Five sports documentaries you cannot afford to miss
Given the drama and passion it often generates among fans, professional sport is the perfect vehicle for filmmakers to sink their teeth into.
All of the most popular sports around the world such as basketball, American Football and ice hockey have been featured in documentaries, albeit with differing degrees of success.
Some sports undoubtedly translate better to the silver screen than others, while many film producers have been guilty of focusing a little too much on sporting cliches.
With that in mind, we have identified five brilliant sports documentaries that every self-respecting sports fan should put on their ‘must-watch’ list.
June 17th, 1994
ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series is littered with excellent programmes covering stories from across the worldwide sporting spectrum.
One of the best is June 17th, 1994, which provides an in-depth look at a series of remarkable events that took place on that date.
These included the New York Rangers’ victory parade after winning the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup, the opening of the FIFA World Cup and the NBA Finals.
Director Brett Morden also interweaves former NFL star OJ Simpson’s manic police chase across Los Angeles, which had the nation and broader world on tenterhooks.
The Last Dance
This immersive 10-part Netflix documentary provides an insightful look at Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during their thrilling 1997/98 NBA season.
Inevitably angled toward Jordan’s impact on the team, The Last Dance sparked plenty of debate among the players who served as his supporting cast.
The portrayals of Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr and Dennis Rodman are intriguing to watch, and Jordan’s editorial fingerprints are clear to see in how each of them is depicted.
However, this does not detract from undoubtedly one of the most thought-provoking sports documentaries ever made.
All Madden
Broadcaster John Madden played an integral role in helping the National Football League (NFL) broaden its horizons beyond the United States.
His name became synonymous with the sport due to his involvement with the best-selling NFL series of video games developed by Electronic Arts.
The All Madden documentary is a loving tribute to his career, and it is even more poignant because he died just a few days after its release.
His humble nature shines through during the documentary and viewers will find it difficult not to shed a tear for a man who provided the soundtrack to many people’s lives.
Untold: Crime & Penalties
Untold: Crime & Penalties chronicles the story of the Danbury Trashers – a Connecticut ice hockey team that made a big noise during its short existence from 2004 to 2006.
Bought in 2003 by local gangster Jimmy Galante for his teenage son AJ, the Trashers took ice hockey’s excessive behaviour and fired into another stratosphere.
The 17-year-old filled the team with tough guys and brazenly established a controversial image for himself and the Trashers. Against all the odds, the team were successful.
The story delves into the crazy antics which fuelled the Trashers, who remain one of the most enthralling stories ever to impact the ice hockey world.
The Captain
Described by FOX Sports as ‘the last great sports hero’, Derek Jeter is revered as one of the biggest stars ever to grace Major League Baseball (MLB).
However, The Captain documentary reveals the former New York Yankees star is a multi-layered character whose extremely complicated past shaped his successful future.
While executive producer Spike Lee’s influence on this insightful documentary is not initially apparent, it comes to the fore as the series reaches an intriguing climax.
Regardless of whether you are a baseball fan, The Captain is an enthralling look at what it takes to reach the pinnacle of professional sports.
