Movies about sports featuring underdogs.
Man, I am all over those! The Natural (1984). Rocky (1976). Chariots of Fire (1981). Rocky II (1979). 42 (2013). Rocky III (1982). Remember the Titans (2000). Rocky IV (1985). A League of Their Own (1992). Rocky Balboa (2006). So many amazing underdog sports movies. So many great feel-good finales. I love them.
So, it's not at all unpredictable that I would have thoroughly enjoyed The Boys in the Boat (2023). Not only is it an underdog sports story, it's got a feel-good ending AND it's based on a true story. Nom nom nom.
Unfortunately, IMDB.com absolutely spoiled the ending for me (I knew this was a true story, so I specifically did NOT look up whether or not the US crew team won at the 1936 Olympics, and then when I looked up the running time for the movie so I could figure out what showing would work for me, boom! IMDB had the ending right there in its description. Boo), but this was still a stirring ride. I still was rooting for the eight hopeful dudes in that boat all the way.
Could I have done with a little more character development for some of the secondary characters? Yes. But did they have space for more character development? Very little, without padding out the run time. It's got a good, steady pace, building to the finale, and I appreciated that. Straight-forward storytelling is generally my favorite. And I did feel like you got to know the main characters, Joe Rantz (Callum Turner) and Coach Al Ulbrickson (Joel Edgerton), pretty well. This wasn't ever going to be a character study, or a deeply layered movie, and that's fine. It doesn't need to be.
The costumes, props, music, and dialog all felt very authentically 1930s. The score by Alexandre Desplat was a lot of fun, one I could see myself ending up buying.
Is this movie family friendly? Pretty much. There's a smattering of bad language, some kissing, and a little innuendo about a wife inviting her husband to bed (no nudity, no bed shown, it's very cute and sweet). Some drinking. I would take my kids to it, and my youngest is 12. I'll most likely buy this on DVD and show it to them that way.
Oh, I haven't heard of this movie! I like underdog stories too, sports or otherwise. And Joel Edgerton is a good actor, always worth watching. I see from the film's Wikipedia page that George Clooney directed it too. I will put it on my "to watch" list, thanks!
ReplyDeleteDebra, how weird that this movie has been advertised allllll over in my corner of the internet, but so many people haven't heard of it! Guess the internet advertiser algorithms have me pretty well pegged.
DeleteA good underdog story is hard to beat, for sure. And yeah, Joel Edgerton is always interesting! One of those guys who improves movies. I've liked him ever since the Star Wars prequels, and one of the reasons the Leonardo DiCaprio version of The Great Gatsby doesn't completely work for me is Edgerton is just a little too sympathetic an actor for me to fully buy him as a meanie when he plays Tom Buchanan.
I might like George Clooney more as a director than as an actor. I only like him okay as an actor, but I realllllly liked both this an The Monuments Men. This had a similar vibe to that, actually, of just telling a straightforward story about people faced with difficult situations and tenaciously using their skills and abilities to get through it.
This is one I haven't heard of either. Glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteDKoren, oh my goodness, this movie has been all over YouTube and Instagram for me. Isn't that funny? I rather think this is a movie your whole family would enjoy -- or at least, you and your parents!
DeleteSounds like a fun time! (And yes to "Chariots of Fire"--that movie is SO GOOD)
ReplyDeleteKatie, the color palette alone makes this one I think you would very much enjoy.
DeleteI actually appreciate the lack of big names in this simple film; I also thought that the Jesse Owens cameo was nice and that the Hitler scenes were hilarious.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I agree -- this was not a vehicle for star power. I want this same production team to make us a movie about Jesse Owens now!
DeleteLoved this movie so much! Both my friend and I who I went with had read the book and loved it, but I was a little leery about seeing the movie, as the movies are often not as good. But they did such a good job with it and we both loved it so much! We both thought it was really well cast too!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I've been wanting to read the book, now that I like the movie so well. Good to hear they match up in quality!
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