It arrives in cinemas on March 6 AIR – The story of the great leap. The film, directed by Ben Affleckcenters on the attempts of manager Sonny Vaccaro, played by Matt Damon, to convince the NBA basketball star Michael Jordan to join the Nike. The story of the birth of an icon, but also yet another film that has basketball as its main, albeit not predominant, theme.
Here then is a list of some essential basketball movies for basketball lovers. For everyone else, the exit of Air it is the right opportunity to approach or deepen one of the most popular sports in the world, as well as one of the most recurring ones in cinematographic productions.
We offer you films that are very different from each other but united by a single common thread, basketball, underlining how there are in any case many other worthy products deserving of a vision: from Hoosiers a White Men Can’t Jumppassing through Glory Road and not only.
Coach Carter
Samuel L. Jackson plays Ken Carter in this film based on a true story. The protagonist accepts the position of coach of the basketball team Richmond High Schoolturning a group of hard-to-manage kids into a winning team.
Coach Carter is centered on the concept of student-athlete that characterizes the American school and sports model. In fact, Carter delivers to each of his players a contract to be respected in order to remain in the team. Among the conditions envisaged are the fundamental ones of maintaining a good grade point average and occupying the front desks during lessons.
In this way the film becomes much more than the simple story of a coach able to lead his players to success. It is in fact one profound reflection on the education system and what are the priorities in the lives of the children.
He Got Game
When a big fan of this sport like Spike Lee directs a film focused on basketball and starring Denzel Washingtonthe results can only be excellent.
He Got Game uses the ball in segments to focus on the theme of the father-son relationship, but also on the pressures that young talents receive even before becoming professionals.
The film tells the story of Jake Shuttlesworth, who is in prison serving a 20-year sentence for the murder of his wife. However, the governor of New York offers him a substantial reduction of the sentence, on condition that he convinces his son, one of the main prospects of high school basketball, to enroll in Big State University.
Jesus, played by the then young NBA talent Ray Allen, is in fact called to choose which path to take for the future, among the many proposals for university scholarships and the possibility of directly making the big leap into the NBA, thus coping with economic difficulties. Jesus behaves with distrust towards Jake, but it is through basketball that the two manage to find a meeting point.
Space Jam
Space Jam it is the entertainment film, about basketball, par excellence. Michael Jordan takes on the role of leading actor in this project that blends live-action and animation. There’s not much to add, for that a cult that has managed to go beyond the simple audience of enthusiasts.
Jordan finds himself catapulted into the world of Looney Tunes, with which he is called to take to the parquet to defeat a team of aliens who threaten to enslave Bugs Bunny and associates, in case of defeat. Also starring Bill Murray and several league legends, including Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing.
The film recently had a sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacyin which another living legend like LeBron James joins the Looney Tunes in a journey through the cinematic universes of the house Warner Bros.
Hustle
Speaking of rich casts of NBA stars, Hustle it’s a real one jewel for basketball lovers.
Adam Sandler, who received a nomination for this role at the latest SAG Awards, plays a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers looking for new talent. His travels around the world lead him to discover a player who will change his career forever, Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez).
Stanley Sugerman and Bo Cruz thus begin a real climb towards the NBA. An adventure characterized by insurmountable difficulties and long training sessions. Not a particularly original sports film, but one of the projects Netflix most successful and appreciated in recent months.
Back to winning
To prepare for a basketball movie directed by Ben Affleck, a basketball movie with Ben Affleckthis time only as the lead actor.
The Way Back gives a representation of basketball as a tool for catharsis. As pointed out by the protagonist, “Basketball keeps me busy, it doesn’t make me think about other things”. Jack Cunningham is a man overwhelmed by grief and addictions. The assignment to coach the Bishop Hayes basketball team, of which he was once the star on the field, is the only means of escape from a ruthless reality, the only chance to get back to winning in lifeeven before on parquet.
It may not be the best or most popular movie on this list, but The Way Back is undoubtedly the one able to excite the most.
