AND while we’re still thinking about it, here are more sports movies to watch again on Netflix and other streaming services during the long holidays.

Searching for Bobby Fischer — The 1993 film is based on the life of prodigy chess player Joshua Waitzkin. (played by Marc Pomeranc). Adapted from the book of the same name by Joshua’s father Fred, the film was written and directed by Steven Zaillian. In the story, Waitzkin’s family discovers that he possesses a gift for chess and they seek to nurture it with the help of a strict instructor, Bruce Pandolfini (played by Ben Kingsley). The instructor aims to teach the boy to be as aggressive as Fischer, the mercurial American chess champion. (1993, Directed by Steven Zaillian).

Wimbledon — A 2004 romantic comedy directed by Richard Locraine, the movie is about a washed-up tennis pro named Peter Colt (played by Paul Bettany) whose world ranking slipped from 11th to 119th and an up-and-coming female tennis star named Lizzie Bradbury (played by Kirsten Dunst) during the Wimbledon tennis championships. Despite Lizzie’s over-protective father-manager, the two fell in love and Lizzie helps Peter recapture his focus for Wimbledon. Peter went on to win the Wimbledon from two sets down and later helped Lizzie become a champion herself. (2004, Directed by Richard Locraine).

Million Dollar Baby — Directed by Clint Eastwood, the highly-acclaimed sports drama film earned Best Picture award in 2004 at the 77th Academy Awards. Eastwood was awarded Best Director and received a Best Actor nomination. Hilary Swank also received Best Actress award and Morgan Freeman Best Supporting Actor award. The story revolves around an under-appreciated boxing trainer, his elusive past, and his quest for atonement by helping an underdog amateur female boxer achieve her dream of becoming a professional. (2004, Directed by Clint Eastwood)

Raging Bull — Considered by critics as one of the greatest films ever made, the 1980 Martin Scorsese biographical sports drama stars Robert de Niro as Jake LaMotta, a middleweight boxer whose sadomasochistic rage, sexual jealousy, and animalistic appetite exceeded the boundaries of the prizefight ring, and destroyed his relationship with his wife and family. The movie was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor and Cinematography, in 1980. (1980, Directed by Marin Scorsese)

Color of Money — Another Martin Scorsese classic, the 1986 movie follows the story of pool hustler Edward “Fast Eddie” Felson (played by Paul Newman) and his skilled but unfocused protege, Vincent Lauria (Tom Cruise). The highlight of the movie came when Fast Eddie, who had a falling out with Vincent, came head-to-head with his now-successful protege. (1986, Directed by Martin Scorsese).

Angels in the Outfield — a 1994 remake of the 1951 movie with the same title, the film starred Danny Glover, Tony Danza and Christopher Lloyd, The movie focuses on Roger and his friend J.P., who are one of the biggest fans of the Los Angeles baseball team. He has got only two dreams: living together with a real family and let LA win the championship. As he is praying for these two things to happen some angels show up in order to help him — but he is the only one to see them and believe in them. Fortunately the coach of the baseball team sees his abilities and so LA has a run to the finals. (1994, Directed by William Dear).

Ali — Will Smith gives an Academy Award-nominated performance as boxing legend Muhammad .Ali in this biographical movie that tells the story of the world’s greatest fighter from 1964 to 1974.The movie traces Ali’s rise as heavyweight champion against Sonny Liston, his conversion to Islam, criticism of the Vietnam War, banishment from boxing, his return to fight Joe Frazier in 1971, and, lastly, his reclaiming the title from George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle fight in 1974. (2001, Directed by Michael Mann)

Tin Cup — A romantic comedy starring Kevin Costner and Rene Russo, the movie Roy “Tin Cup” McAvoy, a former golf prodigy who has little ambition, and Dr. Molly Griswold, a clinical psychologist who wants to learn golf.The movie features small roles by PGA pros Gay McCord, Phil Mickelson, Craig Stadler, Johnny Miller and Lee Janzen, as well as TV golf broadcasters Jim Nantz, Ken Venturi and Frank Chirkinian, all each playing themselves.(1996, Directed by Ron Shelton).

Hoosiers– This 1986 sports film is a nostalgic underdog story about Noman Dale, a coach with a checkered past and an alcoholic father who take a small-town Indiana high school basketball team to the state finals. The movie stars Gene Hackman as coach dale and Dennis Hopper, a basketball-loving town drunkard where he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar). The movie is loosely based on a true story about the 1954 Milan Indians basketball team. (1986, Directed by David Anspaugh).

Days of Thunder — An American auto racing film starring Tom Cruise and Nikole Kidman, the movie is about Cole Trickle, a young race car driver out to make a name of himself in NASCAR and Dr. Claire Lewicki, a neurosurgeon who develops a relationship with him. Cole is a hot driver with a hot temper, and this attitude gets him into trouble not only with other drivers, but members of his own team as well (1990, Directed by Tony Scott)

NOTES — Advance happy 37th anniversary to my lovely wife Liza on December 3.

For comments and suggestions, email to [email protected]

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya