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Film Reviews

The Damned United & A Handful Of Non-Shit Sports Films
Taylor Parkes , March 24th, 2009 11:25

The Damned United is a lightweight version of David Peace's dark character study of football manager Brian Clough. Taylor Parkes picks apart this flawed football flick. Plus Jeremy Allen compiles a gallery of 10 sports films that weren't shit.

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A League of their Own

While A League of their Own occasionally errs towards schmaltzy, it also has plenty going for it, including a decent story loosely based on the truth, and some excellent performances, notably Tom Hanks. Set in Wartime America, two sisters from a remote farm in Oregon are chosen to play Baseball in the All American Pro Girls League, while the chaps are off overseas getting shot. The movie deals with the bitter rivalry between the sisters, and the politics and prejudices involved with women playing sport, which seemingly hasn't improved much since the Second World War. Hank's 'there's no crying in baseball' scene is the highlight.