A GOOD SPORT
US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
Lee Remick, Ralph Waite, Joe Morton, Antonio Fargas.
Directed by Lou Antonio.
A Good Sport is an entertaining telemovie, with excellent roles for Lee Remick and Ralph Waite (who co-produced the film). It was directed by Lou Antonio, a veteran of some enjoyable telemovies.
The film seems to be an updating of the Katharine Hepburn- Spencer Tracy 1942 vehicle, Woman of the Year. It focuses on the clash between a sportswriter and a fashion editor. The unlikely duo then become friends and the film has a strong theme on the nature of friendship.
It is all lightly done, quite entertaining - but with some point.
1. An entertaining telemovie, the battle of the sexes, the updating of Woman of the Year to the '80s?
2. The atmosphere of the city, the world of sport, the world of fashion, the world of the newspaper? Apartments, restaurants? The street scenes? The musical score?
3. The title - to whom did it refer?
4. The portrait of Bill: his age, sexual relationships, his friends at the paper, their slinging off at him? Writing the column? Going to the footballer with his fashion design? Getting into a fight? The initial clash with Michelle? The writing of the column? Michelle coming to the bar, confronting him, her statistics? Their further meetings and clashes? Their beginning to be friends? His going to the fashion show? Her going to the sports discussion - and her mistake about Ricky Mantle? Bill going to her home, meeting the daughter? The friends and his irritation at their discussion, watching the sport on television? His own affair? The arrangement with Michelle just to be friends? His changing his clothes and improving his image? His allowing her the male friend, yet upset? Her upset at going to his apartment and seeing him with the woman? The break in the friendship? The column and his writing the proposal? Michel's disappearance, her coming into the bar, her acceptance and their walking the dawn street together A future?
5. Michelle and the world of fashion, her snobbery, the fight at the dinner, her coming to the bar and confronting Bill, the drinks and being one of the boys? Their lack of mutual interests yet their beginning to share? Her taking him to the fashion show, her listening to the boys and the bet about naming the baseball players? The irony of the souvenir from Mickey Mantle later? Suzanne, inviting Bill to the home, the meal with all her fashion friends, her man friend from Chicago and the nature of the relationship, her wanting to avoid being hurt? Her skill at her work, the continued phone calls and not being able to continue appointments? Her anger at Bill's relationship. Walking the streets and thinking, the reconciliation? A future?
6. The film's focus on friendship, the nature of friendship and its strengths? Mutual understanding, mutual support, being there for people? The difference from a sexual liaison? From marriage?
7. The sketch of the American fashion world, the American sports world? Michelle going to the races and getting caught up in’ the excitement - and the humour of the bets and her reasons for the bets?
8. The battle of the sexes, types, stereotypes and breaking through?
9. The associate characters - Michelle's fashion friends and her comfortable being with them? Bill and his friends from the paper - and their watching at the end? A genial atmosphere?
10. An entertaining movie for middle-aged people about the relationships between the sexes, identity, friendship?
