Scoring at the Movies

We've arrived at the series finale of Scoring At The Movies!   We're wrapping up this every-other-Thursday chat show about sports films by digging into Rocky...again. Rocky Balboa is filled with emotion, nostalgia (oh, is it nostalgic!) and many references to previous films in the franchise, not to mention a slew of quirky, Rocky-specific details. It's one of the best of the first 5 sequels as it highlights the lonely ex-boxer struggling mightily with the death of his beloved Adrian. Sylvester Stallone's return to the series after the failure of Rocky V represents some of the best work he did in the original 6. He even gets to end Balboa's improbable boxing career on a "full circle" high note. Then after our hour-plus gab about this cheesy/fun movie, we spent around 15 minutes summing up our feelings about doing this podcast for the past 5 years.   So race up the steps for the last time and get rid of the stuff in the basement as Ryan & Chris ring the final bell on Scoring At The Movies.   To contact us, use email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).

We're talking about baseball for the last time as Kevin Costner plays a Detroit Tigers pitcher in For Love Of The Game. The film spends about an equal amount of time between the Costner/Kelly Preston love story and him trying to achieve something monumental: throw a perfect game.   We thought the romance had too many tonal problems to take it seriously, although you can't say it was shoehorned in. It's essential to the way director Sam Raimi tells the flashback-heavy story. Even though we admired a lot of the action depicted on the diamond, we were pedants about A LOT of the errors. Costner's 3rd baseball flick is just a frustrating experience, although there are some moments that are as exciting as a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 9th.   So clear the mechanism as we talk to ourselves on the mound and maybe shed some tears in our penultimate episode about For Love Of The Game.   Our email address is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com and our Twitter accounts are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies.

In our 3rd-last episode, we're talking about a cynical, sci-fi movie about a made-up sport called Rollerball. Norman Jewison's dour 1975 film juggles a lot of balls and comments on many social issues (as Jewison often did in the films he directed), but he didn't draw either of us into his take on a dystopian future. James Caan mostly just mutters and sulks. He's not at his tough-guy best, although at least he and the stunt performers are convincing when they're playing this ultra-violent game. We agreed that the picture is absolutely well-made, showing a 2018 that was grounded in reality, not The Jetsons. It's just not a picture we ever care to see again. So instead of gleefully exploding trees with a hand cannon, why not be true to yourself and buck fascist authority figures, no matter who gets hurt? And while you're doing that, we'll be over here trying to figure out Rollerball.   Oh, and for the record, we've covered 3 poker movies on this channel, not just 1 or 2: Rounders, Casino Royale and Molly's Game.   Our email address is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com, while our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies.

Since we're counting down to our final podcast on June 7th, this represents both our final basketball movie and our final documentary. More Than A Game shows a remarkable amount of archival footage and plenty of behind-the-scenes home videos of LeBron James and his high-school teammates, but did Kristopher Belman ask them any truly hard questions? For instance, were the other 4 guys in the Fab Five jealous about just how rich and successful their megastar friend ended up?  And what's it like to be best friends with arguably the greatest player the NBA has ever seen? We got into a long discussion about that exact point too...just who is the best ever, whether it's LeBron, Michael...or someone else. Chris didn't love the way Belman structured the doc with all the time-jumping and we both felt unsatisfied by the lack of real answers to the scandal that saw LeBron get suspended during their senior year. Still, the movie is fast-paced and very ntertaining. So get ready to root for the overdog as we spend a solid hour chatting about More Than A Game.   Oh, and for the record: the boys went to Buchtel High School, not "Beck-tel". Also, LeBron won 2 NBA championships with Miami, 1 with Cleveland and 1 with the Lakers, so he's won 4 NBA titles, not 5.   You can email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or type out some tweets (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).

Chariots Of Fire is one of the most-respected movies we will ever cover, what with all the critical & financial success, not to mention the Oscar for Best Picture. It's just a shame we didn't care more about this true story. All the religious talk definitely didn't help us connect with the material. Ian Charleson runs blissfully for God (except when he won't) while the Jewish character played by Ben Cross runs his heart out, even though he has to fight against quiet-but-cruel anti-Semitism. Then they and their fellow upper-crust, subdued, white Great Britainers head to Paris for the 1924 Summer Olympics to try to run faster than the (white) Americans et al. It's a pretty simple story handled well by director Hugh Hudson, who never topped himself after this film. We just wish his crowning achievement touched us more. So dash on the beach in slow motion as a famous song plays along while we enlighten you about the acclaimed Chariots Of Fire.   Oh, and for the record, there were only 44 nations competing in the 1924 games while more than 200 countries have been competing in recent years.   To make your voice heard, you can shoot us an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or hit us with some tweets (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).

