Rick's Flicks Picks on AWN: Sports

TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (2011) (***1/2)

rdemott2 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:53:33 -0800

Tomas Alfredson, who directed the wonderful Swedish vampire film LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, adapts John le Carre's classic spy novel into a slow burn thriller. His film is as laconic as his central character, played with great reserve by Gary Oldman. From its Cold War setting to its visual style, the film at times conjures up memories of Hitchcock's latter day thrillers.

REAL STEEL (2011) (**1/2)

rdemott2 — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:40:54 -0700

This film is not based on Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. Now that we got that out of the way, we can find out what this film is really about. One could claim though that this film is based on a dozen previous boxing movies such as ROCKY and THE CHAMP.

MONEYBALL (2011) (****)

rdemott2 — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:29:42 -0700

How can you not be romantic about baseball? That's what Brad Pitt's Billy Beane says in this great baseball movie, which is more about the business of baseball than the game. And that said the film still does stir the desire to grab some peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jack and head out to the ole ball game.

SECRETARIAT (2010) (***)

rdemott2 — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:30:04 -0800

It's hard to not think of the Oscar-nominated SEABISCUIT when thinking about this film. The comparison doesn't help this film about the 1970s Triple Crown winner. It has less ambition than the film about the Depression era underdog. But it does fit nicely into the canon of Disney's inspirational sports films.

THE FIGHTER (2010) (****)

rdemott2 — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:31:22 -0800

Of all the sports to grace the screen, boxing has easily inspired the greatest films. Now director David O. Russell has added another to the ranks of RAGING BULL, ROCKY and MILLION DOLLAR BABY. But like all of those films, the reason this film is great is not because it’s a boxing movie. This is a story of family and how for some they can either help them raise their arms in victory or punch them below the belt.