Are you looking for something to get you in the mood for the 2012 London Olympics, which start in July? Why not rent a movie about past Olympic struggles and successes? There are plenty out there, but I like these five Olympic movies:
The only Olympic-themed movie to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, "Chariots of Fire," which was released in 1981, tells the story of two runners who compete in the 1924 Paris Olympics. One is a Cambridge student, the other a child of Scottish missionaries who sees running as a form of honoring God. They end up supporting one another even though they come from vastly different backgrounds--one man is a Jew, the other a devout Christian. The iconic musical score has become required background music for Olympic sports ever since.
This lesser-known, 1984 film is a biography of the young, black sprinter, who single-handedly ruined Hilter's plans for Aryan athletic superiority at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by winning four gold medals. Dorian Harewood plays Owens with understated courage and grace.
Who can resist the tale of the Jamaican bobsledding team? This 1993 comedy about Jamaica's entry and preparation for the 1988 Winter Games proves that truth is stranger than fiction. The film stars John Candy as a former Olympic bobsledder who retires to Jamaica and organizes a national team in a country that has never seen snow.
I happen to be a fan of the Olympic equestrian events, but this 1979 film has a great cast and a great, feel-good plot. A young Tatum O'Neal stars as a teenage girl who goes to live with her aunt and uncle in Britain after her parents are killed, and ends up qualifying for the British Olympic equestrian team. The movie also stars Christopher Plummer and Anthony Hopkins.
5. Miracle
The ultimate Olympic underdog story, "Miracle" is the story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, who took home gold medals after defeating the seemingly invincible Soviet Union team. I never get tired of watching this film, which stars Kurt Russell as the team's coach and Patricia Clarkson as his wife. "Miracle" has been frequently named as the Best Sports Movie of All Time.
So, dust off your DVD player or restart your Netflix membership and settle in for some enjoyable pre-Olympic movie nights.
Other Articles about the Olympics by Sandy Mitchell
Getting Ready for the Olympic Torch Relay
Hampden Park Stadium and the 2012 Olympics
