Super Bowl

Were you excited about the 2021 Super Bowl? We sure were here at IndieGala. An exciting global sport in which the champion of the NFL 2020 season will be decided. Granted, this year’s event was not like any of the previous ones. And that’s solely because of the ongoing pandemic, but we remained hopeful until the very end. Even in the wake of global sports events like The Super Bowl.

So, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Raymond James Stadium hosted only 25.000 fans. The lowest attendance for any Super Bowl event so far. But the protocols dictate that I’m afraid. And the safety of the audience came first.

Indeed. NFL protocols required the closest rows of seats to be blocked with tarps in order to reduce spectator proximity to the field. Therefore, for the Super Bowl’s purposes they were covered with additional LED video boards, combined with those already present in the stadium. Oh, and if you’re interested in a football-themed video game then look no further. Bowl Bound College Football is available for purchase here at IndieGala. Check it out here.

Super Bowl 2021: The Win Is For The Buccaneers!

And just who are the two teams who were fighting for the trophy at this year’s Super Bowl (or Super Bowl LV)? Well, Kansas City Chiefs fought for the trophy against Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But it was the Buccaneers that won the game and the trophy with 31-99. However the Florida team was also the host of the event. As it was the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. They were also the first wild card team since the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. Oh, and the Tampa-based football team has Tom Brady in the team as well. In his first season as a player for the Buccaneers, quarterback Tom Brady appeared in his record 10th Super Bowl. Overall.

Super Bowl
Super Bowl’s Star Tom Brady

What About The Entertainment At The 2021 Super Bowl?

Well much like with the entire sports event, the pomp, glitz and overall entertainment was reduced to a minimum. However, there was a half-time show and the popular Canadian singer The Weeknd headlined the show. Furthermore, his performance lasted roughly 13 minutes (much shorter than the usual 20 minutes). And he reportedly donated 7 million of his own pocket to the half-time show. Additionally, Eric Church & Jazmine Sullivan sang the national anthem.

But this year’s Super Bowl also had one very important pre-show event. Indeed, a pre-game concert that preceded the final. In the afternoon before the Super Bowl that is. And 7,500 health care workers who had received a COVID-19 vaccine, primarily from the Tampa and central Florida region attended that concert and Miley Cyrus performed.

Super Bowl
The Weeknd

Furthermore, R&B singer H.E.R. performed “America the Beautiful”, while National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman recited an original poem.

So, the Super Bowl is behind us. But if you’re still in a football fever now, let’s look at some of the finest football-themed movies. Indeed, there are plenty of great football movies, and these are some of our 5 best picks. But I can’t wait to hear your favorites. Which is your favorite football movie? Is it someone from this list? Or perhaps Little Giants? Or The Water Boy? Let us know in the comment section. We’d love to know.

Let’s start!

The Replacements

This is a true gem of a movie. And it has Keanu Reeves in the lead, which is awesome of course. The Replacements is a funny, touching and fun movie with a great cast. And what’s it all about? Well, much like the title suggests it’s about… The Replacements. After the player’s strike near the end of the season, the coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) will create a team of replacement players. Most of them don’t have the chops to be in an NFL team, for sure. But what they lack in professionalism they’ll make up in grit and determination. The Mandalorian director Jon Favreau is in the team and he’s hilarious as Daniel “Danny” Bateman. A player with a very short temper. Rhys Ifans and Orlando Jones are fantastic, and this is a brilliant sports comedy. I highly recommend it.

Fun fact: During filming, Keanu Reeves was offered a tryout with the Baltimore Ravens. The Baltimore Ravens would eventually go on to win Super Bowl XXXV less than 6 months after the film’s release.

Any Given Sunday

Any Given Sunday is probably the oldest movie on this list, but it’s damn fine if you ask me. And one of Oliver Stone’s best too. Not to mention it has a stellar cast. Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James Woods are just the start. LL Cool J, Ann-Margret, Lauren Holly, Matthew Modine, John C. McGinley, Charlton Heston paint a different picture and they’re awesome. But as much as football is dominant in this movie, this is more of a character study. If anything else. It shows the dark side of the elite players and it’s not pretty. Behind all the money, endorsements and fame there’s fear, doubt and disappointment.

As I mentioned earlier. This is a great movie with a great director behind it and even a great cast in front of the camera.

Fun fact: Al Pacino particularly relished his role as he found it a refreshing change from the usual cops and gangsters he often plays.

The Longest Yard

Yes, I’m talking about the 2005 remake of the 70’s classic. Although Burt Reynolds appears in both movies. But in different roles. Adam Sandler has the lead role of a disgraced ex-football player who’ll end up in jail. And over there will get coerced in playing a very dangerous game of football. Convicts VS Correctional Officers. As I mentioned, Burt played Adam’s role in the 1974 movie. But over here he takes the role of Coach Nate Scarborough. The longest yard has an eclectic cast and fast paces football. It’s also a fantastic movie worth indulging in this weekend.

Fun fact: Burt Reynolds wears number 22 as coach Nate Scarborough. This is the same number he wore in the original movie as quarterback Paul Crewe.

Friday Night Lights

Yes, I’m talking about the 2004 sports drama movie and not the beloved TV show with Kyle Chandler. Directed by Peter Berg and with Billy Bob Thornton in the lead role, Friday Night Lights is a great movie. It’s about The Permian Panthers football team and the small dying town of Odessa, Texas. There’s only one day of the week that the people in Odessa are looking forward, and that’s Friday Night. So, when all hope is lost, all that one team needs is a great inspirational coach. Friday Night Lights is a great movie about courage, never giving up and resilience. It’s probably the best on this list, but I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Fun Fact: Billy Bob Thornton and Lucas Black appeared in Sling Blade (1996) and All the Pretty Horses (2000).

The Blind Side

A biographical sports drama that won Sandra Bullock her first Oscar. The Blind Side is also a movie about Michael Oher. An American football offensive lineman who overcame an impoverished upbringing to play in the National Football League (NFL). All because of the help of his adoptive parents Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy. And aside from Sandra’s nomination, the movie got a nomination in the Best Picture category as well. A surprise even for the producers of the movie. This is is a good sports film, and yes deserves to be on this list.

Fun fact: The first time a movie marketed with a sole actress’s name above the title grossed over $200 million.

Who’s Your Super Bowl Favorite?

Which team will you be chairing on this Sunday? The Buccaneers or the Chiefs? Let us know in the comment section. We’d love to know.

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