Sons. Brothers. Champions.

Starring: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany, Grady Wilson, Valentine Newcomer, Scott Innes, Stanley Simons

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Now, we all know Kerry's my favorite, then Kev, then David, then Mike. But the rankings can always change."– Fritz Von Erich speaking about to own sons

Why watch this? The Von Erich's were Pro Wrestling royalty. This is their true, tragic story.

Plot Summary: This is the true, tragic story of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of inseparable brothers who rose to prominence in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through a series of triumphs and personal misfortunes, they grapple with the pressures of their demanding father/coach as they seek to achieve fame and legacy within the sport.

Access Ent., BBC Film, House Prod.; A24

A Long Shot Becomes A Legend.

Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Gary Stevens, William H. Macy, David McCullough

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Sometimes when the little guy doesn't know he is the little guy, he can do great things." - Charles Howard

Why watch this? This is a great story about underdogs... with an all-star cast.

Plot Summary: This film tells the true story of an undersized and underestimated thoroughbred racehorse during the Great Depression. A group of individuals, including a businessman coping with loss, a down-on-his-luck horse trainer, and a troubled jockey, come together to help the temperamental horse achieve unexpected success. Their journey becomes a symbol of hope and inspiration for a nation struggling through difficult times.

DreamWorks Pics, Spyglass Ent., The Kennedy/
Marshall Co, Larger Than Life Prod.; Universal Pics

They took the American dream for a ride.

Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe, Tracy Letts, Remo Girone

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"There's a point at 7,000 RPM... where everything fades. The machine becomes weightless. Just disappears. And all that's left is a body moving through space and time." - Carroll Shelby

Why watch this? It is a splendid movie that's, historically, quite interesting.

Plot Summary: In the mid-1960s, a determined team of American engineers and designers led by automotive designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles are tasked by Henry Ford II and Lee Iacocca to build a revolutionary race car for Ford. Their goal is to challenge and defeat the perennially dominant Italian racing team, Scuderia Ferrari, at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France in 1966.

Chernin Ent., TSG Ent., Turpike Films;
20th Century Fox

The greatest victories don't always happen on the field.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Frank Langella, Sam Elliott, Ellen Burstyn, Chadwick Boseman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"There's no such thing as a sure thing. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what you think." - Ali

Why watch this? It's a great film about the NFL draft and how a team prepares for it.

Plot Summary: On the day of the NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns GM Sonny Weaver Jr. faces immense pressure to make a franchise-altering decision for his struggling team. He unexpectedly trades for the highly coveted number one draft pick, forcing him to choose between a popular, celebrated quarterback prospect and a talented but controversial linebacker. Amidst the high-stakes wheeling and dealing, Weaver grapples with personal issues, including a complicated relationship with his late father and a significant revelation from his girlfriend, the team's salary cap analyst.

Summit Ent., OddLot Ent., Montecito
Picture Co.; Lionsgate

The Crowd Worshipped Him... One Woman Understood Him!

Starring: Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth, Walter Brennan, Dan Duryea, Els Janssen, Ludwig Stössel, Virginia Gilmore

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth... play ball!" - Lou Gehrig

Why watch this? This is a homage to the beloved baseballer Lou Gehrig, who died at age 37.

Plot Summary: This film traces the life of baseball legend Lou Gehrig, from his early days aspiring to play ball to becoming a star with the New York Yankees. He forms friendships with teammates and journalists and finds love with his spirited wife, Eleanor. As his career peaks and he's celebrated as a national hero, Gehrig begins experiencing a mysterious loss of strength. Despite his declining health, Gehrig bravely continues to play, driven by his love for the game and his dedication to his team.

Samuel Goldwyn Productions;
RKO Radio Pictures

What are you really worth?

Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop, Reed Diamond, Brent Jennings

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"When your enemy's making mistakes, don't interrupt him. Let him keep going. Say, "Thank you."" – Billy Beane

Why watch this? Sometimes those who find an unorthodox path, win the prize.

Plot Summary: Based on a true story, we follow Billy Beane, the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, as he faces the challenge of building a competitive team on a severely limited budget. Beane, with the help of Peter Brand, a young economics graduate, challenges traditional baseball scouting methods and adopts a data-driven approach, utilizing sabermetrics to identify and acquire undervalued players whom other teams have overlooked.
 

Dad's Preview: Brad Pitt portrays Oakland A's GM Billy Beane who is handicapped by salary constraints. To win, he needs to find a competitive advantage. He brings in Yale graduate Peter Brand, who suggests using statistical data to analyze and place value on current and new players. Now he just has to get the team manager and skeptical scouts to buy into it. It's an intelligent, creative sports film with a great cast.

Columbia Pics, Scott Rudin Prod., Michael De
Luca Prod., Rachel Horovitz Prod., Plan B. Ent.;
Sony Pictures Releasing

Love. Pain. Glory.

