Fav Sport Flicks? Ya Gotta Add This One

Rating: 9/10 (16 November 2011)

"Slap Shot" is always in the running when folks start the list for their top sports films. First amazing thing about the film is that it was written by a Ms. Namcy Dowd and she based it on her local hockey team that had her brother on the rooster. Paul Newman turns in one of his best overall performances as the beleaguered losing player/coach, Reg Dunlop. The supporting cast is tops all down the line but the one stellar stand out is the GM of the team played by Paul's perpetual co-acting buddy, Strother Martin. The skating scenes are authentic as they used many real hockey types for the team roles. Even Newman does his own stuff on the ice and he isn't that bad. Latter versions of the tapes and DVD's of the film had a different music soundtrack...seems there was a contract problem with some of the music on the original print. Try to watch the theatrical release on Netflix to capture the original flair and feeling of "Slap Shot". The humor is raunchy and real and if you are like me you will watch it over and over again and still laugh out loud at the right places. If you have never, ever seen "Slap Shot" I am amazed...BUT don't sit there. Get up and turn it on now! You will experience great film making (thanks to George Roy Hill) and above the boards acting by the entire cast. Enjoy "Slap Shot". I always have.