Feature – Top On-screen Sports Drama
Monday sees the drama of a small-town Texas high school football team transferred from under the lights of the gridiron to your living room as the first season of Friday Night Lights (that’s all 22 episodes!) arrives on DVD. On the field, in the school hallways, and around the family dinner tables, drama abounds as the young players, their friends and family struggle with the stresses of rural Texan life. This got us thinking about our favourite sports dramas, both on the big and small screen – of course Friday Night Lights has the distinction of impressing on both!
The White Shadow
From 1981 to 1981, if you wanted to watch sports drama on TV you simply had to watch The White Shadow. This basketball show starred Ken Howard as a former Chicago Bulls NBA player forced into retirement by injury. He takes up as coach of a troubled school’s team, teaching basketball skills, life lessons, and clashing with the board over education and discipline in his South Central LA school.
The White Shadow Published via LongTail.tv
Rocky
The first of six Rocky films, this 1976 instant classic catapulted Sly Stallone onto the Hollywood scene as the writer and star of the dramatic boxing film. Sly plays Rocky Balboa, a collector for a local loan shark, who gets a shot at the title. Passed his prime, it’s feared that Rocky is being used to further the career of the prize fighter. This, when coupled with Rocky’s tumultuous relationship with Adrian (Talia Shire), makes Rocky one of the best-loved sporting dramas on the big screen.
Rocky – Official Trailer HD (1976) Published via LongTail.tv
Dream Team
Football of the variety played outside of the US now with Dream Team. The one hour drama program ran for 419 episodes over ten years, and followed stars of fictional Harchester United from youth team, through to first team premiership and an FA cup win, and fight a against relegation. Live isn’t easy on or off the pitch the players, managers and owners in this wildly popular series.
Dream Team Montage Published via LongTail.tv
Raging Bull
Back to boxing with a look at Martin Scorsese’s much-loved and highly acclaimed biographical tale of Jake LaMotta’s life in and out of the ring. Acting heavyweight Robert De Niro excels as both young and old, fit and out of shape LaMotta through episodes of sadomasochistic rage, boxing brilliance, and enough emotional drama to have you weeping, wrathful, and cheering. Look no further for a masterclass in big screen sports drama.
Raging Bull (HD Trailer) Published via LongTail.tv
Friday Night Lights
Following the critical success of Peter Berg’s film adaptation of H.G. Bissinger’s account of the 1988 Odessa Permian Panther’s run at the State Championships, the format was translated to the small screen for a five season run. On TV, the residents of fictional Dillon, TX, cheer their high school football team through highs and lows on and off the field. The small town backdrop allows the show to portray very real contemporary issues such as racism, abortion, education funding, drugs, and perceptions of a dead-end future. Friday Night Lights will have you rooting for these kids and their families, whether they’re cradling a pigskin, a text book, or a new-born.
Friday Night Lights Emmy® Awards trailer Published via LongTail.tv
Friday Night Lights Season 1 arrives on DVD on June 25, and includes the full length feature film.
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