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis, Todd Barry, Wass Stevens, Judah Friedlander

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I'm the one who was supposed to make everything okay for everybody. It just didn't work out like that. And I left. I left you. You never did anything wrong." - Randy "The Ram" Robinson

Why watch this? Rourke really gives the performance of his career. Give it a chance.

Plot Summary: An aging professional wrestler, Randy "The Ram" Robinson, faces the decline of his career and mounting health problems. He struggles to maintain his connection to the wrestling world while simultaneously attempting to mend his broken relationship with his estranged daughter and build a new one with a compassionate stripper.

Wild Bunch, Protozoa Pictures;
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Sometimes a winner is a dreamer who just won't quit.

Starring: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Greta Lind, Scott Benjaminson, Mary Ann Thomas, Charles S. Dutton, Lili Taylor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I wish God would put your heart in some of my players bodies." - Coach Ara Pareseghian to the undersized Rudy

Why watch this? This is a very good film about an underdog - a determined welp who just won't quit.

Plot Summary: Daniel Ruettiger, a young man from a steel mill town, has a lifelong dream of playing football for the University of Notre Dame. Despite lacking the physical size and academic record typically associated with Notre Dame athletes, Rudy is fiercely determined to overcome these obstacles. He embarks on a relentless journey, confronting numerous setbacks and naysayers, fueled by his unwavering passion and belief in himself.

Robert N. Fried, Cary Woods;
TriStar Pictures

They called him "Fast Eddie"... He was a winner... He was a loser... He was a hustler.

Starring: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Myron McCormick, Murray Hamilton, Michael Constantine, Stefan Gierasch, Clifford Pellow, Jake LaMotta, Vincent Gardenia

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Just win, win, you said, win, that's the important thing. You don't know what winnin' is, Bert. You're a loser. 'Cause you're dead inside, and you can't live unless you make everything else dead around ya." – Fast Eddie

Why watch this? It is the story of a conman and his redemption in an ugly world.

Plot Summary: "Fast" Eddie Felson, an arrogant but talented small-time pool hustler, travels to New York to challenge the legendary player "Minnesota Fats". After losing his initial high-stakes match due to his self-destructive attitude, Eddie becomes entangled with a lonely woman and a ruthless gambler who exploits his talent for personal gain. Ultimately, Eddie seeks a rematch with Fats, realizing that the victory he desires is more about personal integrity and self-respect than just winning the game.
 

Dad's Preview: Yes - this is the granddaddy of all pool films. It has it all... Minnesota Fats... Fast Eddie Felson... Seedy gambling in smoke-filled back rooms. What it possesses that surprised me was how real is all felt. Newman, as the film's main focus, is great at pool, but he's a horrible, selfish person. Much of this can be attributed to a tough life populated with bad choices. Eddie, however, is a survivor; a master hustler swimming in a sea of sharks. He trusts no one and is emotionally shut off. He sees pool, and the respect it gets him, as the only way to finally escape. This film seeps mood and noir. It's a dank universe of wise-guys and shysters; conmen and cooks, all set to big city jazz. Newman, Laurie and Gleason shine throughout, but George C. Scott, as the manipulative professional gambler, chews up every scene he's in. So chalk up your cue and break!

Rossen Enterprises; 20th Century-Fox

When America was on its knees, he brought us to our feet.

Starring: Russell Crowe, Renée Zellweger, Paul Giamatti, Bruce McGill, Paddy Considine, Craig Bierko, David Huband, Connor Price, Ariel Waller, Patrick Louis, Ron Canada

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Maybe I understand, some, about having to fight. So you just remember who you are... you're the Bulldog of Bergen, and the Pride of New Jersey, you're everybody's hope, and the kids' hero, and you are the champion of my heart, James J. Braddock." - Mae Braddock

Why watch this? This hard-knuckle biopic centers on James Braddock, an Irish boxer in New York City during the Depression.

Plot Summary: Just prior to the Great Depression, James Braddock feeds his family of five by winning fights. As the economy crumbles, things get tougher, and an injury sidelines his earning ability. He's forced to do what it takes to keep food on the table. He works on the docks when they call his name, and even accepts government help, which shames him deeply. With the kids freezing and sick, his wife's patience at an end, he finally gets good news. His feisty manager, Joe, found him a fight.

Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Films,
Imagine Ent.; Universal Pictures

They needed a second chance to finish first.

Starring: Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper, Maris Valanis, Kent Poole, David Neidorf, Brad Boyle

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My practices aren't designed for your enjoyment." – Coach Norman Dale

Why watch this? It is an inspirational tale about 1950's small-time basketball in Indiana.