On the day the 2023 MLB season begins, we're discussing the sequel to one of our favourite baseball movies. Of course, Major League II is pretty much the same film, as the Cleveland Redacteds bicker, stink, bond, then strive to win it all, even though nobody believes in them...again. It doesn't help that David Ward's follow-up to his iconic original doesn't have much new up its sleeve and it's rated PG to appeal/pander to kids. There are also some idiotic screenwriting choices in the big game at the end. Yet this movie was raked over every coal by critics, even though it made us laugh---Bob Uecker!---and the baseball action is certainly worth your time. These guys are pretty believable athletes too, especially Charlie Sheen and David Keith. Oh, and as a bonus, Ryan did a brief review of Bang The Drum Slowly at the end of this episode because that was our original film this week.   So don't brawl on the field with your own teammates. Instead, think about lingerie magazines to distract you from your hang-ups as you blow it out certain body parts and enjoy us speaking better of Major League II than almost anyone else ever has.   You can contact us by tweeting (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or by email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

We haven't reviewed very many MMA movies and we certainly haven't talked specifically about a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu film before, but writer/director David Mamet was the right guy to focus on that in Redbelt.   He's a practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu, which also means he might not have always explained the sport as well as he could have. Maybe he was too close to it? While the first half is terrific, Redbelt is overstuffed with plot and has a vast & confusing conspiracy that unfolds during the inferior second half. Headlining a great cast, Chiwetel Ejiofor is wonderful as a man of honour in an honourless world. Does Mamet think that's what he is too?   Anyway, we spent a lot of this episode trying to figure out the uneven film that is Redbelt, but there's much to praise too. Just play our podcast, there's always a way to play our podcast.   To contact us, you can email (scoringatmovies@gmail.com) or hit us with some tweets (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).

Once Creed III is released on March 3rd, there will be 9 entries in the Rocky universe...and we will have covered 5 of them.    We're obviously huge fans of Balboa & friends, but one of us was a bigger Rocky V apologist than the other one was. This is, after all, universally acknowledged as the worst in the franchise. Even Sylvester Stallone hates it.   His script creates major problems with the scenarios, the characters and even one character's nonsensical name. Some of those blunders were truly maddening. We also both took issue with the way Stallone and returning director John Avildsen executed the angle where the Balboas go broke...and the repercussions of that when they end up back in the old neighbourhood.    Still, there are some sweet moments and touching call-backs to prior films. As always, the entire series was discussed, which it must be when the other films are referred to as often as they always are when the Italian Stallion is the topic and we're the ones doing the discussing. We didn't hear no bell, so fire up this lengthy episode to hear us share some laughs and express some exasperation about the valley in the franchise known as Rocky V.   If you want to contact us, our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com and our Twitter handles are @mvoiefiend51 and @scoringatmovies.

Not all sports movies are made the same. For instance, Logan Lucky isn't one.   The car racing is at a minimum in Steven Soderbergh's well-reviewed, but under-seen heist comedy. On the very bright side though, there are plenty of stars and character actors who delighted us. The movie is snappy and funny in an Ocean's Eleven kind of way, which makes sense because Steven Soderbergh directed that series too.   Just like the robberies in the Oceans flicks, there are some holes in Channing Tatum's master plan. The movie's geography also defies logic. So we quibbled the way we always do about issues like that, but we also acknowledged that the best move while you're watching is to just go with it. That's not hard to do when you've got Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, Riley Keough and Jack Quaid doing the heavy lifting alongside Tatum.   So don't pre-judge a southern putz who just might be smarter than everybody else and certainly don't disrespect a slow-moving, one-handed veteran. Just devour our talk about Logan Lucky while you think about what you're going to do with all the money you'll get out of this job...eventually.   We would love to hear your thoughts about this or any other podcast we've posted. On Twitter we're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies, while our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com.

As the Eagles & Chiefs prepare for the Super Bowl and since this is Groundhog Day, we thought we'd repeat ourselves and cover a football movie all over again: The Longest Yard.   Okay, the 1974 version of The Longest Yard was 115 podcasts ago, while we're talking about the Adam Sandler remake today. Critics don't like this take on the Mean Machine very much, but we ranted about the way they often turn up their nose at comedies and remakes. We just think this is the funnier movie of the two, especially when Chris Rock or Kevin Nash are involved. And, hey, Burt Reynolds even has a major—and we think effective---supporting role.   That doesn't mean that this version is perfect though, partly because director Peter Segal doesn't balance the tone very well and he hits most of the same beats the original did. A big plus was casting actual NFL players and pro wrestlers to play the cons and the guards, which allows for the gridiron action to look more real than it might have.   So don't cheat at the game you love and then sulk your way through life. Instead, play as hard as you can and then risk your life just to one-up your tormenter as we say nicer things about this edition of The Longest Yard than you might have expected us to.   Let's hear from you via Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

You can throw a pillow at our face or hit us with a knock-out dart (why?!), but also listen to us when we say that The Naked Gun really is a sports movie. About 1/3rd of the film is set at the ballpark with Leslie Nielsen doing what he does best: bumbling his way through somehow solving a tough case. Nielsen plays it straight through all the gags and jokes (often double jokes) that only work if you deliver them the way that he does. Credit to George Kennedy, Ricardo Montalban and Priscilla Presley for doing that so well too. This is also the rare baseball comedy that rewards repeat viewings. Just like in the ZAZ guys' Airplane, there are details you might not have picked up on the first time or the second time...or maybe even the third time.   So try to look past the presence of a certain running back and appreciate the enduring hilarity that is The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad.   Email us with your thoughts (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or blast off some tweets at us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies).

