A big hit at Cannes and likely to be one of this year's awards season heavyweights, Foxcatcher is the true story of reclusive billionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell), who established a wrestling gym at his estate to train the United States team. He invited Olympic gold medallists Mark (Channing Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo) to coach the team. … [Read more...]
Review: Draft Day (2014)
1st pick drama [pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00KVFHBP6][/pullquote] Eschewing the traditional sports film format, Draft Day directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Kevin Costner follows the backstage dealings of an NFL franchise before the annual draft. Since Moneyball appeared on the scene, the … [Read more...]
Review: Grudge Match (2013)
Following the trend of films focusing on the over-60s comes Grudge Match, which could generously be called Rocky vs. Raging Bull. … [Read more...]
Review: Dogtown and Z Boys (2001)
By now most people will know all about Dogtown and Z Boys but when this documentary first arrived in 2001 the curious title meant little to the majority of the world. Using a mixture of archive footage from the 1970s and up to date interviews with those involved it charts the creation of the Zephyr skateboard team and chronicles the way they changed the skateboarding … [Read more...]
Slap Shot (1977) review That Film Guy
In the documentary The Last Gladiators, which follows the career of former Montreal Canadiens ˜goon' Chris Nilan, the film Slap Shot is described as ˜the ultimate ice hockey fight film' and that's exactly what it is. Veteran player Reg Dunlop (Paul Newman) coaches the small town team of the Charlestown Chiefs during another disappointing season. Booed by what little fans they … [Read more...]
Rocky Balboa (2006) review That Film Guy
A full sixteen years after the last installment, Sylvester Stallone's iconic boxing underdog returned to the silver screen in Rocky Balboa. The success of the film helped to directly lead to the growth of a sub-genre of films that show action stars well past their prime but still able to compete in their various fields. Films like The Expendables, The Last Stand and A Good Day … [Read more...]
Rocky V (1990) review by That Film Guy
Most franchises don't make it to a fifth installment for fear of outstaying their welcome and exhausting the goodwill of its fans. Sylvester Stallone saw no such problem with the incredibly successful Rocky Balboa character and happily churned out Rocky V. … [Read more...]
Rocky IV (1985) review That Film Guy
Nine years after the original instalment, Rocky IV represented quite the turning point in the franchise. The original was a genre-defining masterpiece that introduced the world to an edgy, unique character and set the benchmark for all future sports films. By Rocky IV the films had become everything that the first railed against. Cliched, predictable and completely soulless, … [Read more...]
Rounders (1998) review by That Film Guy
The explosion in popularity of poker is often tied to three key moments. There was the advent of online poker, which provided a safe environment for those scared of the ˜underground' reputation of the game. This combined with the amateur player Chris Moneymaker beating all the pros in the main event of the World Series of Poker, proving that anyone could win the big one. But … [Read more...]
Rocky (1976) review by That Film Guy
Rocky is one of the most iconic sports films of all time. A sleeper hit, it became the highest grossing film of 1976 and won the Oscar for Best film, as well as a writing Oscar for star Sylvester Stallone at the 49th Annual Academy Awards. It has spawned numerous sequels, all starring Stallone and is arguably the most recognisable sports film franchise of all time. Loosely … [Read more...]