Plot Summary: Failed college basketball coach Norman Dale takes a job at a small-town Indiana high school, seeking a chance at redemption. Faced with a challenging team, a skeptical community, and a star player reluctant to play, Dale works to instill discipline and foster teamwork. Through their struggles and triumphs, the Hickory Huskers strive to overcome the odds and compete for the state championship.
 

Dad's Preview: This seems like such a small film. However, it's about so much more than basketball. Coaching at any level above junior high is about the hearts and minds of the players, parents and entire town. Gene Hackman, as only he can, delivers a strong, tough-minded performance. Dennis Hopper surprised me as the town drunk who wants so desperately to feel valued again.

Hemdale Pictures, De Haven Prod.;
Orion Pictures

Beyond his silence, there is a past. Beyond her dreams, there is a feeling.
Beyond hope, there is a memory. Beyond their journey, there is a love.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel, Mike Colter, Lucia Rijker, Brian F. O'Byrne, Anthony Mackie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Problem is this, it's the only thing I ever felt good doing. If I'm too old for this, then I got nothing. That enough truth to suit you?" - Maggie Fitzgerald

Why watch this? This boxing film gives Rocky (1976) a run for its money. It's that good.

Plot Summary: A determined, 31-year-old waitress named Maggie Fitzgerald dreams of becoming a professional boxer. She seeks out the expertise of Frankie Dunn, a grizzled boxing trainer who initially refuses to work with women or someone Maggie's age. Through her relentless persistence and with the encouragement of Frankie's friend, Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris, Frankie eventually relents and agrees to train Maggie, leading to a profound bond and an unexpected journey through the world of boxing.

Lakeshore Ent., Epsilon Motion Pics,
Malpaso Prod., Ruddy Morgan Org.;
Warner Bros. Pictures

All his life, Ray Kinsella was searching for his dreams. Then one day, his dreams came looking for him.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster, Gaby Hoffman, Timothy Busfield

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Ray, people will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom." - Terence Mann

Why watch this? It's both so American... and so magical.

Plot Summary: Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he hears in his cornfield to build a baseball diamond. Despite skepticism and financial hardship, he pursues this vision with the support of his wife. His journey leads him to encounter figures from the past and present, all linked by their dreams and the game of baseball.

 Gordon Company; Universal Pictures

In the tradition of Shane and High Noon, a new Western Classic is born! BITE THE BULLET

Starring: Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Ben Johnson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"When I cross the finish line, I get to be a big man. Top man. A man to remember." – Mister (the old cowboy)

Why watch this? ... it's an outstanding Western cross-country race.

Plot Summary: This oater centers around a grueling 700-mile endurance horse race held at the turn of the century. A diverse group of participants with varying motivations and personalities enters the race, including two former Rough Riders, a woman of questionable virtue, a gunfighter, and an aging cowboy. As the competition pushes them to their limits, their true characters are revealed.
 

Dad's Preview: There were tons of Westerns made in the 1970's. Leone was making "Spaghetti Westerns". John Wayne was was still going strong. Some were masterpieces, some were cow dung. This little-known gem surprised me. It's a grand adventure, a cross-country race on horseback, plagued by natural hazards and man-made obstacles. This is one exciting film. We are blessed to have two great stars, Hackman and Coburn, both "men of action" who seek the $2,000 prize.

Persky-Bright Productions, Vista;
Columbia Pictures

Before they could win, they had to become one.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Nicole Ari Parker, Hayden Panettiere, Kip Pardue

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe... I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men." - Coach Boone

Why watch this? I do like a good high school football movie. This is a great one.

Plot Summary: In 1971, amidst forced school integration, a Black head coach is hired to lead a Virginia high school football team, replacing a respected white coach. This change creates significant racial tension and conflict amongst the players and the community. Despite the challenges, the coaches and team members strive to overcome their differences and unite to achieve success on the football field.

Walt Disney Pictures; Jerry Bruckheimer Films,
Technical Black Films; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

A comedy about life, hope, and getting even.

Starring: Robin Williams, Kurt Russell, Pamela Reed, Donald Moffat, Holly Palance, Margaret Whitton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I was never great. I was pretty good. I was great for around here. Every year I got better. The kids always ask me about the 6 touchdown passes against Porterville. Hell, I only threw 3. I'm not going to argue. I like the idea of 6 better." – Reno Hightower

Why watch this? To see Jack square off against "Dr. Death" on the final play of the game.

Plot Summary: Two friends seek to relive a pivotal moment from their high school football career at Taft High. Jack Dundee, haunted by dropping the winning pass in the game vs. Bakersfield, convinces his friend, and former star quarterback, Reno Hightower, to help him re-stage the game. Jack's father-in-law, an alumni of the rival team, is more than willing to set up the game. This pursuit affects their lives and the lives of those in their small town.

