Hoosiers

Boaz Yakim, Phil Alden Robinson, Gavin O'Connor, David M. Evans. All virtually unrecognizable names and all responsible for some of my favorite sports movies of all time. You can add David Anspaugh to that list who coincidentally is responsible for two of my favorite sports movies of all time Rudy and Hoosiers.
While watching Hoosiers again and tearing up again when the little guy hit his granny shots I began to wonder if there is something about sports films that are just easier to make. By there very nature, sports are capable of providing some of the greatest drama there is so when you put that on film it seems like a fairly easy task to condense the action into just the most exciting moments.
But, on the flip side of this question is the fact that there are so truly terrible sports movies out there as well. Or, if not terrible, they certainly are not on the level of these great sports films. I am thinking of films like Varsity Blues, Glory Road, and We Are Marshall. Films that try to inspire but ultimately fall flat when compared with better entries into this genre.
I can't pin point what it is about the sports films I don't like beyond just feeling underwhelmed by them. I can say that for the ones I do like, they all involve moments that get me to tear up every time I watch them. Why do I tear up? I think it's because when they are done right a good sports film will play like a tribute to what it takes to win with integrity and dignity. In the case of Hoosiers, that's exactly what you get.
The films primary focus is on head coach Norman Dale played flawlessly by Gene Hackman. He comes to the small town of Hickory with a dark past and a desire to be involved in the game he loves. The town expects to convince Dale to follow their approach to the game but Coach Dale has his own ideas. Dale begins teaching the kids the fundamentals of the game while focusing his practices on basics and conditioning. The kids are used to just scrimmaging and it takes some time for them to adjust to coach Dale's methods.
The beauty is that as an audience we never doubt Dale's methods or that he knows best and we are able to see his players begin to fall in line. Eventually the rest of the town falls in line too as these kids make an improbable run towards the state championship. Even better is the fact that we believe it was hard work and a sense of playing the game the right way that brought the team to the championship. Seeing the hard work and love for the game that this movie portrays in it's characters is what makes me tear up every time.
Like In Her Shoes which I recently wrote about, I can't sit here and say that this is a compromise film. I think I have watched it with my wife and while I don't remember hating it, I don't remember her liking it either. Still, for a sports fan it's must watch and to be honest, if you haven't seen it you probably shouldn't call yourself a sports fan.
I suppose it would be unfair to suggest that sports films are easy to direct. Sure, by their very nature they have drama built in and they have an audience waiting to consume them. Still, I think it would be unfair not to recognize that this film is incredibly effective and has earned it's place amongst the greatest sports films of all time.