Top 10: The White Sport in Movies (Remastered), Part 1
We've updated our list of the best tennis movies of 2016. This time it is the turn of positions ten to seven.
by Stefan Bergmann
last edit: Mar 02, 2022, 02:20 pm
From today's perspective, our overview of tennis-related films from 2016 seems pretty outdated. It's no wonder that there have been some excellent newcomers in the last six years. And at the latest with the cinema highlight "King Richard", which has been nominated for six Oscars, tennis is once again on everyone's lips, even among film buffs. All reason enough for us to give the leaderboard a new coat of paint and bring it up to date. For a better overview, we have included ratings from international critic sites this time, so that you don't just have to trust our profound opinion. So - curtain up for places ten to seven and a good projection!
10. Break Point (USA 2014)
Director: Jay Karas
Starring: Jeremy Sisto, JK Simmons
A small, fine 90-minute tennis comedy is hidden behind the concoction "Break Point" by Jay Karas. The American has made a name for himself as a director of consistently entertaining comedy series episodes and also proves his sense of comedy in "Break Point", albeit with minor weak phases over the long term. Jeremy Sisto (known from "Six Feet Under" or "Law & Order") plays the doubles specialist Jimmy Price, who is abandoned by his partner because of his infantile and reckless behavior and is in a desperate search for a new partner for the upcoming US Open Brother Darren asks for help. The two had formed a team when they were young - but Jimmy left his brother out in the cold at the time because he didn't think he was good enough. He now works as a substitute teacher. Father Jack (Academy Award-winner JK Simmons, "Whiplash") and 11-year-old Barry help the pair reconnect both on and off the court. A nice little film for in between, garnished with a good pinch of tennis. (Ratings: IMDb 6.0/10 , Rotten Tomatoes 71/100 )
9. Playing the Moldovans at Tennis (UK/MDA 2012)
Director: Tony Hawks
Starring: Tony Hawks, Anatol Burbala
In the beginning it was "just" a bet, then an international book bestseller and in the end this 96-minute, extremely entertaining and touching film was made. In 1997, English comedian and writer Tony Hawks, while watching the World Cup qualifying match between his home team and Moldova with a few cronies in a pub, bet that he would beat all the opponents' outfield players in tennis. So he actually sets out to find the eleven opponents in the completely unknown country and to challenge them to a game one after the other. Gradually, however, Tony has to realize that he has gotten himself involved in far more than he would like. In one of the poorest countries in Europe, the language barrier is still the smallest problem for the Brits - sudden power cuts, harassing gangsters and corrupt politics are part of everyday life in the south-eastern European state. Based on real events, "Playing the Moldovians at Tennis" is a small masterpiece, garnished with a brief appearance by Pat Cash. The film deservedly received all the good reviews. Incidentally, Tony Hawks started a humanitarian campaign after his experiences in the Republic of Moldova - if you would like to help, you can find out more here. (Ratings: IMDb 7.8/10 )
8. 7 Days in Hell (USA 2015)
Directed by Jake Szymanski
Starring: Andy Samberg, Kit Harrington
Anyone who likes abstruse and sometimes deep black humor is absolutely right with "7 Days in Hell". The work of the US television production company HBO is a 43-minute mockumentary by director Jake Szymanski. Mockumentary refers to a film genre that is structured like a documentary but reports on completely fictitious facts. The two main protagonists Aaron Williams (Andy Samberg / Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Charles Poole (Kit Harington / Game of Thrones, Eternals) are bitter opponents at the men's Wimbledon final in 2001. While Williams is the white brother of the two Williams sisters, Venus and Serena was raised by father Richard to be a tennis pro, Poole's mother literally forced the child prodigy into a tennis career. A seven-day tennis thriller unfolds between the two opponents, backed up with facts and background reports on the historic final. In the entertaining and offbeat comedy, Serena Williams, John McEnroe and magician David Copperfield, among others, have perfectly placed performances. Less suitable for fans of subtle jokes, "7 Days in Hell" is the perfect film for tennis fans with a penchant for mallet humor. (Ratings: IMDb 7.1/10 , Metacritic 67/100 , Rotten Tomatoes 86/100 )
7. Wimbledon - Game, Set and... Love (USA 2004)
Directed by Richard Loncraine
with: Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany
At the time he was the greatest tennis talent England had ever produced, but the career of Peter Colt (Paul Bettany / Avengers, WandaVison) is slowly coming to an end. His best performance of eleventh place in the ranking is worthy of all honor, but the tennis experts have the feeling that there could have been more in the career of the somewhat too lazy athlete. Having slipped down to 119th place in the world rankings, Peter would like to start one last time at the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon and then hang up his racquet. Thanks to a wild card from the organiser, the wish of the departing professional has come true. On the training ground, however, Peter meets Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst / Spider-Man, Melancholy), an aspiring top player from the USA who has already made it to number two in the world rankings. The two fall in love straight away, and Peter also experiences his second spring on the tennis court. If only it weren't for Lizzie's (Sam Neill / Jurassic Park, The Piano) over-ambitious father and manager, who thinks absolutely nothing of his daughter's love affair. A lot of tennis, a lot of feeling, harmless humor and a little drama make "Wimbledon - Game, Set and... Love" the perfect romantic comedy for tennis romantics. The hour and a half flies by and the green at the All England Tennis and Croquet Club has never been so lush. (Ratings: IMDb 6.3/10 , Metacritic 59/100 , Rotten Tomatoes 61/100 )
In part 2 of our top list, which we will publish on Monday, March 7th, we present you places six to four as well as two bizarre extras from the world of tennis films. stay tuned