The Olympics are almost upon us. There will be the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat, and perhaps some truly outstanding narratives will lead to a feature film down the road. Movies are no stranger to mining the Olympics for dramatic material, and it’s led to some fairly enjoyable features along the way. Some movies are about the joy of competing, others are about the wonder of getting the gold medal. However they go, they tend to provide a fun, entertaining look at the events that capture the attention of the world for a couple weeks every couple of years. If you’re excited for this year’s Olympics, check out these movies to get in the spirit of the games.
Cool Runnings
Yes, asFamily Guyjoked, the movie “has its moments”, but there’s something to be said for just a nice PG sports comedy (which they don’t really make anymore) based on a true story. In this case, it follows a Jamaican sprinter who’s disqualified for the Olympics so he gets together three of his fellow countrymen to become the country’s first bobsled team. Although that seems kind of outlandish and obviously a fish-out-of-water story,Jon Turteltaub’s movie makes it work. If we got more movies likeCool Runningsthat are about unlikely athletes competing in the Olympics, I wouldn’t be opposed to that. –Matt Goldberg
Chariots of Fire
Eddie the Eagle
Speaking of unlikely athletes based on true stories, we got that a couple years ago with the utterly charmingEddie the Eagle. Eddie Edwards (a lovableTaron Egerton) is an underdog who dreams of being an athlete and decides that he will be a ski jumper for Britain. Working with a down-and-out coach (Hugh Jackmanproviding a bit of star power), Eddie’s goal isn’t to win goal, but simply to compete, which is a charming message. LikeCool Runnings, there’s something to be said for movies that championing just trying rather than the mad pursuit of a gold medal. That’s not to say that those movies don’t have their place, but that the spirit of competition and succeeding against the odds are also worthwhile. –Matt Goldberg
Blades of Glory
I would watch a sports movie withKurt Russellplaying the coach every year if they released them. Russell shines here as player-turned-coach Herb Brooks, who lead the 1980 U.S. hockey team against the seemingly insurmountable Russian squad. While the movie gets its title from the announcer’s call, “Do you believe in miracles?!” when the team wins, it’s still just a nice sports team movie, especially when you’ve got Russell in the lead.Miraclemay not be a flashy film, but also, like that American hockey team, it gets the job done. –Matt Goldberg
Downhill Racer
Downhill Racer, a quietly intense sports drama, starsRobert Redfordas David Chappellet, a selfish, driven downhill skier who competes to qualify for the US Olympic team. Based onOakley Hall’s novelThe Downhill Racers, the film marks the directorial debut ofMichael Ritchie. Chappellet is the next hot thing who never shies away from a photo opportunity or an interview and is driven to become an Olympic champion. It’s one of the most realistic films depicting what it takes to become an Olympic champion. We see the numerous races, the questions of confidence, the shady equipment merchants, the risk of alienating your teammates or family and the knowledge that you have to push that little extra bit to win. The film illuminates the Olympic truth that even when an athlete gives the performance of their lifetime, there’s always someone driven to do the exact same thing right behind them. It’s what makes their accomplishments all the more amazing. —John Rocha
This documentary chronicles the Olympics from the other side, and while the Russians may be the “villains” ofMiracle,Gabe Polsky’s excellent documentary explores what life was like for a team not only living under Soviet rule, but under a Soviet banner of propaganda where winning was everything. Yes, U.S. victories at the Olympics were also propaganda, but our stakes were a whole lot lower. With hockey starViacheslav Fetisovas the guiding, dickish, yet oddly sympathetic voice at the forefront of the documentary,Red Armypaints a captivating picture of the price of gold. -Matt Goldberg
