Cars 2 (2011)

Genre: Action/Adventure/Animation/Comedy/Sports/Drama

Starring (voice): Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Eddie Izzard, John Turturro

A sequel to the first Cars movie, British industrialist Sir Miles Axlerod (Izzard) launches a new bio fuel after realising that fossil fuels are quickly degrading the world. To launch this fuel he is holding a World Grand Prix, a race that would see the top drivers from various motor sports battle it out on three different locations to prove the reliability of the fuel. Lightning McQueen (Wilson) is on the race and this time he decides to bring Mater (Cable Guy) along for the race. Finn McMissile (Caine) James Bonds Aston Martin DB5, is a British spy who is investigating a TV camera and its hidden functionality. Along with his sidekick, Holley Shiftwell (Mortimer) they are to rendezvous with an American spy at the World Grand Prix launch party, who has further information on the case. The American gets cornered and in an act of desperation, plants the device, holding the information, on Mater. McMissile and Shitwell track the device and assume Mater to be a very well disguised spy which according to Mater becomes the adventure of his life. The movie replicates human life very interestingly on cars. It's fun to hunt for the finer details and get amused at the thought process that went behind it. The only let down in the movie was the lack of good humour and comedy. Sure the movie is enticing and would definitely grasp the attention of kids, especially if its your kid brother, but it still lacks the ability to make you roll over with laughter.

Thumbs up: Superb animation, extremely gripping

Thumbs down: Not funny enough although it is entertainment-packed

Rating: 7.0/10

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Two for the Money (2005)

Genre: Drama/Romance/Sports/Biography

Starring: Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo

Brandon Lang (McConaughey) is a football professional who had to taken an early retirement due to a career-ending injury. He started advising people on the kind of bets they should put on football games due to his intense knowledge of the players and their strategies. His high and consistent accuracy rate got the attention of Walter (Pacino) a New York based betting adviser, one of the largest in the country, who trains him and shows him how he could put his skills to better use. He creates a fake identity of John Anthony who is the slick, sharp and confident New Yorker as against the more bland and sober Brandon. Brandon slowly climbs the career graph were money, woman and all the sins of the world are easily thrown at his feet. The movie kicks off on a decently high note, but as it progresses further, it soon becomes evident that it is another rags to riches story where money does more harm than good and the inevitable downfall. The movie is based on the true life story of a certain Brandon Lang who had experienced a similar life as depicted by John Anthony. The movie tries to bank upon Al Pacino who delivers the usual filthy-rich businessman who has no worry in the world and is shown to be super-smart and cunning. A pretty average movie that could have been far better.

Thumbs up: A good start, good adaptation of a real life story

Thumbs down: Predictable outcome, poor performances

Rating: 6.5/10

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The Wrestler (2008)

Genre: Drama/Sports


Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood

As children, we all grew up watching hard-bodied, tough men wring it out in the wrestling arena. We all once harboured ambitions to be like them and be as hardcore as possible. And we all knew somewhere in the back of our minds that it is all fake and made up but never wanted to listen to that voice in our head. Randy 'The Ram' (Rourke) is a professional wrestler whose glory days were in the '80's but is fight old age and illness and continues to wrestle. He doesn't lead the life like we would all imagine wrestlers to lead but lives off a trailer park, makes measly money in the fights, and is like just another average person in the showbiz. He tries to romance a stripper Cassidy (Tomei) and get back to his estranged daughter Stephanie (Wood) in a bid to redeem his life and mistakes. The movie mostly revolves around the life of Randy and Cassidy, both in the show business with demanding skills. In Randy's life people within his show love him but in the real world he is a nobody and people don't care for him. For Cassidy it is the exact opposite who isn't cared or loved for in the club but has a family and children with people around her to love and care for her. The movie shows the true world of wrestling and the demands some professional skills have on people just so that the average person is entertained.

