Scoring at the Movies

The performances of Christian Bale and Matt Damon are the best reasons to recommend James Mangold's racing movie: Ford v Ferrari.

 

In fact, the entire cast is stellar, as is the production design and the sound. For some reason however, we just didn't connect with Ford v Ferrari, even though it's been widely embraced by our fellow middle-aged white men. Much like when we talked about Jackie Robinson's life in 42, we either wanted a shorter movie or a miniseries. Chris also felt short-changed by the many things Mangold didn't include about the real friendship between Carroll Shelby & Ken Miles. On the other hand, if you love to see cars burning rubber at Le Mans and constantly aggressive/reckless driving (on the track...or just on city streets), you're in luck. So get in your runner's stance and sprint across the track before you even get in the car, but rev up our chat about Ford v Ferrari to keep you company during the trip.

 

Lucas is one of the sweetest movies we'll ever cover, but there are many troubling stories about alleged awfulness behind the scenes. While Charlie Sheen is about as likable in this film as he's ever been on-screen, he might not have been so likable off-screen. Corey Haim is also terrific and he's at his best as the smart weirdo who wins big in the end and (eventually) learns to stay in his romantic lane. The football in Lucas might be as inaccurate and downright dopey as it gets, but that's redeemed by a climax that manages to give us a GOOD version of the dreaded slow clap. So don't suit up for a high school football game when you're just not up to the challenge, but learn to recognize when you're firmly in the friend zone as we gab about puppy love, bullying and stubborn determination.

 

We're reachable on Twitter: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies

To "enter" our 3rd year of this sporty podcast, we head overseas to register for a martial arts tournament on a mysterious island of drugs, enslavement and death in Enter the Dragon. Fun!

 

Actually, Enter The Dragon IS fun and it feels so much like a James Bond movie that you almost wonder why they didn't just cast Sean Connery in (one of) the lead role(s) instead of John Saxon. Then again, Saxon and of course the inimitable Bruce Lee are better at MMA exploits than most other actors are at, well, anything. This Kung Fu megahit is the foundation for Lee's legacy, a legend that will live on forever. Is the movie itself worthy of that reputation? Well, cozy up to the dragon to find out what we thought as we provide you with emotional content.

 

If you feel like contacting us (emotionally or not), the Twitter machine awaits: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies

We haven't covered very many soccer movies, but we HAVE been covering a lot of true stories in the last several months, and we cover both bases talking about The Damned United.

 

Fact versus fiction came up a lot in this episode too as we hashed out what director Tom Hooper is trying to say about legendary coach Brian Clough and Leeds United. The trouble is, Hooper's film is unfocused. We weren't sure what to feel or if we should even care. Should we sympathize with Michael Sheen (who's really great in a surprisingly flinty role as Clough) or should we hate him? Should we be impressed that Hooper chose a 1-on-1 interview between two bitter rivals as his "big game" or feel cheated because the movie has no 3rd act? You might already have those answers, but dribble that play button and find out what we thought about The Damned United.

 

We have been known to tweet from time to time. We're @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies

Audiences and critics don't have much affection for The Legend Of Bagger Vance, but we were moved by it. Robert Redford's genial golf movie stars some very good actors and it has some touching moments. Then again, it's also got a lot of tonal problems and it isn't very focused.

 

The dynamic of having real-life golfers Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones trade tee shots with Matt Damon's fictional character works well enough, but Will Smith is clearly playing an angel or God or something. That's a big reason Chris thought Bagger Vance has more in common with Field Of Dreams than with Tin Cup or Happy Gilmore. It's also a film that's too pleasant (or too indifferent?) to deal with racism in a movie set in Georgia in the 1930s. Redford tried to tackle a dozen other issues, so why avoid that one? Anyway, the links await you golfers this spring and so does our gab about the wise young caddy.

 

If you're in the mood for a genial, laid-back podcast about a genial, laid-back movie, our talk about Necessary Roughness is going to feel as welcoming as Southern hospitality.

 

This football comedy isn't hilarious, but its mediocrity doesn't overwhelm its sweetness. It's also hard to hate an underdog movie that's as watchable as this one certainly is. "Old man" Scott Bakula plays the heartthrob quarterback of a Texas university team that's been ruined by scandal and now has to make do with a roster of nincompoops. Led by Hector Elizondo's straight arrow head coach and Robert Loggia's very passionate assistant coach, can these plucky dopes (and 1 lady placekicker) win even one game? It's a modest goal, but we like modest goals sometimes. And we like Manu.

 

Our Twitter @s are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies

It's a gift of good timing that we can post a podcast about a Jackie Robinson movie on Jackie Robinson Day.

 

The Brooklyn Dodgers star is portrayed very well by the great Chadwick Boseman, who played a lot of real-life legends in his tragically short career. 42 is well-made, looks good and gives us what feels like an accurate version of some terrible realities for Black people in America then and now. As for politics, we spent a lot of this episode discussing social awakening (including our own) and we give you what we think is a pretty solid history lesson, complete with lots of stats about Jackie's Hall Of Fame career. The 2 biggest problems with Brian Helgeland's picture are that it feels rushed and plays it too safe. Is a grittier miniseries made by a Black person in our future, maybe?

 

So don't take a bat to a brick wall. Just put on a gruff Harrison Ford voice and ready yourself for a civil fight as we spend over an hour speaking about 42.

 

We can be reached on Twitter: @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies

Casting legit good guy Keanu Reeves as a degenerate gambler with anger issues is a curious choice, but Hardball is a bit of a curious movie.

 

The gritty gambling story is mashed up with a spunky underdog/kids' baseball story. Let's say the tone isn't always balanced. We weren't in complete agreement about Keanu's acting in this one and we also debated if he's playing a white saviour in this, but we were on the exact same page about the effectiveness of the emotions. All the kids are likeable (hey, that's Michael B. Jordan!), but G-Baby in particular is a charm machine.

 

So we'll break down Brian Robbins' flick while you Big Poppas feel the rhythm on the pitcher's mound and maybe, just maybe, you'll go to the 'ship.

Glory Road was unappreciated by the critics and by the crowds 15 years ago, but we think they were out to lunch. This is one of the best pure sports movies we've ever covered.

Director James Gartner and his team do a good job getting the facts right about this true story and they certainly captured the emotions of how these young men dealt with brutal racism in the '60s. The NCAA basketball action is just terrific and the actors/athletes are naturals, especially Derek Luke. Josh Lucas is fine as the coach, but Luke dominates as his feisty point guard. So whether or not the 2021 March Madness goes off without any hitches, fire up our chat about a well-executed true underdog story.

 

We probably don't have "it", but we're back in the wrestling ring to cut some awesome promos about Fighting With My Family.

Florence Pugh is (to use a very appropriate expression) rock-solid as WWE's Paige, the goth girl from England who struggles to find her way and fit in as she trains in America. We were even more impressed though with Jack Lowden as her secret-weapon brother Zak, whose George Bailey-esque journey back home might be even more interesting than Paige's.

So don't be a diva. Just listen as we turn up the bass, adjust the treble and break down Stephen Merchant's rasslin flick for you jabronies.