It’s Errol Morris week on Grantland, the ESPN-owned website operated by Bill Simmons, and with it comes six new short films from the Oscar-winning documentarian behind “The Fog of War,” “The Thin Blue Line” and “The Unknown Known.”
One of the many things I love about Grantland is its willingness to experiment when it comes to content. On first glance, the sports-heavy website would seem to be one of the last places on the Internet to dedicate a week of coverage to Morris, who doesn’t exactly make the type of Happy Meal movies that Hollywood loves to advertise on ESPN. However, guided by Simmons, Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Wesley Morris and a team of wonderful writers, Grantland has done just that.
The highlight of the six-picture slate thus far has been “The Streaker,” which follows Mark Roberts, who for the past 22 years, has been interrupting events in the nude, most notoriously the Super Bowl, where he snuck onto the field dressed as a referee and danced at midfield before a massive football player took him down. In fact, when Janet Jackson had her famous wardrobe malfunction, Roberts was nearby warming up for his own.
“I just want to give people something to smile about,” Roberts says with a mischievous grin. While some people are offended by streakers, I’m rather entertained by the ensuing chaos, so long as he stays away from the Scripps National Spelling Bee and the Little League World Series.
Earlier this week, I also watched “The Heist,” which is told from the point of view of an anonymous former Duke student who helped steal Michael Jordan’s famous #23 jersey from the rafters of UNC’s Dean Dome in 1998. Imagine “Ocean’s 11” with four diehard Duke fans who have imagination in place of criminal experience.
I plan on catching up with “The Subterranean Stadium,” about a group of New York guys who still play electronic football, and I eagerly look forward to “Being Mr. Met,” which reveals the beloved New York mascot’s greatest secrets, including a threat from the Secret Service not to approach President Clinton during a game.
Friday boasts a dual premiere of “Most Valuable Whatever” and “Chrome,” the latter of which tells the story of Triple Crown-winning horse California Chrome. Meanwhile, “MVW” examines one of Simmons’ favorite hobbies — collecting unusual sports items — which in this case includes oddball objects such as Ty Cobb’s dentures and the jersey Mark Sanchez wore during his infamous Buttfumble in a Thanksgiving game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots.
Errol Morris Week also includes a candid interview with the filmmaker as well as an essay from Morris (Wesley, that is) about the director’s body of work thus far. The project hails from ESPN’s Exit 31 content group, and all six shorts were produced by Moxie Pictures in association with Wieden + Kennedy Entertainment. They first aired on ESPN last Sunday night as part of a new primetime special “It’s Not Crazy, It’s Sports,” which took its title from the network’s long-running brand campaign of the same name.
“Sports, as we all know, touches on everything,” Morris said in a recent statement. “It provides a way in to our culture and to our dreams. Each one of the six short films involves an obsession –– whether it is about a horse, an electric football game, or a sports reliquary won at auction. They are all human stories, and it is my hope that we can recognize part of ourselves in each one of them.”
“One of ESPN Films’ principal edicts is to support distinctive visions, and since the start of his career there has been no more distinctive voice in filmmaking than Errol Morris,” added Dan Silver of ESPN Films. “Nothing else quite feels like an Errol Morris film.”
At a time when many websites are content to publish stories based on social media trends, Grantland should be commended for daring to do something that Hollywood is often chastised for not doing — telling fresh and unique stories via original content.
18 Dramatic Championship Sports Movie Moments: From 'Rocky' to 'Remember the Titans' (Photos)
"The Pride of the Yankees" (1942)
This beautifully dramatized moment of sports history, as wonderfully monologued by Gary Cooper, helped to immortalize the already infamous "Luckiest man" speech by Lou Gehrig.
“Rocky” (1976)
In the ultimate underdog story, newcomer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) gets a shot at the world heavyweight title against champ Apollo Creed. Rocky proves he has the goods, going the entire 15 rounds against Creed, but loses in a split decision. Rocky would get a rematch though and win the title in “Rocky II”.
"Breaking Away" (1979)
One of the most inspiring underdog stories ever made, the Little 500 bicycle race in Bloomington, Indiana, is a local classic as made famous by this film. In the film's closing race scene, the locals -- dressed in plain white T-shirts with their nickname the "Cutters" -- upset the richer college students with more expensive bikes and uniforms, riding across the finish line in pure glory.
