The Films that England Need to Watch

In the midst of a rugby crazed country, Henry Heffer gives us a fresh perspective on what the sport means to him and how, through the power of movies, we can learn a lot more...

It seems I was never destined to be a professional rugby player. You see, I enjoyed playing the game but I hated the training. It still represents a level of discipline that I have yet to achieve. However, I feel I have finally made my peace with this for I know that I will, eventually, find the pitch again, and when I do, at least I will be well rested.

My home team of Bath Rugby has managed to bestow the gift of almost an entire back line to this year’s England World Cup squad, and since returning to the city, I have been racking my brains trying to think of a way to contribute as well.

What can I do to show my support? Short of sitting in the 1st tier seats at £5,000 a game, waiting to be picked from the crowd to replace an injured player, which, of course, I have fantasied about during this painstakingly slow build up. I mean, I already have the jersey!

Once again movies hold the answer. Movies hold all the answers. Movies will make everything alright… But the sports movie is an entirely different beast. Many consider it a dirty, desolate genre of film, that sits on the side-lines due to its predictability and soullessness.

Those who deem filmmaking to be an art form, essentially corrupted by money and advertising, see this defect reflected back at them (in a far less subtle way) by modern sport. Add the two together and what you get is confused piece of filmmaking, clutching at straws when it comes to the wider world.

Despite this, I believe there are a few qualities and lessons that can be learned from these films (given the right audience). So here is my gift. A list of five films that should be employed to help our boys to victory. I include a indicator of who this film should be watched by, when England could be most in need of its power and an inspirational quote from the film. Good Luck England!

Any Given Sunday– Oliver Stone

Unlike Clint Eastwood’s take on rugby, in his 2009 film Invictus, Stone really knows how to make American football come to life. Which is strange, considering that the majority of American football is hanging around for hours, for three seconds of action. The characterisation is better too, again strange, considering that an American football team is made up of around 70,000 players. Basically American football is crap. But that hardly matters, what matters is what is going on off the pitch.

Al Pacino plays Tony D’Amato, the seemingly washed up coach of the Miami Sharks, who is trying to find some sanity against the corrupting forces that have turned his sport into a circus. Jamie Foxx comes into his own as “Steamin” Willie Beamen, the young Faustian Quarter-back, trying to keep his head above water whilst caught up in his sudden rise to fame.

I chose this film because it contains plenty of truths about what sport has become, a money driven industrial complex, which completely skews and exploits the minds of its athletes. However, I really believe D’Amato when he tells Beamen “This game has got to be about more than winning.” It also contains one of the most inspirational speeches in all of film, to rival William Wallace’s in Braveheart. Not only is this film honest in a way only Oliver Stone can deliver, but it  shows that pride and respect can run deep.

Should be watched by: Stuart Lancaster.

When England need it most: When down by twenty at the half.

Inspirational quote: “Either we come together now, as a team, or we will crumble as individuals".

The Legend of Bagger Vance– Robert Redford

Or, The Legend of Bag of Ants as it is affectionately known in my family.

Golf is a tricky one to cover. Only three people in the world really care about golf, even though it seems to be on the television constantly. However, this story of war shaken veteran Randolph Junuh (played by Matt Damon), facing up to his…ehem… Demons, to find his swing once more, is like a warm hug on a cold night.

The real star here is Will Smith as Bagger Vance, who strolls in, on a muggy southern evening, like the African American characters of old, to assist Junuh in his quest to nail Charlize Theron… I mean win the match, or the tour- or whatever you win in golf.

Should be watched by: The entirety of the support staff- I think maybe the guy who brings on the kicking tee would work well… Mike Catt, I think.

When England need it most: Down by two against Australia.

Inspirational quote: “You can’t see that flag as some dragon you gotta slay. You have to look with soft eyes.”

The Replacements– Howard Deutch

Yes, another American Football movie. But it does have the greatest actor of our generation in the lead role- Keanu Reeves.

I wrote a script a few years ago based on this film. It was after Bath players were banned from playing because some of them were caught taking drugs in nightclubs all over Bath. I was then reinvigorated to finish the script a couple of years later, after hilarious CCTV footage emerged of Carl Fernes knocking out the new Bath recruit, Gavin Henson, in a local pub.

The replacements are a ragbag bunch of miscreants, who are united by the former quarter-back Shane Falco, (played by a constantly windswept Keanu Reeves). It is a true underdog story, that is easily funnier than other films of the same ilk, such of Mean Machine and or Dodgeball. And this story could live again. With every passing year, the premise becomes more and more unlikely, and with the English Premier League’s wage cap, is slightly redundant in terms of English rugby. However the message is sound. England need a team united. And if that means they must sing a rendition of ‘I Will Survive’ together, than this world cup looks to be an incredible show.

Should be watched by: Chris Robshaw

When England need it most: Just before their match against South Africa in the Quarter final.

Inspirational quote: “I spent so many nights, thinking how you did me wrong and I grew strong, I learned how to carry on".

Ali– Michael Mann

A genuinely great movie and probably Michael Mann’s best. His style of filmmaking fits so perfectly to this fragmented story that is a reflection of the U.S’ struggle for civil rights.

Will Smith again, playing one of the most iconic athletes in sporting history. And, I bet if you asked all the England squad who is their most inspiring sporting hero, 90% would mention his name. I do not give this gift to the whole team. There is plenty going on in this movie and I don’t know whether all would be able to pay attention. But for those who manage to sit through all three hours of this film there is the reward of watching the magnificent set piece- The Rumble in the Jungle. Who is going to keep hitting? Who is going to track back to make that vital tap tackle in the dying seconds?

Should be watched by: Sam Burgess

When England need it most: Defending their one try lead. Scrum down on the five meter line. New Zealand put in.

Inspirational quote: “Your hands can’t hit what your eyes can’t see, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

D2: The Mighty Ducks- Sam Weisman

I chose the second instalment of this trilogy, simply because it is based around an international tournament called The Goodwill Games and seemed slightly more relevant. Same rules apply though. Enter the Mighty Ducks, led by Gordon Bombay (played by Emilio Estevez), turned Team USA for this outing, on route to beat favourites for the tournament- Iceland. It’s sort of The Miracle on Ice scenario, but far more entertaining.

All the crowd pleasing antics are there, including recruiting street smart players, The Bash Brothers, The Flying D and everyone’s favourite chant “Quack, Quack, Quack…” But all of this is a distraction. These small exponents of sport manage to sum up everything I think is right with sport. Kids don’t need million dollar contracts, they just want to play and The Mighty Ducks have reached deep inside themselves, overcome every obstacle, just to play the game.

D2 is mostly about staying true to your teammates and yourself. Bombay has to shrug off the alluring power of Hollywood as well as a beautiful Icelandic goddess, to remember where his duty lies. And Team USA must return to their roots in order to understand why they love the game in the first place, culminating in a epic finale where they strip their USA kit in favour of their Mighty Ducks uniform. With all this in mind I give this final gift to the entire England team.

Should be watched by: The entire England team

When England need it most: For best results, watch before every single game.

Inspirational quote: “And when everyone says it can’t be done- Ducks fly together!”