This 1980's relic was the hockey movie we could never find on DVD or streaming, but YouTube to the rescue and we finally get to cover Youngblood.   Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze are convincing on skates and, man, are they handsome. Both play talented scorers who also have to fight their own battles on the ice. On that note, we didn't like the last 5 minutes of this movie, partly because we didn't buy almost anything about the post-game stick joust and then the punch-up. When Lowe isn't dealing with that goonery throughout his OHL experience, he's being hazed, seduced by his landlady and---just when his best buddy on the team starts to become a real friend---that friend is badly injured.   Some have said Youngblood's biggest fault is that it's loaded with cliches, but better sports movies that came after this one had similar scenes, so this was at least influential. Anyway, keep your stick on the ice, but be ready to throw hands as we dissect Peter Markle's amateur hockey flick.   Send us some love---or the opposite of love---on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

Sometimes the title of a movie tells you everything you need to know about it, but the biggest problem with Sylvester Stallone's arm-wrestling opus isn't that it's Over The Top. Sly underplays, if anything. He's not even as bad as you might expect, nor is David Mendenhall truly deserving of the Razzie he won for playing the estranged "I love you, now I hate you" son. The editing, the direction by Menahem Golan and the screenplay (co-written by Sly) are all atrocious though. Yeah, this is just about the most laughably illogical film we've ever covered. They can't even keep Stallone's character's name straight! At least the picture is entertaining, especially when you get to rag on it with your podcast partner sitting beside you.    So the holidays are just about here and you're probably going to have to meet your family halfway, but don't drive a transport truck through anyone's house, even if it's to get your son back. Just bet on yourself to defy insurmountable odds as you listen to us verbally annihilate Over The Top.   Go ahead and follow us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and maybe email us too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

Walter Hill's Undisputed is a gritty boxing movie in which the big fight takes place in prison. There's potential in that concept, right? Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames play the 2 main characters. Hey, that HAS to amount to something cool, doesn't it?   Well, this film could have and should have been vivid and dynamic, but instead it's a disjointed, unsatisfying, anti-Rocky. We couldn't even figure out who we were supposed to root for, mostly because one pugilist is a rapist and the other is a murderer. It doesn't help that neither of them has much of an arc, nor are most of the many (many) story threads tied up. Yet because the boxing scenes hit home and all the actors do the best they can with this shabby material, it's more that Hill's flick is empty than is actually a bad film. It's just a shame because Undisputed could have been something truly cool, even if Ving Rhames' camp would deny the whole thing ever even took place.   If you want to talk to us, we're reachable on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

Sometimes we cover obscure sports films on this channel. The Winning Season is a prime example. It barely even played in theatres 12 years ago. Since it's another in our recent run of "pleasant experience" movies, it probably deserved at least a little more attention back then. Sam Rockwell is the ne'er-do-well coach of a girls' basketball team in this dramedy that co-stars pre-stardom youngsters Emma Roberts and Rooney Mara. Even though the biggest name in the cast is Sam The Man, this film easily passes the Bechdel Test. There are many connections to boys' b-ball flicks in this though and it often follows their lead a little too closely. That's the biggest problem. The story isn't fresh or original in any way. Anyway, don't threaten to get a restraining order against your own father just because you're mad at him. Take a breath, learn to appreciate dear old drunken dad and his team of underdogs and---while you're doing that---listen to us jam about The Winning Season.   We're always curious to hear your feedback through Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and/or email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

Six Pack is a racing movie starring a half-dozen kids and a popular country singer who had never really acted before. What should've been an obnoxious failure is actually a genial experience with Kenny Rogers doing pretty solid work alongside a young Diane Lane and an even-younger Anthony Michael Hall. All 7 of the main characters get in trouble with the law at one time or another, so this road movie is filled with getaways and clever escapes. Families might enjoy settling in with Daniel Petrie's unchallenging picture. So let love turn you around (turn you around) as we rev up our car on southern racetracks and try not to let this Six Pack weasel their way into our camper.   If you're so inclined to contact us, you can do it on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

Rather than covering Six Pack this week as we had advertised, Ryan got caught monologuing about Harold Lloyd's 1925 classic The Freshman. While Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin remain legends a century after the height of their stardom, Lloyd is the sometimes-forgotten clown of the silent era. He's cheerful oblivious in this football farce, a "young" college kid who doesn't realize other students are always bullying him. Lloyd himself and the character he plays here certainly get to prove how gutsy they are. The man in the glasses takes a pounding throughout the film, usually with a smile on his face. The problem with Lloyd's star vehicle though is that it just isn't funny, which is a common complaint about the older comedies we cover. So get ready to hear about pratfalls, goofballs, footballs and romance as one man gives you his rundown on The Freshman.   We'd love it if you would subscribe to get all our episodes, but also follow us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and/or email us your thoughts (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

Even though George Herman Ruth is arguably the greatest baseball player of all time, The Babe is not even a good movie, never mind a great one. The problems start with John Goodman, who's a terrific actor, but he's miscast in the titular role of the man-child who started as a pitcher with the Red Sox and then became an outfielder with the Yankees. It also doesn't help that this gregarious, larger-than-life baseball legend is depicted as moody, needy and a sad sack for most of this lifeless film. The biggest crime of all though is how much Arthur Hiller and his team stretched the truth (or messed up the chronology of momentous events) about Ruth's incredible real-life story. We got very pedantic about those facts and figures. So shrug off the non-stop insults about your weight because it's clear that you're a natural who just likes to hit home runs as we shuffle our way through the glum disappointment of a biopic they call The Babe.   We don't mind if you keeds tweet us. We are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies. You can also email us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com.