“Chariots of Fire” (1981)
Two Englishmen push each other to be the best sprinter at the 1924 Olympics. While they won gold on the big screen’s racetrack, “Chariots of Fire” would go on to win Oscar gold for best picture.
“The Natural” (1984)
Robert Redford plays middle-age rookie Roy Hobbs in “The Natural.” Hobbs leads his team to a championship on his final at-bat when he launches the most famous home run in movie history. Thus proving the unspoken rule in baseball: If you break the lights you win the game.
“Hoosiers” (1986)
Another Indiana classic in what is widely considered one of the greatest sports movies of all time, “Hoosiers” follows a small town high school basketball team as they make it all the way to the state finals. They play a bigger and more athletic team in the finals, but with a last second shot pull off the surprise victory.
“Major League” (1989)
Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger lead an outfit of misfit Cleveland Indians from last place to a shot at the league pennant against the powerhouse Yankees. Even though the film is a comedy, the final game plays out in dramatic fashion.
“A League of Their Own” (1992)
“A League of Their Own” proved that girls can play baseball, and ends in a play at the plate that determines the championship. Geena Davis’ Rockford Peaches may lose that final game, but as Tom Hanks taught us, “there is no crying in baseball!”
Steve James’ revolutionary documentary follows inner-city Chicago kids William Gates and Arthur Agee throughout their high-school basketball careers. The film culminates in both striving to reach the finals of their city wide championship tournament.
“Remember the Titans” (2001)
Based on the true story of Virginia’s first integrated high school football team (led by coach Denzel Washington), the Titans not only change the views of an entire town, but they go undefeated on their way to a thrilling state championship against an all-white team.
“Friday Night Lights” (2004)
The film that spawned the critically acclaimed TV series (which in turn may spawn a film of its own) is memorable in that its featured team doesn’t win the championship. The Permian Panthers mount a great comeback, but come up one yard short of the state title.
“Miracle” (2004)
In perhaps one of the greatest upsets in sports history, a team of U.S. college hockey players defeated the Soviet Union, the three-time defending gold medal winner and best team in the world, during the Cold War.
"DodgeBall" (2004)
Okay, okay. This is really a parody of sports movies. But for all its send-ups of underdog sports movie formulas, it also embraces them full-heartedly during the gripping championship showdown between the Average Joes and Globo Gym.
“The Fighter” (2010) David O. Russell‘s Oscar-winning picture depicted boxer Mickey Ward’s (Mark Wahlberg) climb up the ranks from middling contender to a shot at the title. The final fight shows the grit and heart that it took for Ward to win the belt.
"Senna" (2010)
The best sports documentaries are as riveting as their scripted counterparts, putting viewers right in the action as if they are watching it unfold live. "Senna" is one of the finest examples, using primarily archival footage with no narration and few interviews to show the bitter Formula 1 rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost that led to the 1989 and 1990 championships being decided in controversial fashion at Japan's famed Suzuka Circuit.
"Survive and Advance" (2013)
ESPN's "30 for 30" series included a look at arguably the most famous championship run in college basketball history. In 1983, Jimmy Valvano led the North Carolina State Wolfpack on a streak of nine consecutive overtime or one-point wins, culminating in a last-second basket to win the championship over top-ranked Houston. In this documentary, even though the outcome is known, every game's heart-stopping drama is recreated perfectly.
"Creed" (2015)
The power and hypnotic beauty of this famous running scene from "Creed" as directed by Ryan Coogler is immense. Michael B. Jordan captures the inspiring training run from the original "Rocky" with a modern spirit. You can feel the emotion of the moment so strongly and can't help but root for him.
"Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies" (2017)
Another ESPN documentary that puts you right in the moment. Narrated by Lakers fan Ice Cube and Celtics fan Donnie Wahlberg, this five-hour doc covers the most famous championship rivalry in sports, which peaked with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the 80s. The tension hits its peak with Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals, in which Bird infamously missed a game-tying three-point shot.
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Whether it’s the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, TheWrap recaps the biggest moments in these sports classics
"The Pride of the Yankees" (1942)
This beautifully dramatized moment of sports history, as wonderfully monologued by Gary Cooper, helped to immortalize the already infamous "Luckiest man" speech by Lou Gehrig.
