Football Flicks to Click

5. The Little Giants (1994): The Annexation of Puerto Rico—enough said.  John Madden cameo—icing on the gravy.

4. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994): You might call bullshit on this one in that it’s not really a football movie.  I’d probably agree with you, but I think the problem really comes from the fact that we haven’t had as many great football movies like we’ve had for other sports.  Snowflake is most certainly a MacGuffin, but what else would get Dan Marino and a whole slew of other Dolphins, even Don Shula, to appear in your movie?  Laces out.

3. Rudy (1993): Before Sean Astin was Samwise Gamgee, he was Rudy, the little Golden Domer that wouldn't quit.  I don't think I should have to explain why I love this movie.  It's inspirational, touching, and a flatout great flick.

2. Remember the Titans (2000): Denzel Washington takes over a newly integrated Virginia football team and not only has to vanquish opponents on the field, but also has to calm racial tensions off it.  He does each with perfection.  Remember the Titans is the perfect mix of coach pep talks, football action, drama, and funny.

1. Big Fan (2009): Another not-quite-football movie, this dark comedy written and directed by the man who wrote The Wrestler, Robert D. Siegel, stars Patton Oswalt as the titular New York Giants fan, Paul Aufiero.  Paul’s life revolves around sports talk radio shows where he can rise above his lowly station as a parking lot attendant who lives with his mother and reinvent himself as the braggart “Paul from Staten Island.”  Things get much more complicated however when Paul gets assualted by his favorite player.  The story goes on from there.  Big Fan is available from Netflix Instant, and I urge you to check it out.

Honorable Mention: The Waterboy, The Replacements, Friday Night Lights, The Junction Boys, Any Given Sunday, Varsity Blues

Off: Jerry Maguire, The Longest Yard, Trouble Along the Way, Radio

Where do your favorite football movies rank?  What am I missing?

--from Eric

(in order, images from listal.com, photobucket.com, seanastin.com, stardusttrailers.com, and dvdverdict.com)