While the satire in North Dallas Forty didn't make us laugh, Ted Kotcheff's well-regarded film was ahead of its time with how it shows the brutality of football and the price players pay to do something they love.   This is also a movie about cold, hard analytics...and it beat Moneyball to the punch with that theme by more than 30 years. Despite ingratiating performances by Mac Davis and the (supposed) rebel Nick Nolte, Chris couldn't figure this movie out, although we both respected it for its honesty and for how authentic the cast is. The most memorable scene is the opening when a beat-up Nolte recalls his team's win the night before, but the sequence where the players get psyched up to go out and smash (and get smashed) in the playoff game zings too.   A shortage of giggles notwithstanding (okay, Nolte's "sorta" was pretty funny), there's plenty of meat on North Dallas Forty's bone. So learn how to play more than just the game of football as you ease your aching body into a bath with this episode in your earbuds and a mix of happy & frustrating sporting memories in your head.   You can talk to us in 2 easy ways: our tweets are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies while the email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

It must be hard work to have this much fun surfing enormous waves in Maui, but have you tried also working as a maid at a posh hotel?   In Blue Crush, Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez and Sanoe Lake get to do both and, rumour has it, hijinks ensue! At least that's the theory. Director John Stockwell's film has tonal problems and it's also hard to figure out who he made it for. No one can deny though that the surfing is shot very well. We'll let the use of obvious stunt doubles slide, considering how dangerous those huge waves must be even for the most-experienced water-lover. If only the screenplay was more fun, a lot more intense or even a zany combination of both of those things. This is certainly no Point Break.    Anyway, get over your fears of being hurt while doing what you love as you fall for the perfect quarterback who's on vacation...and going home soon We'll be hanging 10 and presenting our critical thoughts about Blue Crush in this podcast, bruh.   If you tweet, look for us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies). We're very open to getting emails too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

After the massive success of John G. Avildsen's first Karate Kid, this even-more-successful sequel has Ralph Macchio & Pat Morita in Okinawa. The focus (oh, that infamous focus) in Karate Kid Part II is on Miyagi and the life he ran away from decades earlier. Don't get hung up on the name of the movie though. Daniel is barely even necessary this time. Although make no mistake, these 2 characters are iconic and the 2 stars are always good in their roles.   Story-wise, this isn't a complete rehash of the first film, but they sure didn't avoid hitting a ton of the same beats. This time though you get the improbable ice chop, the puzzling drum technique and not one but two love stories balanced with a running theme of dangerous rivals who are more blood-thirsty than even the Cobra Kai guys. This is far from a perfect sports flick, but it's entertaining and sometimes even touching. So honk a sitting duck's nose rather than beat him to death with your bare hands as we dig into the many corners of The Karate Kid Part II, listener-san.   If you like, you can chop a few tweets at us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or you can email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Our review of The Great White Hope is a little souffle here in the dog days of August. Ryan recorded a solo podcast several years ago and now we find out what those 3-year-old thoughts were. Howard Sackler's Tony-award-winning play was turned into a meh movie by Martin Ritt that's more about race relations than it is about fisticuffs. At least the film feels brutally honest about race. James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander have white-hot chemistry and were both nominated for Oscars. He's the ferocious Jack Johnson stand-in and she's the lady he loves but isn't allowed to love (cuz...white). The movie is a mixed bag with the highlight being the strong performances by the two leads. So don't let The Man get you down. Just punch The Man (and everybody else, for that matter) as this one-man chat digs just a little into The Great White Hope.   Contacting us is easy. Our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies and our email address is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

This episode is a change of pace because we're discussing the venerable art of arm wrestling for the first time. Golden Arm is lighthearted fun that emulates Kingpin's zany road trip while also taking some plot elements from The Karate Kid. A jacked-up Mary Holland (the scene-stealing sister in Happiest Season), Betsy Sodaro and the funny supporting cast certainly commit to this nutty material. Are they doing a lot of improv? It feels like it. And they're good at it.   Director Maureen Bharoocha finds the right tone in her debut and she doesn't let Golden Arm overstay its welcome. So don't be freaked out about having to lock up in an angry handshake. Celebrate your victories, get over your fear of a powerful rival, begin a romance with a sexy guy (or girl) and fire up our conversation about ladies locking palms.   If you care to tweet us, we are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies. As for our email address, that's scoringatthemovies@gmail.com  

Our "Summer Of Quaid" continues, this time with Dennis playing real-life Tampa Bay relief pitcher Jim Morris in The Rookie.   John Lee Hancock has directed many biopics and The Rookie is perhaps his most inspirational.  It's certainly trying to be. Still, the movie just isn't an *ahem​* home run. Disney was in the middle of a successful run of films just like this , but we felt that--for all of The Rookie's merits---the Mouse House simply did it better with Miracle, Glory Road and even Invincible. Like those, this is a story about an underdog who wants to do the impossible...and we've seen that story many times before (and those other ones weren't so mopey). Hancock has Quaid playing Morris as a sad-sack 38-year-old with no confidence, even though he was able to throw a baseball harder than almost anyone else in the world. Where's the joy? Anyway, it's a well-made baseball movie and at least that's right up our alley.   So fire up our talk about a popular version of "same old/same old" because it's your turn, Coach.   We're always ready to hear what you think on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

It's July, so it's time to talk about the Tour De France. This is the first cycling movie we've ever covered, but it's not the first episode we've ever done that gets into "toxic nostalgia".   We don't think Breaking Away has aged all that well, even though it was beloved in 1979 and has remained that way with most critics & fans since. Paul Dooley (who is otherwise one of the best characters in the movie) throws around casual bigotry in a way that was probably a lot funnier 4 decades ago. For a movie known for its relatability, Breaking Away just wasn't terribly relatable to us. And it's yet another sports comedy from the '70s that didn't make us laugh very much. Peter Yates knows how to shoot action though and his 4 main characters (the ultra-buff Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley and Dennis Christopher in the leading role) have chemistry.   Whether or not you liked this flick more than we did, take a dip in your personal quarry and then lounge on a rock with your earbuds in as we (mostly) naysay a bike classic.   We're eager to hear from you on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or by email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)  

