Hoop Dreams

Hoop Dreams (Steve James, 1994)

Following the High School path of two young African-American Basketball prospects from the surroundings of Chicago we discover more than just their dedication to their sport.

NHL Playoffs time or the post about the good’old Hockey game movies

When spring comes in Québec it doesn’t signify Baseball, Soccer, or Basketball. It means the NHL playoffs! With the Montréal Canadiens out of the playoffs (frankly my dear I hate the Habs) many people don’t know who to cheer for in the French Canadian area. Since I am waiting for the Québec Nordiques to come back this hopefully this fall I will be behind the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers. However, Hockey is one of the least appreciated sports in North America. In the US, it passes behind Wrestling and Big Foot competition in popularity.

Goon (Michael Dowse, 2011)

Lately, a direct to DVD (in the US) film starring Seann William Scott and Marc-André Grondin titled Goon had something like a good impact on Hockey fans around here. The story about a “goon” aka the type of player who is asked to specifically fight as his major role in the team seemed pretty bad. However, the critics and the public responded quite positively and I must admit not having seen the film but the whole thing has a good vibe around it.

Maurice Richard aka The Rocket: The Legend of Rocket Richard (Charles Binamé, 2005)

Since Hockey is our “National” sport many films have been theme and/or are targeted on it. One the of the best films about Hockey is the Maurice Richard biopic starring Roy Dupuis. The legend of Richard still lives and he was a symbol for every Québécois in the 1950’s. An intense Hockey player and a passionate life story of the player nicknamed “The Rocket”. One of the most interesting Sports movie.

Les Boys (Louis Saia, 1997)

This sport/comedy film about a team of amateur Hockey players sponsored by the tavern of the corner, Stanley's (Rémi Girard) is a cult film in Québec. A Sports/Comedy that portrays our love of Hockey and the stereotype of Québec’s society.

Slap Shot (George Roy Hill, 1977)

Easily one of the raciest movie on this list, this feature starring Paul Newman has a cult status around here. Every boy who’s been to a tournament in a chartered passenger bus has seen this movie a dozen times. You can recite any line of this film to any Hockey player and he will be able to cite you the rest of the scene. The Major League of Hockey.

The Mighty Ducks trilogy (1992-1996)

Emilio Estevez, a young Joshua Jackson and a bunch of kids go on and play something like Hockey without rules in these Disney classics of the Québécois kids of my generation. A family entertainment that brought the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the NHL owned by Disney. Even if those are promotional movies for the professional team they can be considered as Hockey classics with less than 20% score on Rotten Tomatoes...

That’s it! What are your favourite Hockey/Sports movies?  

The Fighter

The Fighter (David O. Russell, 2010)

Not being a fan of boxing I wasn't really looking forward to this picture. I didn't even knew who Micky Ward was! When I saw the previews I thought to myself; Raging Bull 2. Well, I couldn't be more wrong, except some slow-motions "à la Scorsese" during the fight we have a movie of his own. I assume that David O. Russell (Three Kings) was very meticulious to not redo something that has been done before.