Kings Road Ent.; Universal Pictures

In 1976, a 30-year-old bartender, who played only one year of high school football,
tried to become the NFL's most unlikely rookie.

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Elizabeth Banks, Greg Kinnear, Kevin Conway, Kirk Acevedo, Dov Davidoff, Michael Kelly, Stink Fisher

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"These are the toughest fans there are. They threw snowballs at Santa Claus." - Carol Vermeil, about her husband taking the Philadelphia Eagles head coaching job

Why watch this? It's one of my favorite sports films, and I hate the Eagles.

Plot Summary: This is the true story of Vince Papale, a 30-year-old substitute teacher and bartender in 1970s Philadelphia, who faces a series of personal setbacks including losing his job and a separation from his wife. A lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan, Vince decides to try out for his favorite team when the newly hired coach announces open tryouts. Despite never having played college football, Vince's determination leads to him being offered a spot at training camp.

Walt Disney Pictures, Mayhem Pictures;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

A Major League Love Story in a Minor League Town

Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson, Robert Wuhl, William O'Leary, David Neidorf, Jenny Robertson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days." - Crash Davis

Why watch this? It's a great sports romance; Sarandon and Costner are at their best.

Plot Summary: The Durham Bulls minor league baseball team brings in a seasoned catcher, Crash, to mentor a hotshot young pitcher. A lovely baseball groupie, Annie, takes a special interest in the players, particularly the rookie and his veteran mentor. The relationship between these three individuals unfold in two directions: helping the rookie play better, and hatching a romance between Annie and Crash.

Thom Mount, Mark Burg; Orion Pictures

From an age of innocence comes a hero for today.

Starring: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley, Barbara Hershey, Robert Prosky, Richard Farnsworth

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I guess some mistakes you never stop paying for." - Roy Hobbs

Why watch this? This is the greatest baseball, and maybe sports, movie ever made.

Plot Summary: Young Roy Hobbs is a talented baseball prodigy, leaving his childhood sweetheart and setting off to Chicago with dreams of making it in the big leagues. However, a shocking event derails his promising career, leaving his baseball dreams suspended. Years later, a now middle-aged Hobbs resurfaces as a rookie for the struggling New York Knights, attracting the attention of both a corrupt team owner and a persistent sports journalist as he chases both greatness and redemption.

Delphi II Productions; Tri-Star Pictures

He's a has-been battler with one dream left...and one last chance.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Thayer David, Joe Spinell, Jimmy Gambina

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood." - Rocky Balboa

Why watch this? One of the best underdog stories ever. Yo!

Plot Summary: Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer from Philadelphia, works as a debt collector but dreams of a bigger purpose in life. The opportunity arises when the flamboyant heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, looking for a challenger to celebrate the bicentennial, unexpectedly chooses Rocky for a title fight. With the help of a grizzled trainer and the burgeoning love of a shy woman, Rocky embarks on a grueling training regimen, driven by a desire to prove himself and go the distance with the champ.

Chartoff-Winkler Prod.; United Artists

Once he fought for a dream. Now he's fighting for love!

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Ton Burton, Joe Spinell, Leonard Gaines

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You're gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!" - Mickey

Why watch this? It really holds water against its predecessor; the ending is worth the wait.

Plot Summary: Following their epic fight, Rocky Balboa now has the respect of the boxing world. He navigates newfound fame and family life with Adrian, struggling with financial setbacks as he adjusts to a world outside the ring. Meanwhile, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, facing public scrutiny and his own bruised pride, decides he must challenge Rocky to a rematch. Despite initial reluctance and Adrian's disapproval due to the risks involved, Rocky eventually agrees to fight Apollo once more.

Chartoff-Winkler Prod.; United Artists

HOPE COMES ALIVE

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw, Ivory Jackson, Connie Britton, Connie Cooper

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #46 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Friday Night Lights

"Gentlemen, the hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders." - Coach Gaines

Why watch this? High school football is one of America's great, unique experiences.

Plot Summary: The Permian Panthers, a high school football team in the football-obsessed town of Odessa, Texas, faces the pressures of the community's intense expectations to win a state championship. After a significant setback in their opening game, the team and their coach must navigate a challenging season, confronting their own aspirations, personal struggles, and the intense scrutiny of the townspeople.
 

Dad's Preview: The Glory Days. Fresh cut grass. The band playing. Cheerleaders. The crack of contact. This film follows a Texas team's season. We see the glory, but also the price it exacts. Injuries. Toxic masculinity. Demanding school boards. Obsessed Coaches. Pressure to win. As a former player, I've seen it all. Still, Texas football also saved a fat little kid, taught him the value of hard work, and put him on the path to becoming a good and decent man and father. This gritty film captures all that and more.

Imagine Entertainment; Universal Pictures