Hustle has only been out for a few weeks, but the vast majority of opinions seem to be that this is one of the best things Adam Sandler has ever done. We're with the majority.   It's not perfect and it riffs on many movies that came before it, but Jeremiah Zagar's 2nd film has a big heart, dynamic basketball action and features terrific performances by Juancho Hernangomez and the Sand Man. Their chemistry makes the movie work, although the husband-wife glue between Sandler and Queen Latifah is key too. Okay, yeah, Zagar wastes the great Robert Duvall. Ben Foster doesn't get much to do either, but any movie that showcases so many real-life b-ball stars and pays off this many set-ups will always get a rave from us.   So don't drive while distracted (or while drunk), but trash-talk your sensitive opponent to throw him off his game and for Bob's sake never back down as we point out the many upsides of Hustle.   We can be tweeted (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) about the fact that the Golden State Warriors DID win another NBA championship or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) about that or anything else sports-related

The Ernie Davis Story is another sports biopic that's about the human struggle just as much as it is a film about college football. Davis had to regularly endure racism throughout his brief life, although there was a measure of vindication when he became the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy.   Rob Brown is as solid as an Orange rock playing the tough-but-saintly Ernie. Dennis Quaid is pretty good as the smart, but so-accepting veteran coach who learns a thing or two about what's right and what's really wrong.   Gary Fleder's picture has a weird title though because the movie is certainly not well-paced and they rarely ever actually call Davis "The Express". In fact, we found it to be an inconsistently structured film from start to finish. Plenty of scenes confused us and some set-ups are just not paid off. It IS fair to say though that Davis was worthy of being featured in a film. Now do one about Jim Brown!   So suit up and let yourself be honoured by an adoring crowd as we articulate our feelings about The Express.   Don't be shy. Tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

The gentlemen driving in the Indianapolis 500 will be starting their engines on May 29th, so we decided to gear up for that by yapping about a car racing movie.   Ron Howard's Rush is one of the most-underrated flicks he's directed in the past 20 years, although almost nobody paid to see it. Perhaps the attendance wasn't very good because the film has a well-earned R rating... and that adult material makes it a better flick. Howard and his writer Peter Morgan are doing what they both do so often by making a biopic, and a well-cast one at that.   Chris Hemsworth and the outstanding Daniel Bruhl look a lot like the actual James Hunt and Niki Lauda, but they also excellently embody the F1 racers. But do you root for the handsome Brit who goofs off all the time or the machine-like Austrian who, despite being the best driver, eventually finds himself in the role of underdog? It's a compelling rivalry.   So climb out of your hospital bed to get back behind the wheel and risk a fiery death (at least 20% of the time), but also be wise enough to know when it's time to pit and quit as we discuss Rush.   Our Twitter addresses are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies and our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

We weren't completely in sync about Bruised, although we agreed Halle Berry's gritty directorial debut has very few dashes of originality. The story and the action rips off several other sports movies, including many parts throughout the entire Rocky franchise. Chris didn't love Halle Berry's performance as an MMA fighter either or her "one lousy struggle after another" life outside the octagon. She shouldn't need to face THIS many obstacles to get us on her side. There's just too much jammed into this underwhelming screenplay. Most of the performances are authentic though, especially Sheila Atim as Berry's MMA trainer. Their chemistry has some sizzle, even if we didn't really buy their character's motivations in that, shall we say, scorable scene.   So fill your spray bottle with spirits and try to click with your kid who can't bring himself to speak to you as we try to figure out what's going on in Bruised.   We can be tweeted (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and we accept your emails (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)  

We've only covered horse racing on this channel once before, which was when we jawed about Seabiscuit several years ago. That movie is more famous and was more successful, partly because it beat Randall Wallace's biopic to the starting gate by 7 years.   In Secretariat, Diane Lane and John Malkovich make a fine owner/trainer team, but good performances don't offset the fact that there's nothing really at stake in this film. This record-setting horse and these silver-spoon people were not underdogs. They were going to be fine no matter what happened on the race track. To compensate, Wallace pumps in lots of made-up (or at least exaggerated) drama. On the bright side, the picture is entertaining and well-made. So mind-meld with your lady friend before easily winning the Triple Crown, but then have some fun breeding excessively as we break down the happenings in Secretariat.   Don't worry if you get covered in mud while you tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or while sending us an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Put on your uniform, control your temper and don't swear around your adopted kid because---as Paul Douglas learned in 1951---there are Angels In The Outfield.   This is the oldest movie we've ever covered, it's also our first black-and-white film and it has to be the most religious. Then again, who CAN'T relate to hearing a heavenly voice and then taking advantage of divine assistance so they can win baseball games? It's a Pittsburgh miracle!   Speaking of fantasy, both versions of Miracle On 34th Street cropped up a lot because there are many comparisons, particularly in the "courtroom" scene. We've got quite a bit to say about Clarence Brown's pseudo-classic that inspired Disney's goofy 1994 remake, so pour a gallon of ketchup on your steak, begin an improbable romance with Janet Leigh and turn yourself into a better person so an orphan will love you as we yap about Angels & Pirates.   You can contact us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or you can email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

