I'm open!!
March 11, 2008 3:09 PM Subscribe
Movie night: Help me pick the best basketball movies!
In honor of Selection Sunday, I'm having a movie night. I don't know many basketball movies though, so I'd like as many recommendations as possible. Be sure to tell me why they're distinctive though, or I'll never be able to keep them straight.
Movies or scenes that aren't "basketball movies" per se but in which basketball figures prominently are also welcome. Thanks!
In honor of Selection Sunday, I'm having a movie night. I don't know many basketball movies though, so I'd like as many recommendations as possible. Be sure to tell me why they're distinctive though, or I'll never be able to keep them straight.
Movies or scenes that aren't "basketball movies" per se but in which basketball figures prominently are also welcome. Thanks!
The Air Up There... Six degrees of Kevin Bacon
The Basketball Diaries- Leo D. first prominent role
He Got Game- Spike Lee and a great soundtrack
posted by boyinmiami at 3:20 PM on March 11, 2008
The Basketball Diaries- Leo D. first prominent role
He Got Game- Spike Lee and a great soundtrack
posted by boyinmiami at 3:20 PM on March 11, 2008
I always liked the half-court backwards basketball shot from the delightfully crappy Alien Resurrection if only for the trivia associated with it:
Sigourney Weaver made the behind-the-back half-court basketball shot successfully after two weeks of basketball practice, tutored by a basketball coach. Her conversion rate during that two weeks was about one shot in from every six. When the day came to shoot the scene, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet wanted to have the ball dropped in from above, rather than wait for Weaver to sink the shot herself, which "would probably take about 200 takes". Weaver insisted that the she could get the shot in herself, which she was finally allowed to do. She sunk the shot on the very first take, even though she was six feet further past the three-point line. Ron Perlman was completely stunned (and thoroughly impressed), and turned directly at the camera and broke character, saying, "Oh my God!"
posted by Skot at 3:24 PM on March 11, 2008 [4 favorites]
Sigourney Weaver made the behind-the-back half-court basketball shot successfully after two weeks of basketball practice, tutored by a basketball coach. Her conversion rate during that two weeks was about one shot in from every six. When the day came to shoot the scene, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet wanted to have the ball dropped in from above, rather than wait for Weaver to sink the shot herself, which "would probably take about 200 takes". Weaver insisted that the she could get the shot in herself, which she was finally allowed to do. She sunk the shot on the very first take, even though she was six feet further past the three-point line. Ron Perlman was completely stunned (and thoroughly impressed), and turned directly at the camera and broke character, saying, "Oh my God!"
posted by Skot at 3:24 PM on March 11, 2008 [4 favorites]
"Love and Basketball" ... not great but it's got a girl hooper and a little romance.
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 3:25 PM on March 11, 2008
posted by notjustfoxybrown at 3:25 PM on March 11, 2008
Finding Forrester in which Sean Connery helps an inner city basketball player develop his talent for writing. Not your typical basketball movie, but a good one nonetheless. Also features Connery's infamous YTMND line.
posted by inconsequentialist at 3:26 PM on March 11, 2008
White Men Can't Jump. Cheesy pants, really quite good story.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 3:47 PM on March 11, 2008
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 3:47 PM on March 11, 2008
Embarrassingly, Teen Wolf, with Michael J. Fox, immediately leaps to mind. Notable not only for its underdog-basketball-team-in-the-championships subplot, but also for its archetypal teenage werewolf ghost-riding the whip scene, and for Stiles' t-shirt collection.
posted by steef at 3:50 PM on March 11, 2008
posted by steef at 3:50 PM on March 11, 2008
Believe In Me.
Glory Road.
Through the Fire.
Coach Carter.
posted by ericb at 3:58 PM on March 11, 2008
Glory Road.
Through the Fire.
Coach Carter.
posted by ericb at 3:58 PM on March 11, 2008
Hoosiers, Hoop Dreams and White Men Can't Jump is a pretty kickass trivecta.
posted by YoungAmerican at 4:05 PM on March 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by YoungAmerican at 4:05 PM on March 11, 2008 [1 favorite]
TEEN WOLF!
posted by sourwookie at 4:54 PM on March 11, 2008
posted by sourwookie at 4:54 PM on March 11, 2008
High School Musical. If you can't stomach the whole thing, the Getcha Head in the Game musical number is singing and dancing about basketball.
posted by wsquared at 5:02 PM on March 11, 2008
posted by wsquared at 5:02 PM on March 11, 2008
How has nobody suggested the second greatest basketball movie in cinema history (after Hoosiers), Fast Break.
posted by dersins at 5:11 PM on March 11, 2008
posted by dersins at 5:11 PM on March 11, 2008
He Got Game has some of the most realistic games scenes of any basketball movie, because it stars Ray Allen as the lead character, Jesus Shuttlesworth.
Also, very cool: according to IMDB:
posted by ewiar at 5:16 PM on March 11, 2008
Also, very cool: according to IMDB:
For the scene where Jesus [Allen] and Jake [Washington] play for the letter of intent, the original script called for Jesus to win 11-0. However, Spike Lee encouraged the actors to play for real. The scene in the film reflects the actual game between Ray Allen and Denzel Washington.Not to spoil anything, but Denzel does pretty damn well.
posted by ewiar at 5:16 PM on March 11, 2008
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh and Fast Break would make a great double bill. I think that "Fish" may be hard to find though.
posted by genefinder at 5:25 AM on March 12, 2008
posted by genefinder at 5:25 AM on March 12, 2008
And there is always the Wild Style basketball scene thats on youtube.
posted by lips at 9:10 AM on March 12, 2008
posted by lips at 9:10 AM on March 12, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
Above the Rim is an old 90s classic. Regulators!
Can't forget Hoosiers -- the basketball movie.
You might find a lot of prospects at IMDB's basketball keyword.
posted by wordsmith at 3:16 PM on March 11, 2008