Thumbs up: Fabulous performance, good paradoxical story
Thumbs down: Slow, would have been more interesting had it been based on a true life incident

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Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Genre: Drama/Sports

Starring: Hillary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel

Clint Eastwood always has something special on offer and when you have Morgan Freeman and Hillary Swank on the same boat, one can expect fireworks. Boxing manager cum trainer cum gym owner Frankie Dunn (Eastwood) has a strong career record behind him and has trained lots of boxing champions. The only kind of people he doesn't train are girls and that is exactly what knocks on his door one fine morning. Maggie Fitzgerald (Swank) is a waitress who aspires to be a boxer and insists that only Frankie train him. After refusing too many times, Frankie is forced to give in after being persuaded by his friend and gym janitor Eddie (Freeman). He realises that Maggie indeed has potential and when she consistently knocks out her opponents in the first round. The movie displays the hardships of life that each of the characters is facing in the movie. Each and every one of them learn their mistakes through a different way, react in a different way and get over them in a different. The story that appears to be slow has been crafted and executed in a fine manner which does not make it look as slow. A beautiful movie and some lovely performances make it a smooth as butter watch.

Thumbs up: Fabulous acting

Thumbs down: Maybe some more boxing action?

Rating: 8.0/10

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Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach (2009)

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Sports

Starring: Sean William Scott, Randy Quaid, Brando Eaton, Emilee Wallace, A.D. Miles

Most sex-comedies try to make a living out of the same limited objectives; show some stupidity along with unwanted nudity and this movie is no different. Gary Houseman (Scott) used to love the game of tennis but he felt that tennis never really loved him and hence swore to give up the sport. After a failed tennis career, he became a high school janitor where he once again rubbed shoulders with his estranged sport which sparked his love once more. The tennis team was failing and wasn't getting anywhere and the tennis coach, Lew Tuttle (Quaid) appointed Gary to be the assistant coach after seeing his skills. With the subsequent death of Coach Tuttle, faculty member Steve Pimble (Miles) volunteered to head the tennis team although he knew nothing about the game. Gary and Steve now had the astronomical task on their heads to coach the tennis team and make them win the state champions, just as Coach Tuttle had set out to do. The sad part about the movie is that it had the enormous scope of being fun, but stupid jokes, scenes that don't contribute to the plot and tacky editing made sure that your fun time turns out to be not-so-fun. Sean William Scott and his acting was probably the only saving grace in the movie, had it been anyone else it would have been just worse. An average movie and don't expect fireworks.

Thumbs up: Sean William Scott

Thumbs down: Bad plot execution

Rating: 5.4/10

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Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

Genre: Sport/Drama/Comedy

Starring: Gary Cole, Will Ferrell, Jane Lynch, John C. Reily, Sacha Baron Cohen, Amy Adams, Leslie Bibb

Racing and NASCAR ran in the blood of Ricky Bobby (Ferrell) whose estranged father was a race driver. Ricky too went on to become a world famous race car driver until a car crash put him out of the track. A famous French Formula 1 driver Jean Girard (Cohen) has recently entered NASCAR and is giving Ricky a tough time. In an attempt to get the better of Jean, Ricky crashes his car and gets hospitalised for a long time. The trauma of the crash sinks deep into his head and he is unable to drive fast anymore. 20 mph seems like 200 to him and streaking down the race track in his underwear yelling 'fire' when there isn't any, becomes a normal routine to his life. His long-lost father, Reece (Cole) comes back in his life and tries to help overcome his fear and become the legendary driver that he used to be. The movie is a decent mix of adrenaline rushing sporting action as well as rib-tickling laughter, unfortunately, both, the 'adrenaline' as well as the 'rib-tickling' was quite weak. The climax scene didn't seem to have the kind of energy a racing scene should have and the comedy too was pretty normal and nothing that will want to make you watch the movie a second time. It's a decent entertainer but probably needs that missing component to really get it running.

Thumbs up: Good mix of sport and comedy

Thumbs down: Needs more spice

Rating: 6.3/10

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Resurrecting the Champ (2007)

Genre: Sport/Drama/Biography

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett, Kathryn Moss, Dakota Goyo

A sports journalist with the Denver Times, Erik Kernan Jr. (Hartnett) is finding it difficult to form a name for himself in the industry. Being the son of a famous radio anchor, he finds it hard to live up to his fathers name and is afraid to lose his job. He comes across a homeless person on the street who calls himself Champ (Jackson) and claims to be a professional boxer. On further probing, Champ reveals to Erik that he is Chicago City's Golden Gloves 147-pound champion, Bob Satterfield. Erik sees this as a big opportunity to write an article of how a once famous boxer has ended up on the streets. The movie is based on a true life incident which many people still claim to be different from what was projected in the movie. Samuel L. Jackson puts on a fantastic performance, something which is expected out of such a role. Yet, the movie is unable to bring out the true essence that it tried to. The Soloist did a far better job to show case a similar plot 2 years later. A decent movie but it somehow doesn't have any element that you would end up remembering for a long time after watching the movie.

