Sports Films

As someone who appreciates both sports and films, I do love a good movie about sports.   There is no shortage of lists of great sports movies.  Typically they include movies like Rocky, The Natural, A League of Their Own, etc.   Being partial to hockey, I have always been drawn to movies like Slapshot, Mystery Alaska and Miracle.

Miracle is a favorite, as it encompasses a great story, good acting and is truly inspirational.   I recently watched another sports movie called Warrior starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte.   Now I had heard and read many good things about Warrior, but for some reason I was reticent to see it.  Now I am so glad that I did watch it, as it has so many parallels to Miracle that I have to rate it as a one of my favorite sports films.

First of all the acting is top notch.   I had only seen Tom Hardy in films with his British accent, so it took a moment or two to adjust to his American accent.    Nick Nolte was so quietly amazing, I don't think I have seen him in a better role.  His Oscar nod was totally deserved.   And then there is Joel Edgerton.  I had heard of him before, but this was the first starring role I had seen him in.   I was impressed with his quiet and powerful performance.    The other film I saw this weekend was Zero Dark Thirty and he was in that as well.   I enjoyed that movie on so many levels, and Edgerton's character as a Navy Seal was short on screen time, but certainly noticeable.

Like Warrior, Miracle has strong performances.  Particularly Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks.  It can be so difficult to tell a sports story, particularly one that involves an event as monumental as the Miracle on Ice.    But rather than waiting around for sports action, the viewer is drawn into the personal, social and political dramas surrounding the characters.  Warrior is able to achieve this same level of storytelling throughout the movie as well.   Though many might be compelled to watch for the MMA (mixed martial arts) fighting, the turmoils and difficulties of the characters are deeply affecting.  I don't even really care for MMA fighting that much, but the movie created interest for me by showing the strategy behind it and made the story and outcome seem realistic.    Between the story and acting, I found Warrior to be an extremely well-round movie.

I feel that a thesis might arise from comparing these films, so I will stop there :).  A dissertation could come out of Zero Dark Thirty!  Until I find the time (or courage) to spend more time parsing these movies, I will be content to just sit back and enjoy watching them.    I can use this blog as my opportunity to be an "armchair" movie reviewer.

New Year's Resolution

As the new year starts and many people make resolutions to get in better shape, I wonder if I should resolve to not work out.   You see, I am addicted to exercise.   I am in very good shape and a highly capable athlete, though my station in life nor job requires me to be.   Besides the fact that I love being such a physically capable person, the biggest (and most consistent) high I get out of life is from my workouts.  I have never used drugs of any sort to get high, so I cannot adequately speak to that, but the natural high I get from working out has served me so well that I see no reason to ever use drugs.  Plus, I get other benefits from my workouts besides the high.

Because of my staunch regime of workouts, I considered giving it up.    The regime has been OCD in nature, as I have worked out nearly every day of my life since I was about 12 years old.   When I say every day, I mean every day, save the days I was hospitalized or recovering from surgery.   This was through college and grad school and working full-time.   These are good workouts, lasting at least an hour and sometimes lasting nearly two or three.   How has my body not worn out?  Because I vary the workouts.   Cardio/running at least 3 times a week, between 5-15 miles a time.  Weight training at least twice a week, varying the weights I use and switching between developing muscular strength and endurance.  And finally sprinkling in low impact workouts like hiking/walking and yoga.  It has become such a part of my life that I think it would be harder to give it up, than for a person who hates exercise to start working out.  I think it qualifies as an addiction.

Feeding this is the literature and evidence that exercise improves your health and makes you look better.  While those are benefits I enjoy, the thing I love most is how I feel great during and afterwards.   I feel so confident and capable.  I am less irritable and it has been shown that exercise acts as an acute buffer against stress during the day (which is one reason that I favor morning workouts).       The social aspect is and can be nice for many people, but I have always been a lone wolf when it comes to workouts, even when I was playing team sports (ice hockey and cheerleading).  

Maybe I shouldn’t give up exercise entirely, but just tone it down.   Or perhaps be more forgiving if I miss a workout.   The problem is, missing it is not only just not doing the workout.   It is like walking by an old friend that you want to give a hug to,  or passing up an interview for your dream job.  It is MISSING it.    It seems I have a good deal of energy and passion that might be redirected.   I am applying for a program in grad school.   If I get in, maybe my faculties would be better served to excel in that area.   I could utilize the discipline from my workouts to succeed in my new field.   I will have to think about that on my run tomorrow.   Runs are so helpful because they help me clear my mind and organize my thoughts.

On second thought, I will continue to work out.   When part or all of my body gives out, that will be time to stop J