Review of This Sporting Life (1963) by Richard S — 02 Aug 2008
Leave it to Lindsay Anderson to capitalize on the chav footballer trend decades before Beckham and his buddies turned it into a global phenomenon. "This Sporting Life" succeeds because, like every good sport movie, it isn't really about the mechanics of the game or who wins and loses.
You see, although Richard Harris pulled himself out of the mines, he's still groveling in the dirt. Sure, he drives a Bentley, but this is a classic examination of a man struggling to balance id and insecurity.
His seemingly boundless ego and complete disregard for those around him serves as a fascinating precursor to De Niro's LaMotta, but Anderson's film is more than a mere curio piece. It may be 45, but it's still energetic enough to get noticed.
Along with the Quixotic "O Lucky Man", this is my favorite of Anderson's films.
This review of This Sporting Life (1963) was written by Richard S on 02 Aug 2008.
This Sporting Life has generally received very positive reviews.
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