Directed by Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin, Undefeated is a documentary that tells the story of the 2009 Manassas Tigers high school football team from Memphis, Tennessee. Head coach Bill Courtney attempts to lead his team, centred around a group of seniors who he has been training for years, on a winning season for the first time in decades in hopes of taking them to the … [Read more...]
Murderball (2005) review by The Documentalist
Nominated for an Oscar in 2006, Murderball is the story of the United States quad rugby team as they train towards the 2004 Athens Olympics. It centres predominantly around the charismatic team spokesman Mark Zupan, a 28 year old quadriplegic who found himself in a wheelchair at the age of 19 following a car accident. … [Read more...]
Review: Senna (2011)
Senna is a documentary film, directed by Asif Kapadia, which focuses on the life and career of Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna. Starting with his early life as a Go Kart champion in Brazil, moving onto his arrival on the F1 circuit, through his heated rivalry with Alain Prost and all the way to his untimely death, the documentary paints the picture of a man obsessed with winning, … [Read more...]
Review: When We Were Kings (1996)
The 1996 Oscar winning documentary When We Were Kings covers the build up and spectacle of the 'Rumble In The Jungle' - a world heavyweight title boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali held in Zaire in October 1974. The film is generally made up of archive footage in a similar style to Senna which in a similar way makes it a more interesting piece of history to … [Read more...]
Review: Goon (2012)
Sports comedy films have always had a problem marrying the comedic elements with the dramatic. Some get it right, like DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story and Slap Shot, while others don't, like Blades of Glory and Kicking and Screaming. Goon is an ice hockey film, based on the book Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey by Adam Frattasio and Doug … [Read more...]
Review: Moneyball (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B005FLAOLY][/pullquote] Like romantic comedies aimed at female audiences, sports films are one of the most clichéd and formulaic genres in cinema. During the course of the movie you usually have an underperforming team who suddenly get an inspirational new coach or … [Read more...]
Review: Real Steel (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B006DVUULE][/pullquote] Sylvester Stallone has a lot to answer for. His most famous creation, Rocky, has become the archetypal narrative for the majority of sports films ever since its release in 1976. Now whenever Hollywood wants a vehicle for one of their … [Read more...]
Review: Warrior (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00AC7PJ5M][/pullquote] Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has been steadily growing in popularity for years. Ever since Dana White founded Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and legitimized the sport, its buy-rates and place in contemporary culture has been assured. It was … [Read more...]
Review: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B000KCI8Y8][/pullquote] Originally making his name on Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell transitioned into feature films and found great success with Anchorman, Elf and Old School. Talladega Nights: The Ballard of Ricky Bobby is one of a succession of Ferrell comedy … [Read more...]
Review: The Calcium Kid (2004)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B0002SD0DE][/pullquote] 2003 was a big year for Orlando Bloom. He was one of the leads in breakout smash-hit Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, starred in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, which swept the Oscars and had recently been signed … [Read more...]