As I was packing up my apartment I stuck in a DVD I’d picked up from some free pile (there were a lot of us leaving Beijing around the same time). Pride is about the integration of swimming in Philadelphia in the 70’s, think 42 for baseball or Remember the Titans for football. Sadly probably every sport can have a movie along these lines made; unsadly, I would watch it!
I’ve heard from a few of you jokingly saying, enough of the sports movies, OK?! Your feedback gave me a holy pause, creating the space to ask God why I’m going on and on about a subject that has garnered very few comments (one way to gauge engagement).
Identity.
Before this series started I hadn’t put two and two together that sports movies are woven into my story. As I am in the process of re-figuring out who I am and what is “China Amy,” what is “American Amy” and what is “Just Amy, Amy,” I can see that sports movies have been used to anchor me to me.
Most likely (based on the cricket chirping in the comment section) they have not been used to anchor you to you. And that is cool! The God of all creation isn’t limited to Kevin Costner (thank heavens!). But this is why there will be one final post on movies, part walk down memory lane, part reminding me I am ME, and part allowing you to see a bit of how I think. Without further ado …
We’ve already looked at why I love Hoosiers so and four reasons I am drawn to sports movies. Today we finish off this train of thought (for now!) with 15 sports movies I like, complete with stream of consciousness commentary.
These feet are from a local pool and a fabulous up and coming swimmer. Some day I may have a minor role in the film depicting her life; I’ll be the quirky aunt. Oh the wardrobe options!
- The Cutting Edge – Does the phrase “toe pick” bring back memories? Figure skater chick and wounded hockey player become pair skaters after working out considerable differences and styles. Probably more of a chick sports flick.
- Remember the Titans –or as I call this “Remember Charlie.” Charlie was my boss and we all knew when he was drawn to something because he could not help but mention it in every conversation. This is a great movie for discussions on leadership. I’d know, Charlie had us watch and discuss it a gabillion times. And for a reason. It’s a keeper.
- We are Marshall—and we are. This one points to the power of empathy in experiences and the ways we can walk in each others’ shoes. (And Matthew McConaughey as a football coach doesn’t hurt the cause.)
- Glory Road—Basketball and a shout out to KU. Enough said.
- Secretariat—The underdog, or in this case underhorse, gets me every time. And a shout out to Denver in the early 70’s!
- Seabiscuit—Once again the underdog, but this time in the 1930’s, a time that needed hope! Thought about my grandparents watching this one.
- Cool Runnings—Love those Jamaicans and the reminder to be willing to be laughed at if you believe in a cause.
- Rocky (and let’s be honest, many in the series)—Yo Adrian! Who hasn’t pictured themselves running up those stairs and fist pumping in the air!
- The Blind Side—Please read the book as well! It’s a good read on both the people involved and the evolution of football. I believe we each have a “Michael” in our path.
- Coach Carter—One summer when I was in the US I saw Coach Carter with a depressed gal from Romania. I was asked to entertain so that she wouldn’t hurt herself and the family she was staying with could have a break for one evening. I’m not sure this gave her (or anyone) the best impression of the U.S. and it most certainly is not a reason to live, but I still enjoyed it.
- Field of Dreams—If you build it they will come. Luke I am your father. Oh wrong movie, right voice.
- Finding Forrester—Basketball, books, and a difference made. What more could you want?!
- Invincible—Don’t we all dream of going from ordinary to extraordinary, in this case hanging out in a bar to hanging out in the NFL? OK, maybe it’s just me. But this movie taps into that stream of my personality (and it’s football!!!).
- Soul Surfer—Be related to girls of a certain age and you too will watch this more than you might have otherwise. I love seeing the nieces, in all innocence, acting out scenes from the movie (you can tell the difference between Alana and Bethany by who has one arm up in her shirt).
- Bend it like Beckham—I watched this with my soccer loving friend and am all the better for it. Thanks Lisa!
(And obviously 42 and Hoosiers and Pride. So, really it’s 18. Oh well, shoot me. Now that might make an interesting sports movie …)
What helps anchor you to you?
Amy
You had me with sports movies, even if I didn’t comment right away!! The only ones I’m not sure about are Invincible and Bend It Like Beckham….haven’t seen either. But there is something about watching the underdog or the understory which is really the main story using sports as the vehicle through which to tell the story… :) yes, I see exactly what you mean!
:) … that’s it, in essence for me, a vehicle to tell The Story :)
I’ve seen some of these movies, but I can hardly remember anything about them (except that they were quite moving). I guess what I sort of dislike about sports movies is the predictable-ness. I really liked The Fighter because it wasn’t so idealistic, it showed us defeat in all kinds of disturbing detail.
BUT your series has made me want to watch some of these movies. I now appreciate the way you love the clarity of each film’s message (something I always kind of thought as a drawback). Hm, maybe I just like tragedies and make-you-feel-really-disturbed-and-question-all-your-beliefs kind of films too much. I could certainly use some more make-you-have-hope-in-humanity-again films!
What anchors me? Shakespeare. A good example is Romeo and Juliet, which I have loved for most of my years on this world. Each phase of my life I’ve loved a different character or aspect of the play.
Morielle, ah, I hadn’t thought of it like that before (how predictable they are) — I just love how I feel as I’m walking out of one. I also am drawn a bit too the “make-you-feel-really-disturbed-and-question-all-your-beliefs.” But maybe not as much as you :)
…after many faithful afflictions from a loving Father God, what anchors me to me, the only thing that can anchor me anymore, is His Beauty, His Silence, His faithfulness & His Goodness…then I am brought into His Presence & rest with joy in who He made me to be in Him…
Susan, it touches me that His Silence is anchoring. Thanks for the comment.
Our family loves Facing the Giants! More about inspiration than sports, but there is plenty of football. When my life is not going the way I think it should, this movie reminds me to bloom where I’m planted.
Erin, can you believe I haven’t seen that one yet :) … but it sounds like I should!
Hi Amy, I’m not very sporty but watching Facing the Giants with my husband a couple of weeks ago (his ideas) was very moving and profound.
For me, one of my anchors is music. I have a HUGE vocabulary of songs, sometimes they are at such a subconscious level that the chorus of a song will float into my head, and it’s not until I sing my way through back to one of the verses that I realise a phrase in the verse expresses just what I’m feeling, or a truth I need to be reminded of!
All my family and friends knew songs were a huge part of my life, but then I got married, and the little routines I had for music were shoved aside for a while – I generally did most of my singing when alone in my bedroom, but all of a sudden I was sharing a bedroom….so I wasn’t alone…and my husband isn’t much of a singer so I feared it would be rude/exclusive to start an activity he probably wouldn’t ever join me in!
Finally I realised how much I need that anchor of singing, it turns out my husband likes to hear me sing….or if he needs a break from it we can spread out into different rooms :) And now I have another song in my head so I’m going to stop typing and take some time to sing it ;)
poking around today, from a link through a recent post. HOOAH for another woman who loves sports. And my bracket is busted, too. BUT … only 7 days until opening day (back in the US!) of baseball. My favorite. And I can’t wait!
I haven’t seen a lot of these, but have added to my list for sure. 42 is the best. And Miracle.