Sports movies often tap into the most treacly and cliched tendencies of storytelling. Here are 2012's weirdest examples.
SPORTS. Not only are they often on TV — they make for the weirdest movies! I've highlighted nine of the stranger sports-related — sometimes very loosely sports-related — movies of the year, because we need to simultaneously challenge the fact that directors often err toward cliche and conventionality when they make sports movies as well as recognize the fact that this cliche-driven approach often manifests itself in Gerard Butler taking off his shirt. Huge thanks to Rotten Tomatoes for help with screengrabs and information, as well as the ratings, which I've included next to the movies' names and used to rank them from best to worst.
Premium Rush — 76%
Summary: Joseph Gordon-Levitt's psychotic bike messenger has to deliver an extra-dangerous, extra-special message that is liable to get him killed, except for the fact that he's the best bike messenger in Gotham, nahmean?
Review excerpt: "The whole film sizzles with urban aggression." — Bruce Diones, The New Yorker
Saving grace: That, despite the insane and bizarre premise of focusing a high-octane action/chase movie on bike messengers, it's actually good! (Also, Michael Shannon!)
Source: content6.flixster.com
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen — 67%
Summary: Ewan McGregor tries to make fly fishing in Yemen a thing. (Fishing is a sport, so back off.) Surprisingly for Ewan McGregor, he does not get naked.
Review excerpt: "Proudly, it has no conviction to offer, just the comforts of its genericness." — Wesley Morris, the Boston Globe
Saving grace: I mean, McGregor and Kristen Scott Thomas are excellent actors, and the movie got solid reviews and, hilariously, was nominated for a bunch of Golden Globes. That title, though: hysterical, fascinating, bizarre, and totally meaningless all at the same time.
Source: content9.flixster.com
The Man With The Iron Fists — 51%
Summary: The RZA makes complicated instruments of death for a bunch of battling tribes in China that somehow includes Russell Crowe. Kung Fu movies are the original sports movies, and The Man With The Iron Fists is basically an adoring, deranged ode to Kung Fu movies.
Review excerpt: I'm going to give pro and con reviews for this one:
Con: "Lunatic, slipshod, absurdly violent, horribly acted, and borderline incomprehensible." — Ty Burr, the Boston Globe
Pro: "As erratically enjoyable as it is consistently ridiculous, the martial arts pastiche "The Man With the Iron Fists" is the latest evidence that the vogue for neo-exploitation cinema shows no sign of flagging." — Manohla Dargis, the New York Times
Saving grace: Are you kidding???? IT WAS DIRECTED BY AND STARS THE RZA.
Source: content9.flixster.com