Thumbs up: Good story

Thumbs down: Bad plot execution, lacks feel

Rating: 6.4/10

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Remember the Titans (2000)

Genre: Drama/Sport

Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Donald Faison, Craig Kirkwood

1971, Alexandria, Virginia, black and white divide ran deep, very deep. The school board wanted to bring an end to this and thus integrated the black and white schools and hired a black football coach to take over. Football was a religion, more worshipped than Christmas and the white folks objected whereas the blacks rejoiced. Coach Herman Boone (Washington) was not here to teach football but to bring everyone together. He faced a lot of resistance from all sides, including Coach Bill Yoast (Patton) from whom he took over. Gerry Bertier (Hurst) was team captain and soon realised that if the team needs to win, the racial divide needs to end. He became best friends with Julius (Harris) someone whom he hated from the very first day and slowly and steadily the friendship between black and white grew, not only amongst the team players but amongst the people of Virginia. The movie narrates a true life story which is delivered in the perfect manner. Denzel Washington fits the bill of the aggressive and tough football coach who will stop at nothing. Its a wonderful and very inspiring movie and leaves you with a good feeling.

Thumbs up: Nice performances, good plot execution

Thumbs down: Nothing in particular but nothing spectacular either

Rating: 7.6/10

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The Longest Yard (2005)

Genre: Sports/Drama/Comedy

Starring: Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Burt Reynolds, William Fichtner, James Cromwell, Dalip 'The Great Khali' Singh, Nelly, Michael Irvin

Ex-football super star, Paul Crewe (Sandler) is busted for drunk driving and stealing his girlfriends car. He gets sent to prison where he is unanimously hated by all the inmates from day 1 for an incident that made him infamous. He was accused of shaving points off a football game which also put an end to his football career. The only person supporting him is Caretaker (Rock) who has been ranked as the least threatening prison inmate by the guards. Warden Hazen (Fichtner) wants Crewe to help coach the prison guards' football team who has been consistently losing for the past few years. Crewe tells him that his team needs a tune-up game where they beat an extremely weak team which would highly motivate the prison guards team. Hazen gets a brilliant idea of organising an inmates team which would play against the prison guards. The inmates were to be headed by Crewe and are supposed to lose. Crewe motivates the inmates by telling them that this is their chance to beat up all the prison guards and that they should join the team. Former football star Nate Scarborough (Reynolds) joins the team as coach along with a host of violent inmates eager to give the prison guards a good thrashing. The movie is definitely a fun watch and is hilarious on more than one occasion. Each and every character in the movie has a definite and unique identity which makes the movie a lot more interesting. A remake of the 1974 film of the same name.

Thumbs up: Amazing characters
Thumbs down: A bit more humour to make it even better

Rating: 7.3/10

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Fighting (2009)

Genre: Drama/Sport/Action

Starring: Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Zulay Henao, Brian J. White

Shawn MacArthur (Tatum) takes on underground street fighting in a bid to make some money. Harvey (Howard) was first to spot Shawn and the talent he holds and becomes his agent, getting fights for him. Shawn and Harvey start making good and quick money and Shawn soon becomes popular amongst the street fighting circuit. Shawn falls in love with Zulay (Henao) a girl he once met randomly on the street. The movie has an extremely basic plot of an unknown young lad making the way to the top and becoming rich and famous. Each and every twist in the plot is predictable and most of the dialogues are boring and seem like one big drag. The fights scenes are supposed to be the movies USP, which sadly are not that great either. A complete waste of time and highly avoidable from every angle.

