutely criminally unknown flick The Great White Hype (featuring the greatest ending to a sports movie ever). The first twenty minutes of this film about basketball are comprised of about 97% hoops, 3% trash talking. And o, how glorious it is. If there were an Oscar for Best Dialogue, Shelton would have at least one trophy on his mantle. Brilliantly funny, excellent soundtrack and great b-ball scenes.

He Got Game – Since everyone has forgotten, Spike Lee is a genius. My full review of this film (slightly adapted from its publication in 199 is here.

Forget Paris – All right, so technically this isn’t a b-ball flick, but how many other films about sports can you safely watch with a date? And check out the concept at center: the NBA referee is a good guy? I’ve got to give Billy Crystal props for his love of the games – check out 61*. And the New York Giants scene in When Harry Met Sally? Masterful. Plus, anything with Sir Charles in it is good. Period.

Hoosiers – Corny than the Kansas in which it is set, this cheesy sentimental movie is still well worth watching. Excellent score, quick action, believable characters (though laden with some silly dialogue at times) and Dennis Hopper’s big screen comeback. Watch it with your kids.

Fish That Saved Pittsburgh – The Godzilla on Monster Island of sports movies: So bad it’s good. Who wouldn’t want Dr. J, Meadowlark Lemon and Chris “Set Shot” Mullin on their squad? And Stockard Channing as the team psychic is positively yummy. Plus, the Lakers are the bad guys, certain to appeal worldwide these days (sigh).

The Basketball Diaries – Basketball takes a bit of a back seat here, despite its prominent placement in the title. Check out the compelling and surreal story of real-life author, poet and rocker Jim Carroll (Anybody remember “I Know Some People who Died”?), a bizarre tale of a boy hooked to heroin at age twelve.

Amazing Grace and Chuck – A bit dated now with its nuclear war theme (though that 80s nostalgia...), but remains a nice story about a boy and his hero.

The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island – Just kidding.

Now take your shots: I must be missing something. What? Other recommendations?

[wedge]

Good job including Hoop Dreams and Basketball Diares. Hoops dreams is a movie that can relate today, 10 or 20 years from now. "People who died" is a great song! Also the soundtrack for the movie is really good.

You pretty much named them all with maybe the exception of "Above the Rim" with Tupac and Duane Martin.

I think Hoosiers is clearly the best film about Basketball. Does it get any better then Gene Hackman as Norman Dale??

"I've seen you guys can shoot but there's more to the game than shooting. There's fundamentals and defense."

Amen brother!

[Lefty Noob]

Thumbs up for Hoop Dreams. It was an absolutely enthralling documentary. Thumbs down for White Men Can't Jump. I'm probably in the minority but I absolutely hated that movie. No Blue Chips? It wasn't great, but it was eminently more watchable that White Men Can't Jump.

[xdavidwattsx]

I don't think I've even seen 8 basketball movies.

[ThePundit]

Does anyone remember Fast Break from the late 70's? Great hysterical movie. That might even be my favorite.

Other good ones: Glory Road, Forget Paris, Hoosiers
Good but overrated: White Men Can't Jump
Didn't like at all: He got Game
Hoop Dreams was good but its a Documentary so I don't group it into the above flicks.

[Lefty Noob]

Pundit, I take it you've seen Glory Road, right? I wanted to but it didn't come to theaters around here. How is it? And I don't see it anywhere on the list, so I'd like to add Coach Carter to the discussion. Great flick!

[ThePundit]

Yes I did see it. It was good. It took some poetic license with some of the facts- but overall it was entertaining. There were some gut wrenching scenes of the way black athletes were treated in the 60's. Jon Voight was great as Adolph Rupp.

I can't believe it wasn't released by you. Why is that? Is it because the negative portrayal of Adolph Rupp and Southern College basketball in general wouldn't go over big in the south? Oh well, it should be on video soon.

I never saw Coach Carter. I always see the DVD in the library but its runs something like 2 1/4 hours so I've shied away from it. That's a long time for a predictable basketball movie. But maybe now I'll finally watch it.