To celebrate our 100th episode, we decided to go back to the beginning. The Mighty Ducks was the subject of our very first podcast and it was passably entertaining, so surely this sequel could hit some of the same heights, right? Well, no.   This is pretty much the same movie all over again, only far worse. The emotion in the Gordon/Charlie relationship is just not there and all the attempts at comedy are dreadful failures. As for the story, the Ducks...Team USA...whatever travel to Los Angeles for the Goodwill Games and run up against the powerful Iceland "kids". Will our overdogs (or overducks) overcome? Will they?! When you have a secret weapon like the knucklepuck and a bunch of wacky new recruits for Emilio Estevez to coach, it's a foregone conclusion. So miss important commitments while you rollerblade forlornly on the boardwalk, but be sure to stick our talk about D2 in your earbuds as you skate around and contemplate the meaning of your life.   You can tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies). You can email us too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

King Richard is the timeliest movie we've ever covered because it was released just 4 months ago (not 3, as we said in the podcast) and it's up for a slew of Academy Awards on March 27th. Will Smith will likely win an Oscar for Best Actor and he clearly loved telling this story, but director Reinaldo Marcus Green's movie is just "The Richard Williams Experience". A biopic about Venus & Serena Williams still needs to be made because this isn't it. On the very bright side, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton play the tennis phenoms in their preteen days and they're quite good in the film, as is Aunjanue Ellis as their mother, although the girls & their 3 half-sisters also have to play it like they're the beatific Von Trapp kids no matter the obstacle. Is that real? When you're this competitive and this driven to be the best? When you aren't rich and you aren't white, but you're trying to break into an elitist, white sport? When you have a "tennis dad" who's demanding and borderline abusive? We dig into all that. In any case, you too can be a soothsayer about the remarkable success of your kids, but make those pre-birth predictions while hearing us volley back and forth about King Richard.   If you thought we were way off the mark or if you thought we nailed it, drop us a line on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and/or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

We've covered them out of order, but Rocky III represents our 4th time reviewing an entry in the Balboa boxing saga.   This 3rd one is a lot of fun, but it's packed with flaws we couldn't help nitpicking. One big problem is that, despite the financial success and the movie's lasting fame, this one (and IV) has Sylvester Stallone at his least-interesting. The guilt-ridden champ has become corporate, well-dressed and even dull compared to the lovable underdog who had an original way of stringing words together in the 1st two films (and, interestingly enough, also in later Rockys). Talia Shire, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith & Carl Weathers are back once again to love and support Sly, but Mr. T was of course the breakthrough newcomer who's too busy being angry to feel pity for fools.   So don't let your Stallion self get all civilized. Just fire up Eye Of The Tiger on your device, somehow beat your more-talented trainer in a footrace on the beach and then repeatedly punch a hard-punching battler in the face while we gab about Rocky III.   You can find us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can also email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or find all our episodes on our website (scoringatthemovies@podbean.com).

Since the 2022 Winter Olympic Games are winding down, we decided to talk about Eddie The Eagle.   Taron Egerton & Hugh Jackman make for a likable combo in this ski-jumping biopic. They and the other actors are responsible for why the movie is even as good as it is. We've seen this paint-by-numbers story so many times before. Cool Runnings is a good comparison. Ironically, both films are based on true stories that actually happened at the same Winter Olympics in Calgary. These are inspirational stories of determined underdogs who have more far more passion than talent. Their enthusiasm is infectious, but Dexter Fletcher's movie also has a small sense of Rudy-esque entitlement.   Perhaps poetically, in an Eddie The Eagle touch, we came up short of Chris' goal to make this a 61-minute episode. So throw on a winter jacket, put away your whiskey flask and pour a tall glass of milk as we show you our moderate Olympic spirit.   If you like to send messages to people on Twitter, look for us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or email us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

Oh, what could have been. George Clooney's football flick had the potential to be an excellent homage to an old-timey rat-a-tat rom-com. However, just like so many comedies we've covered over the years, Leatherheads is muddled, has tonal problems and, worst of all, isn't particularly funny.   What's really lacking is a script that's worthy of the cast and the talented pros behind the camera. We also wondered if Renee Zellweger was up to the challenge of coyly bantering with her co-stars. Also, couldn't Clooney have found a better way to use John Krasinski's charm?   The production design is outstanding though and we always enjoy George being his movie-star self, so there are definitely things to admire. Anyway, America needs its (phony) heroes, so if you've pulled a Homer, then cover it up as you listen to us poke a few pigs in our Leatherheads chat.   We can be approached on Twitter (amoviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and an email is always welcomed (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Will Ferrell starred in a sports movie for 4 years in a row in the mid-2000s, but this is the only time he seems like he was desperate to make us laugh. Even in some of his zanier non-sports projects, it didn't usually feel like he was straining this hard. Being saddled with a flimsy co-star like Jon Heder doesn't help, but the jokes just don't work as well as they do in Talladega Nights or even Semi-Pro.   Blades Of Glory is more ridiculous than it is funny and it doesn't feel like the novice writers & directors fully committed to the ludicrous stuff. If you're going to make a movie about gay panic, then just let the two goofy guys take things to their logical conclusion and have them, well, get it on already! As for the figure skating, it isn't well-depicted, but the F/X-laden skating scenes also aren't as funny as the filmmakers think they are.   Okay, we obviously didn't love Blades Of Glory, but we had a pretty good time talking about it. So put on that flashy costume and learn to love the man-child who was once your enemy because our podcast about the World Wintersport Games (DON'T SAY OLYMPICS!) awaits you.   You can say some words to us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can always email us (scoringatthemovies.gmail.com)