Thumbs up: Only some fight sequences
Thumbs down: Everything else

Rating: 4.9/10

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Invictus (2009)

Genre: Drama/Biography/History/Sport

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Adjoa Andoh

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Freeman) was the first South African President to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Apartheid was in force in South Africa for a long period of time by which the white people were given powers not in the hands of the native African people. On being elected as President, Mandela realised that he must win the confidence of the white community and must remove the racial divide prevailing within the country. Rugby was a sport played by the white folk and soccer was popular amongst the black people. The Springboks was the country's national Rugby team who were consistently losing and the people were losing faith in them. The black community wanted the Springboks to be abolished. Mandela realised that improving the team and making Rugby popular within the country would solve most of his problems. He communicated this message to the Springboks captain, Francois Pienaar (Damon) who too realised that the country is dependant on them. The world cup is less than a year away and the Springboks with the help of Francois and Mandela must outperform themselves. The movie talks about superior leadership and how one man, ridiculed by half the country turned the nation around by the snap of his fingers. Morgan Freeman's exceptional performance and his precise emulation of the great President has made the movie a fantastic and highly entertaining watch. Matt Damon too is not left behind and uses the typical local accent to make the character feel more at home. The movie sadly focuses only on Rugby and Mandela's vested interest in the sport and does not explore the other aspects of Mandela's presidency. An amazing movie and worth the Oscar nomination.

Thumbs up: Fantabulous performances
Thumbs down: Does not explore other aspects of Mandela and his presidency

Rating: 8.7/10

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The Blind Side (2009)

Genre: Biography/Drama/Sport

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Tim McGraw, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon

If a homeless black young man is spotted on the streets, many white people would run for cover. Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock) took pity on Michael Oher aka Big Mike (Aaron) when she found him walking in the rain on a cold night. One night under the roof of the rich Tuohy family and Michael became a family favourite. Michael goes to a Christian school along with his new siblings SJ (Head) and Collins (Collins). His abnormally large size and athletic skills soon put him on the field. His career in football was almost certain, except for his grades. Leigh Ann and her husband Sean (McGraw) saw to each of Michael's wishes and took all the efforts to make sure his grades were up so that he could continue football. The movie hints on the miserable condition of certain black folks living in the United States and the fear that white people have for them. The movie does a splendid job to bring these emotions out. Amazing performances by Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock and she does look absolutely ravishing in the movie. 2009 NFL Draft, Michael Oher gets drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.

Thumbs up: Performances and execution of the plot
Thumbs down: Lets not commit a crime

Rating: 8.6/10

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Speed Racer (2008)

Genre: Sports/Science-fiction/Action/Drama/Adventure

Starring: Emile Hirsch, John Goodman, Christina Ricci, Roger Allam, Matthew Fox

Based on the very popular Japanese cartoon with the same name, Speed Racer narrates the story of the Racer family for whom racing runs in their blood. Speed (Hirsch) is an aspiring racer and learns to walk on the footsteps of his deceased brother Rex, who died in an accident while racing. Speed starts gaining popularity and is soon offered an alliance with a huge corporate entity headed by Royalton (Allam). Speed and his family decline the offer and Royalton tells him that all Grand Prix races are rigged and Speed would never be a true racer. Speed is approached by Inspector Detector and Racer X (Fox) who want Speed to race at the notorious Cassa Cristo Rally and help Taejo's team win. If that happens then Taejo would reveal vital information required to arrest Royalton and put an end to all rigged races. The movies underpinnings are same as that of the original cartoon and the only difference being is that the movie is based in a world much ahead of ours. The cartoonish and animated effects may be a little weird but its definitely different. The movie is absolutely adrenaline-rushing and you might just find yourself standing up and cheering 'GO SPEED GO!'

Thumbs up: Thrilling action and gripping story
Thumbs down: Part-animation and cartoonish effects may not appeal to everyone

Rating: 7.5/10

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Leatherheads (2008)

Genre: History/Sports/Drama/Comedy/Romance

Starring: George Clooney, John Krasinski, Renee Zellweger, Jonathan Pryce

Set in the 1920's, World War I has just gotten over. Soldiers from the army have started playing unorganised football since they prefer the game over farming. Carter Rutherford (Krasinski) has all the looks, charm and skill to become a famous football star, which he slowly is. He also holds the reputation of getting an entire German platoon to surrender, for which he is loved by the people. Lexie Littleton (Zellweger) is a famous news reporter working for the Chicago Tribune. Her editor sends her on a field mission where shes supposed to romance Carter and get information out of him to publish in the paper. Dodge Connolly (Clooney) is a local football player whose retirement is overdue since quite some time. He realises the potential of having organised professional football and starts lobbying for it. The movie more or less narrates the revolution that underwent American Football to what it has become today. The movie has a strong story and a good cast but still failed to create an impact. It needs more of drama and the bits of humour thrown randomly in the movie are insignificant.

