Ready for the
Olympics? Here are some flicks that are not only some pretty solid films (sorry
American Anthem) but also capture the Olympic spirit (sorry Munich).
GOLD
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Racing, in slo-mo, to
the top of the list is the film that won four Oscars, including Best Picture.
Worth another visit just to hear the somehow-timeless, electronic score by
Vangelis. Extra points this year for being a British film.
SILVER
Miracle (2004)
Miracle gives me goose bumps every time. The
story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, of course, who took home gold
medals after defeating the seemingly invincible Soviet Union team. And no,
it doesn’t matter if you know how it ends.
BRONZE
Blades of Glory
(2007)
The comedic team of
Will Ferrell and Jon “Napolean Dynomite” Heder are somehow not that much
sillier than actual Olympic synchronized swimming or men’s gymnastics, but the
duo find comic Gold in Olympic
ice dancing.
Qualifiers
Without Limits (1998) Based on the life of Olympic hopeful
Steve Prefontaine. Rent this over the Jared Leto version.
The Jesse Owens Story
(1984) Biopic of the most profoundly
successful athlete at the pre-WWII Summer Olympics of 1936.
I think I liked the Jared Leto version better.
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