This is the 5th time we've covered a Kevin Costner film, so that makes him the undisputed champion of this channel. Unlike in Tin Cup though, he's not the one playing the sport.   As the high school coach of a track & field team in McFarland (and if you're not Canadian, you can add "U.S.A." to that title), Costner is the older mentor in a movie filled with young Hispanic characters. It's a likable film, but McFarland is similar to many other Disney movies... and it isn't always a favourable comparison.   While Niki Caro does a lovely job of filming her diverse cast in sun-bleached California, the story she's telling is a little cliche. Sometimes, it's a lot cliche. Still, kudos to the director and her writers for addressing those lame "immigrants took our jobs!" complaints by showing how these produce-pickers work harder every day than most of us ever have or ever will.   So find your pace, Blanco, and overlook the second-act flaws in this gentle movie about family, friendship and cross-country running.   We would love for you to say ola on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Our final episode of 2021 is one of the best Bond movies of all time.    Casino Royale doesn't rely on gadgets or corny humour. Instead, it's slick, smart, modern and the action sequences are exciting, especially during the parkour chase early on. The casting of Daniel Craig surprised many naysayers, but he was always a great fit for a new 007. Outside of Connery, he's been as good as Bond gets. Mads Mikkelsen is also terrific as the poker-playing villain who likes to torture super-spies below the belt and Eva Green is simply one of the greatest Bond girls ever, especially when you think about the secret her complex character is hiding. As a bonus, Professor Chris takes all of us to poker school as he breaks down the Texas Hold 'Em scenes. The card games are fun, but they're often a bit laughable.   So avoid crashing your cool sports car and REALLY avoid falling in love with the wrong woman. Just wrap a few Christmas gifts and enjoy a martini or two while our chat about Casino Royale keeps you company.   We can be reached with something called a tweet (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can certainly email us too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

The Bad News Bears might not have been the original story of a surly old man coaching plucky underdogs who bond as they improve, but it at least nailed the concept. It also seems to have created a template that's been emulated on a regular basis ever since. But is Michael Ritchie's crass '70s baseball classic actually funny? Well, not so much. The anti-everybody rants Tanner often spews out might have been hilarious to packed houses 45 years ago, but they're just cringey these days. The baseball is pretty good though and the movie DOES work quite well in the sincere dramatic scenes between Walter Matthau & Tatum O'Neal.    So don't climb a tree in shame. Just recruit a couple of superstars and keep drinking a variety of beers until you pass out on the grass as we discuss the sandlot flick about Bad News Buttermaker and his Bears.   We can be contacted on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and also via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

If you've always hoped to see a combination of Shia LaBeouf and backyard wrestling with a Huckleberry Finn framework, The Peanut Butter Falcon is your answer. This debut by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz (who both wrote and directed) has such a huge heart. Their film is compassionate and loves all its quirky characters, including real-life wrestlers Jake Roberts and Mick Foley. As far as the leading characters go, Dakota Johnson is warm and charming in one of her best performances, but it's the chemistry between LaBeouf and newcomer Zack Gottsagen that makes the movie work.  Okay, so what about that ending? Is it real? Is it fantasy? Something else? We discuss. So run away from retribution, launch a raft, eat some peanut butter and practice your wrestling moves as you listen to us heap praise on this delightful indie hit.   If you tend to tweet, look for us @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies. As for email, you can contact us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

Like so many movies last year, The Way Back was hurt badly by the pandemic after theatres were shut down. We recommend you rent or stream Ben Affleck's high-school basketball picture though because it's one of the best films we've talked about all year.   The subject matter of alcohol abuse hits very close to home for Affleck, of course, but Gavin O'Connor's direction finds all kinds of effective ways to carefully ladle out information about why this damaged coach is the way he is. There are cliches in The Way Back, but without getting maudlin, O'Connor makes it heartbreakingly real and he even pays off his set-ups better than MANY movies we've covered.   So abide at least half of the dress code, but for the love of your b-balling boys try harder to curb your swearing as we unfurl our gab on this Veterans/Remembrance Day.   Discover us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or buzz us with an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

If you're looking for a chat about The Greatest, you're going to have to tune in our latest. We threw around words about butterflies and birds, but we also did agree about that bad man Ali. Muhammad's extraordinary life is given short shrift because Michael Mann's film is too slow and yet too swift. M   ister Ali of course did so much more than just fight in the ring, but Mann's attempts to jam so much in makes the movie feel lacking. Will Smith is normally a charisma machine, yet here he's mostly quiet and serene. Then again, everything is too tamped down and muted in this biopic about a world champion who was undisputed.   So just days before the Rumble In The Jungle's anniversary, we hope you don't rope a dope, but just listen to our podcast about Ali.   Our Twitter contacts are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies and our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com      

It took Jim Carrey nearly 10 years to become a movie star, but the super-talented, one-of-a-kind comic finally hit it big with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.   Tom Shadyac's football flick (yes, it actually is a sports movie) is a mystery masquerading as a ridiculous comedy that somehow finds a way to be clever while also being very dumb. It's also crude and tacky and sometimes very tasteless with all that mean-spirited transphobia, which should have been considered over the line even 27 years ago.   In any case, Ace Ventura is a movie that aims for laughs at any cost and you have to admire what Carrey will do to get them. So keep the laces out and please let go of old grudges, but DO go in there and download our surprisingly in-depth chat about the zany Pet Detective.   Contacting us is easy. On Twitter we're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies while our email address is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

