Non-fiction films regarding sports or athletics are referred to as documentaries and by connecting to pastime favourites in a more profound way remains the most viewed. BT Sport and BBC in the UK have made several efforts to catch-up although when it comes to exceptional documentaries, it is ESPN that leads and have major success with over 100 films broadcasted across BT sports channels.
When it comes to sports-documentary excellence, the Esquire line-up includes three 30 for 30 films, as well as the OJ: Made in America, Oscar and Bafta 2017 winners and Hillsborough. What grabs the attention most is that no matter how many individuals think they know the full story, film-directors, writers and producers get to step back in time, do all the research and then offer all the reasons surrounding the event.
1995 Jean-Claude Bragard Hit
One of the most watched and loved documentaries is that of Jen-Claude Bragard called Kicking and Screaming. The six-part BBC history is difficult to locate on YouTube, especially if you wish to view the full series of English football. This series is a masterpiece and draws the line when it comes to unregulated ball games to the birth of the Premier League. Many see it as a classic and so it should as it offers a wide variety of never seen before footage as well as an understated great sense of humour. It is one of the documentaries that will remains a favourite now and, in the future, and to mention just one of the amazing episodes it is Denis Law from Scotland that tells how he was enjoying golf in Manchester, as he added unlike Manchester it was raining that day and only two where on the golf course him and the awful guy that beat him. He remembers as they turned they became aware of all the members at the window of the clubhouse, it was the day that England enjoyed a 4-2 won and Law thought the world had come to an end.
Ken McGill 1994 Impossible Job
It remains popular for many and one of the most watched sports documentaries. Tributes included that the pundit and former managers were a true football nice guy after Graham Taylor passed away, it was at this time the group that almost managed to ruin him could recall Taylor’s good nature. After the filming of the English World Cup in 1993, they were banned by from filming, by the Dutch FA. However, it was Taylor who smuggled them into the pitching side in tracksuits used by England while hiding their gear in team kit bags. These are all part of the moments captured in the documentary, as well as shots on the touchline of Taylor as England loses their opportunity to qualify for the poignant. What made Taylor a laughing stock was his openness, phrases such as “can we not knock it” or “Do I not like that” both became catchphrases and what this documentary did was killing the fly-on-the-wall documentaries.
Asif Kapadia’s 2010 Senna
If you a racing fan you know Senna and have probably watched this documentary several times, there is no doubt that Asif Kapadia raised the documentary-biopics standards with just one. Senna is recounting the life of the legend Ayrton Senna and uses lots of archive footage, and without the use of talking heads or captions he captivates the audience and make them fit into the seat of the racing driver while sharing in his public and private moments. It is one of few films where the audience is no longer onlookers they at the moment. There are no pauses no analysis and, also no after-the-fact context it is about Senna’s life that was really special and then also so tragic. This documentary is enthralling from the first second to the very end. The talented Kapadia is made quite a few documentaries after Senna including one about the life of Amy Winehouse and that of Diego Maradona, both exciting prospects, yet none able to match the intense brilliance of that of Senna 2010.