Game Film

In this episode, Game Film reviews three films based in the fastest-moving sports of them all, namely auto racing. Hosts Aron Harris and Os Davis take a look at three good ones:

• Le Mans (1971) – Steve McQueen stars in this high-action, low-dialogue vehicle (so to speak) centered on the events during one run of the world’s most famous endurance race;

• Ford vs Ferrari (2019) – the Oscar-nominated telling of the Ford Motor Company’s rise in competitive distance motor racing in the mid-60s which features engaging, tour de force performances from Matt “Bourne” Damon and Christian “Batman” Bale; and

• Rush (2013) – director Ron Howard’s surprisingly intense look at one of Formula 1’s great rivalries, that of Nikki Lauda (Daniel Brühl) and James Hunt (Chris “Thor” Hemsworth).

See you at the racetrack and/or the film room...

Gods help us: In this episode, Game Film focuses on the incredible Hollywood sub-genre of movies about animals playing football – professional, college and high school (we think). Hosts Os Davis and Aron Harris take a look at:

• Gus (1976) – NFL laughingstocks the California Atoms employ the services of a Yugoslavian mule on the field, not to mention a murderer’s row of 1970s TV sitcom dads;

• Bonzo Goes to College (1952) – the second in the mighty Bonzo movie franchise has the genius chimpanzee first whiffing on an easy question about Joe DiMaggio’s batting average and ultimately quarterbacking the college’s loser team to victory; and

• Air Bud 2: Golden Receiver (1998) – in which a dog retires from basketball to take up basketball and hang out with a tween, his widowed mother and a serial killer-looking new BF.

See you at the veterinarian – i mean, in the film room…

This episode, Game Film focuses on movies about professional wrestling. Hosts Aron Harris and Os Davis take a look at:

• Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962) – The Rod Serling-scripted, star-studded (Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, Julie Harris and a cameo by Muhammad Ali) production of a washed-up boxer;

• The Wrestler (2008) – the Mickey Rourke comeback vehicle about a pro wrestler who faded in obscurity after enjoying superstardom in the 1980s;

• Beyond the Mat (1999) – a fan’s documentary on various aspects of the pro wrestling business with something of a focus on Terry Funk, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Mick Foley; and

• Fighting with my Family (2019) – the based-on-a-true-story tale of NXT and WWE star Paige from her roots in her parents’ ragtag wrestling company in England to breaking into the upper ranks.

See you in the film room…

In this episode, Game Film focuses on movies about the Olympic Games. Hosts Os Davis and Aron Harris take a look at:

• Chariots of Fire (1980) – The Oscar-winning film about a pair of athletes on Britain’s track-and-field team at the 1924 Games;

• Miracle (2004) – the motion picture retelling of the plucky USA hockey team’s coming together in time to upset the mighty USSR squad at the 1980 Winter Olympics (starring Kurt Russell as coach Herb Brooks); and

• Olympia (1936) – a documentary (or highlight reel, really) of the 1936 Olympics which set the standard for all video productions of sport thereafter.

This episode, the sport of choice on Game Film is billiards. Hosts Aron Harris and Os Davis take a look at:

• The Hustler (1961) – This noir pool hall Academy Awards-dominating film features an all-star cast including Paul Newman, George C. Scott, Piper Laurie and Jackie Gleason – also gritty locations, taut dialogue and some serious character drama;

• The Color of Money (1986) – Director Martin Scorsese’s love letter to The Hustler has Newman’s “Fast Eddie” Felsen coaching up flaky pool wunderkind Vincent (Tom Cruise) and his would-be hustler girlfriend Carmen (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantoni); and

• The Baron and the Kid (1984) – Former professional pool player “The Baron” (Johnny Cash) comes out of retirement to work the angles alongside his estranged son, a like-skilled savant going by the tag of “The Cajun Kid.”

Baseball is the sport of choice on this episode of Game Film. Hosts Os Davis and Aron Harris take a look at:

• Eight Men Out (1995) – Director John Sayles deploys a star-studded ensemble cast to depict the story of the “Black Sox” scandal during the 1919 World Series;

• The Glory of their Times (1970) – an hour-long documentary on baseball and the surrounding environment in America between 1900 and ’20 and

• Game 6 (2005) – an obscure independent film centered on a playwright (Michael Keaton), whose new Broadway play opens the same night as his beloved Boston Red Sox play the New York Mets in the fateful game six of the 1986 World Series.

Game Film is a Sports History Network production. For more, visit SportsHistoryNetwork.com.