30 in 30 - Determined To Find These

I've been slowly building a wishlist of documentaries I want to see as part of my '30 in 30' project.  But I've been finding that the tough part isn't finding titles for me to watch (there seem to be a lot of sport docs out there), it's physically finding the documentaries.

I don't have to explain how difficult it would be to try and watch a documentary that I don't have access to.

But with that in mind, I will build a list that (for the most part) I feel confident I can track down copies of.  I will also have a couple of standby titles just in case something falls through.

The newest additions to the list are some that I've had my eye on for a while.

Knuckleball is a new movie that focuses on one of the most rare and unique type of ballplayers ever - the knuckleballer.  I'll admit, I'm a sucker for R.A. Dickey.  I'll root for that guy any day of the week.  Tim Wakefield is also a prominent player in the doc.

Fingers crossed I can track down a copy.

Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals isn't as new, but any HBO doc I haven't seen is one that goes on the list.  They do solid stuff - period.  Add to that the fact that the mid-80's was a magical time for me and sports and I got to see Johnson and Bird at their best when sports was nothing more in my mind than just a game - pure innocence.

Touching The Void is one I'll have no problem tracking down.  I've seen it at the local library.  This one sits on the line between documentary and action/adventure.  I'm putting it on the list because I want to see how much of that line is blurred.

Check out the trailer and you'll see what I mean.

Next, I'm adding The Curious Case Of Curt Flood to the list.  I was told about this way back when I initially posted about sport documentaries.

Flood basically sacrificed his career to fight for what he thought was right.  Free agency, challenging baseball's reserve clause and standing up for what he believed in - even if very few supported his cause.

Definite must see.

Lastly (fingers crossed) I am putting The Last Gladiators on the list.  Less Slap Shot and more The Wrestler or Requiem For A Heavyweight, this documentary is about the enforcers of the NHL and life after they hang up the skates.  The central character is Chris "Knuckles" Nilan.

One reviewer laid it all out in one sentence,

"This documentary shows the aftermath, the tough guys' denoument, as their lives - and the role they played - dissolve in a unique mixture of regret, shame, pride, self-destruction and nostalgia."

The filmmakers are the same guys that did the Catching Hell doc (highly recommended).

Gotta find Nilan!

Now no peeking ahead of time.  Trailers - yes, the full doc - no.

'30 in 30' - LIST OF MOVIES

1. Hoop Dreams

2. Murderball

3. The Endless Summer

4. Pumping Iron

5. Undefeated

6. Michael Jordan: To The Max

7. Bobby Fischer Against The World

8. Jim Brown: All American

9. Tyson

New additions.....

10. Knuckleball

11. Magic & Bird: A Courtship Of Rivals 

12. Touching The Void

13. The Curious Case Of Curt Flood 

14. The Last Gladiators (gold if I can find this one)