[Lefty Noob]

No, nothing like that. It's just that we've got a pretty lame cinema in my town that only gets six movies at a time, and they just never got it in. Can't wait for it to come out on DVD, though.

[cjg11582]

I do have my qualms with He Got Game, though it doeshave some remarkably powerful moments. The one-on-one game between father and son particularly stands out. The destructive behavior of the father that was in many ways inherited by the son was also a spectacular plot. But the movie was lacking finality. Maybe that was Lee's intention and I missed some sub-textual theme that he was trying to convey. Whats peculiar is Spike Lee is usually hit (Malcom X, Do the Right Thing, 4 Little Girls, the vastly underrated films Clockers and 25th Hour) or miss (Girl 6, Get on The Bus, Summer of Sam). But with He Got Game, I am not as opinionated.
Even still, it is in the top eight, if for no other reason than there is an extreme shortage of basketball films, and so many of them are carbon copies of one another.
Anyways, here is my top eight:
1) Hoop Dreams ( I can only differentiate so much)
2) The Gambler (1974, James Caan; a college professor with a gambling addiction forces his student to shave points)
3) Basketball Diaries, the commentary on the rhythm and purity of basketball is profound.
4) Hoosiers
5) Teen Wolf- For the unintentional comedy and the coach
6) Rebound (The 1996 version starring Don Cheadle as Earl Manigault, not the recent Martin Lawrence disaster)
7) Michael Jordan to The Max
He Got Game

[wedge]

Originally Posted by cjg11582

I do have my qualms with He Got Game, though it doeshave some remarkably powerful moments. The one-on-one game between father and son particularly stands out. The destructive behavior of the father that was in many ways inherited by the son was also a spectacular plot. But the movie was lacking finality. Maybe that was Lee's intention and I missed some sub-textual theme that he was trying to convey. Whats peculiar is Spike Lee is usually hit (Malcom X, Do the Right Thing, 4 Little Girls, the vastly underrated films Clockers and 25th Hour) or miss (Girl 6, Get on The Bus, Summer of Sam). But with He Got Game, I am not as opinionated.
Even still, it is in the top eight, if for no other reason than there is an extreme shortage of basketball films, and so many of them are carbon copies of one another.
Anyways, here is my top eight:
1) Hoop Dreams ( I can only differentiate so much)
2) The Gambler (1974, James Caan; a college professor with a gambling addiction forces his student to shave points)
3) Basketball Diaries, the commentary on the rhythm and purity of basketball is profound.
4) Hoosiers
5) Teen Wolf- For the unintentional comedy and the coach
6) Rebound (The 1996 version starring Don Cheadle as Earl Manigault, not the recent Martin Lawrence disaster)
7) Michael Jordan to The Max
He Got Game

I was just about to mention Rebound. I can't believe I forgot that movie. Cheadle is great as "The Goat".

[wvuauthor]

My favorite movie of all time is Hoosiers; basketball related or not. This is a great story that any underdog can relate to. This is a timless classic that will never die!

[ThePundit]

Nobody saw Fast Break? Maybe I'm just older than all of you? If you can somehow find it in your library or Blockbuster, rent it. It's hysterical.
Bernard King, Mike Warren (of UCLA and Hill Street Blues) are in it.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Wizard of Os

Cheers all.

Now take your shots: I must be missing something. What? Other recommendations?

What?..Wiz..No "One on One?"...the 1977 movie with Robby Benson and Annette O'Toole?...Come on now...okay, once you get over the "chick flick factor"...and yeah you are also hard press to accept Benson as a ball player...but come on now Spike Lee called it "The Worse Sport Movie Ever!"...isn't that enough to merit a look see...well isn't it?

[Nitch]

Space Jam
He got Game
coach carter
white men can't jump
eddie
like mike
hoop dreams
glory road

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Nitch

Space Jam
He got Game
coach carter
white men can't jump
eddie
like mike
hoop dreams
glory road

yeah...but...like...did you like them?