Thumbs up: Nice piece of history selected to make a movie on
Thumbs down: Quite boring and uneventful

Rating: 5.3/10

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Biker Boyz (2003)

Genre: Sports/Drama

Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke, Orlando Jones

Jalil aka Kid (Luke) is an amateur biker, whose dad is a part of the Black Knights racing gang headed by Smoke (Fishburne). Smoke holds the title of the undisputed King of Cali who has never been defeated. Kid never liked the fact that his father always had to do what Smoke wanted him to do, and vowed never to do what his dad did. When he loses his father in a freak accident, Kid decides to start a gang of his own and get a move on in life. His mom is scared that he might just end up like his father and doesn't want Kid to race. She confides in Smoke by revealing to him that Kid is actually his son and that he should take care of her when he's on track. Kid is fed up of Smoke's fatherly affections towards him and challenges him to a race. The loser quits racing for good. The movie doesn't have adrenaline rushing biking action that one would hope for. Instead there is a mother-father-son family emotional drama weaved into it. Fishburne looks to old and out of place to pull off Smoke's character. Its hard to imagine him as a biking gang lord.

Rating: 6.2/10

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Any Given Sunday (1999)

Genre: Drama/Romance/Sport

Starring: Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx

When ace American Football quarterback of the Miami Sharks, Cap Rooney (Quaid) gets injured, amateur Willie Beamen (Foxx) is called in as a replacement. The Sharks losing streak needs to be abolished and team owner and manager Christina Pagniacci (Diaz) is pressurising her coach Tony D'Amato (Pacino) to do something about it. When Beamen starts a new trend of throwing up on the field before blitzing his team to victory, D'Amato finds a rising star. However, things don't go all that easily when Beamen's play strategies although bringing them victory, is not approved of by the coach or the players. What ensues are fights, arguments, disagreements and team politics which threatens to divide the team. The movie has a nice storyline but dosen't get you goose-bumps or the rush of adrenaline that usually sports movies give. Instead it moves at its own leisurely pace trying to encompass unnecessary and trivial mini-stories.

Rating: 6.8/10

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Goal II: Living the Dream (2007)

Genre: Drama/Sport/Romance

Starring: Kuno Becker, Anna Friel, Alessandro Nivola

The movie continues from where it left in part I. Ace footballer, Santiago Munez (Becker) leaves Newcastle United and becomes a part of the famed Real Madrid team along with his best friend Gavin Harris (Nivola). His wife Roz (Friel) do sent like the idea that she would have to stay in England while he stays in Spain. Munez is a changed man with all the fame and fortune in the world. His life becomes like that of a typical footballer overloaded with money. He finally does face a serious set back when he gets jailed for beating a photographer. Realisation hits him and he vows to become a changed man. The movie is no different from the earlier one, it again has a very predictable story of a simple boy transforming into an attitude filled snob and finally gets some senses and becomes himself again. Once again the action packed football games are a good watch and probably that's the only reason for one to watch the movie. The movie ends with a 'to be continued' tag, and I admit, I will be waiting for it.

Rating: 6.9/10

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Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)

Genre: Drama/Sport

Starring: Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillaine, Alessandro Nivola

An illegal Mexican immingrant Santiago Munez (Becker) living in LA, harbours the dream of becoming a football star. His dream comes true when ex-Newcastle player Glen Foy (Dillaine) spots him playing in a park and gives him a chance to try out for Newcastle United. His family is delighted, all except his father who feels his responsibility should lie in working with the family. Against his fathers will, he flies off to England to make his dream come true. Like all sports movies there is a lot of adrenaline and excitement and the feel of victory in the end is truly rejuvenating. The story however is nothing new, an old and tried and tested formula typically used in sports movies. Its only the feel and the emotions that the movie brings out that makes it so good.

Rating: 7.8/10

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