61* is pure gold for baseball lovers, especially for those who love statistics & history. Actually, our chat was more about stats than Billy Crystal's TV movie was, but this isn't the first time we've spent half an episode discussing some of our favourite MLB numbers.   We also talked so much about the infamous McGwire/Sosa home-run derby that you can almost call this "98". Anyway, the charismatic Mickey Mantle and the quiet Roger Maris are the stars here, just as they were the stars of that 1960s Yankees dynasty.   Crystal's direction is often heavy-handed, but he gets the authenticity of the period right and he also gets top-notch performances out of his entire cast...especially Thomas Jane as Mantle & Barry Pepper as Maris. So make sure the doctor gives you a safe flu shot in your hip and don't let the pressure from the media drive you insane as 2 men talk about 2 other men chasing history.   You can throw some tweets at us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or you can rip off an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

The 1973 man vs. woman tennis match that was the Battle Of The Sexes represented an important event in history, but this Dayton/Faris biopic greatly disappointed one of us. That "one" is Chris and he didn't appreciate the murky route the filmmakers took to tell this story, nor was he sure who to root for. We agree that Emma Stone & Steve Carell did the best they can with inconsistently drawn characters. We also spent time hashing out tennis then vs. tennis now and carefully sifting through the role of gender in sports.    So whether you're a showboat has-been like Bobby Riggs or a serious (and seriously underpaid) young superstar like Billie Jean King, you'd be well-served to hear us yap about this mediocre movie.   Our Twitter handles are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies, plus you can email us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

The Waterboy was a huge hit for Adam Sandler. This was one of the first of his goofy, rage-filled comedies, but it also has lots of sweetness to offset the fury. The Sandman is actually very likable as the Louisiana linebacker.   The Waterboy also features one of the best casts in any of his blockbusters. Kathy Bates and Henry Winkler are game for the silly stuff, but they also lend the project credibility. Then the two of them just go ahead and walk off with the movie.   So don't be a sheltered footballer who can't be honest with his overbearing mother about who he loves or what he loves to do. Instead, gear up for the start of the NFL season by listening to us jaw about the angry college football player who just might make you smile a time or three.   You can tweet at us, if you care to: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies...or you can email us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

The Running Man is about as deep as a puddle, so it's fair to say that we put more thought into the plot details than the people who made the movie did.   Ah-nuld is the innocent man falsely accused in this pure '80s kill extravaganza. He's miscast, but the bigger problem is that the script (based on Stephen King's terrific book) is mostly just a string of repetitive one-liners. However, the flick was prescient about pop culture and reality TV, not to mention fake news (no, ACTUAL fake news). Also, smarmy game-show host Richard Dawson gets to play a smarmy game-show host. Oh, and if you like Predator, then the other action pic that Schwarzenegger and Jesse Ventura made together that same year came up a lot too.   So place your bets on the overdogs, you bloodthirsty wagerers, as we underdogs have fun racing through The Running Man.   If you're a Tweeter, do it at us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Snatch is slick, cool and funny, but it also owes so much to Quentin Tarantino that it's easy to call it "Diet Pulp Fiction". This is also a film that neither of us really cared about all that much once the credits rolled. That's not exactly a dig, just a reality when you watch Guy Ritchie movies. On the very bright side, the huge cast is so much fun (especially Brad Pitt , Alan Ford and Vinnie Jones) and they're fully committed to Ritchie's exercise in style.    So don't speak unintelligibly and act goofy while you knock guys out with one punch and REALLY don't let your dog swallow squeak toys and enormous diamonds. Instead, avoid prison or death by just settling in to hear us talk about Snatch.   The Twitter-verse has to deal with us: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies

One day in advance of the opening ceremonies for the 2020 (2021?) Summer Olympics, we dig into Without Limits, the long-distance running flick that almost nobody saw back in 1998.   Billy Crudup is well-cast as the often unlikable, running-obsessed Steve Prefontaine, but Robert Towne's writing & directing of the "rube" and his running buddies is not the smoothest. Pre tries to expose the corruption in amateur athletics, but then that storyline doesn't really go anywhere. Monica Potter is Pre's love interest, but she's given almost nothing to do. At least it's the sexiest movie we've had in a long time. Pre loved the ladies. He also loved (and also bristled against) his coach Bill Bowerman, who's played by Donald Sutherland in one of the best performances of his long career. So if you're not a quiet shoe designer or a front-runner going on pure guts, well, perhaps you'd enjoy hearing us talk about people who are! Tweet at us, near us and around us: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies  

The performances of Christian Bale and Matt Damon are the best reasons to recommend James Mangold's racing movie: Ford v Ferrari.   In fact, the entire cast is stellar, as is the production design and the sound. For some reason however, we just didn't connect with Ford v Ferrari, even though it's been widely embraced by our fellow middle-aged white men. Much like when we talked about Jackie Robinson's life in 42, we either wanted a shorter movie or a miniseries. Chris also felt short-changed by the many things Mangold didn't include about the real friendship between Carroll Shelby & Ken Miles. On the other hand, if you love to see cars burning rubber at Le Mans and constantly aggressive/reckless driving (on the track...or just on city streets), you're in luck. So get in your runner's stance and sprint across the track before you even get in the car, but rev up our chat about Ford v Ferrari to keep you company during the trip.   Our Twitter addresses are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies