Winter of our content: Fun Olympic movies

Here are some movies to get you into the mood for the Winter Olympics, which start Friday in Vancouver, B.C.

Cool Runnings (1993): Based on the true story of the Jamaican Bobsled team in the 1988 Calgary Games. Jamaicans are known for their summer runners, so this story about how they put together a team is the perfect way to chill out.

Miracle (2004): “Do you believe in miracles?” So uttered Al Michaels in 1980 at Lake Placid, N.Y., when the United States team of amateurs beat the mighty Soviet Union in ice hockey. This version (there was also a 1981 made-for-TV version, “Miracle on Ice,” starring Karl Malden) stars Kurt Russell in the lead role of coach Herb Brooks. Other recognizable names in the theatrical motion picture include Patricia Clarkson as Brooks’ wife and Eddie Cahill as Jim Craig. Billy Schneider played the role of his real-life father, Buzz Schneider – supposedly, when he was cast, the director, Gavin O’Connor, had no idea of the relationship.

Anyway the answer to the question, of course, is “Yes!!”

The Cutting Edge (1992): Teenage girls went wild over this one starring D.B. Sweeney and Moira Kelly, who are forced together as pair figure skaters – and fall in love after much bickering. Sweeney becomes a pairs skater after his ice hockey career comes to a crashing end and Kelly plays the spoiled rich girl who blames all her other partners for her failures.

Downhill Racer (1969): In one of the most intelligent sports movies ever made, Robert Redford plays a self-interested skier who makes the U.S. Olympic team. A morality tale based on the novel by Oakley Hall, who took his inspiration from the 1960 Squaw Valley Games. Also, there were inevitable comparisons made with Redford’s character and Jean-Claude Killy, the dashing French skier who won three gold medals at the 1968 Olympics.

Sonia Henie movies: Just pick one of the many the three-time Olympic champ from Norway made in the 1930s and 40s (“One in a Million,” “It’s a Pleasure”). Not only was she skilled on the ice, but her infectious smile and laughter transfer well to the screen.

Blades of Glory (2007): Will Ferrell and Jon Heder play rival men’s figure skaters who are forced to team up in pairs competition in this hilarious and irreverent movie. Real-life husband and wife Will Arnett and Amy Poehler play brother and sister baddies as well. Look out for the cameos by former Olympians such as Brian Boitano, Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill.

Ice Princess (2005): Michelle Trachtenberg wants to be a champion figure skating. Her mom wants her to go to Harvard. Who prevails? Hayden Panettiere of “Heroes” makes an impression with an intelligent performance as Trachtenberg’s rival.

Ice Castles (1978): We’ll speak here about the original one in which Robbie Benson and Lynn-Holly Johnson are our couple in love. Supporting roles by Colleen Dew- hurst, Tom Skerritt and the underrated Jennifer Warren also give the motion picture some cred.

The Ice Follies of 1939: Yes, indeed, it’s Joan Crawford and Jimmy Stewart as a husband-and-wife team who put on a show to keep their marriage intact. Lew Ayres also stars and members of the real Ice Follies perform. Crawford sings “Something’s Gotta Happen” in the movie; she was supposed to sing two other songs but they were cut. The huge ice show was filmed in Technicolor in this otherwise black-and-white movie.

On Edge (2001): Figure skating competition in Los Angeles includes a plus-sized heroine played by Tony Award-winner Marissa Jaret Winokur of Broadway “Hairspray” fame. Look out for Kathy Griffin as Karen Katz and Jason Alexander as Zamboni Phil. Olympic cameos include Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner.

A Brothers’ Promise: The Dan Jansen Story (1996): Made-for-TV biopic of how the speed skater overcame adversity after the death of his sister in 1988.

source : www.seattlepi.com

Related News:

• This movie’s problems are ‘Legion’; clichéd apocalyptic thriller not worth saving
• There’s an art to translating books into movies
• Amanda Bynes Strips for Maxim, Wants to do "Sexy" Movies
• Oy vey! Natalie Portman doesn’t like to play Jewish characters in movies
• Forecast 2010: movies
• 10 movies to look forward to in 2010; ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ "Sex & the City 2′,’ ‘Iron Man 2,’ more
• Sex doesn’t sell at the movies, study finds
• ‘Nine’ soundtrack shows movie’s stars hitting all the wrong notes
• Movies: Big-screen winners & sinners
• Turner Classic Movies looks back at Hollywood’s epic epics with ‘The World of Epics’