Sadly, the 2001 NCAA college basketball tournament — or March Madness, as it is lovingly referred to — is coming to an end. The Final Four is down to two, college athletes are going home, and you — you poor fans — have to wait another agonizing year to experience that full court adrenaline again.
But, wait. There are still…the movies about basketball.
Basketball aficionados yearning to continue the thrill of the full court press can head the video store and rent some excellent movies about basketball. To help you choose the right films, we’ve highlighted some of the best basketball movies, plus some that are just pure fun (and worthy of watching with the kids). We’ve also pinpointed the movies to steer clear of, because, frankly, no one wants to spoil the game with a bad movie rendition.
Slam Dunks
From fast-paced action to the personal struggles of the players and coaches, these films get to the heart of the game – “White Men Can’t Jump,” “Hoop Dreams” and “Hoosiers.”
Basketball As A Metaphor
These movies revolve around the game but aren’t necessarily about the game. Basketball is used as a backdrop to the personal stories of the characters – “Love and Basketball,” “Basketball Diaries ” and “The Great Santini.”
For the Fun Of It
For this trio of films, you need to grab your kids, sit down and have some fun with the game of basketball. Especially if you have Bugs Bunny, some supersonic green goop and a dog to show you how the game is really played – “Flubber,” “Air Bud” and “Space Jam.”
On the Rim
The one film in this category teeters precariously on the rim; it’s not a slam-dunk, but it’s not quite a total brick, either – “Blue Chips.”
Air Balls
Warning: these films are the mistakes. Pass them by when you see them on the shelf – “Eddie,” “The Air Up There” and “The 6th Man.”
