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 I Miss the Gym Movies

 

‘I Miss the Gym’ Movies

Films to Watch If You’re In Lockdown

 

By Rick Collins, Esq.

 

 

Q: Do you have any movie recommendations to inspire my training while staying at home?

 

A: Although the lockdown is being lifted in many parts of the country, some of us are still mostly confined at home. If you’re stuck training alone in your basement like I was, you may feel like you’re in a rut and be looking for some streaming content that makes you want to lift. For straight-up bodybuilding, I’m assuming you’ve already seen “Pumping Iron” (1977) and its 1985 sequel about women’s bodybuilding (featuring Bev Francis, my friend and the co-owner of the world’s best gym, where I’ve trained for over 20 years). But have you seen “Raw Iron: The Making of ‘Pumping Iron’” (2002)? For the 25th anniversary of the original film, filmmakers David and Scott McVeigh tracked down the cast for new interviews exploring the narrative choices made in the film, complete with lots of outtakes and updates. If you’re a fan of “Pumping Iron,” as virtually every bodybuilder is, you must see this film! I pulled it up on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPOxvEEi5NM.

 

Need more bodybuilding flicks? If you’ve already seen “Generation Iron” and its two sequels, check out “Bigger” (2018), the story of Joe and Ben Weider. As Counsel to the IFBB Pro League, I worked with the late Ben Weider on lots of issues so it was cool for me to see him portrayed as a young man. “Bigger” features bodybuilder Calum Von Moger as Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can also see Calum in “Calum Von Moger: Unbroken” (2019), a documentary about the bodybuilding social media star’s injuries, surgeries, and journey back.

 

While not specifically about bodybuilding, another documentary of interest is “SUPPS: The Movie” (2019), my friend Alex Ardenti’s examination of the history and evolution of the sports nutrition industry (sorry, Alex, the timing never worked to get me on camera for it).

 

When I need some inspiration to pump up my training, some great go-to’s are the ‘80s and early ‘90s action movies about the super-jacked heroes portrayed by Arnold and Sylvester Stallone. You can’t go wrong with “Conan the Barbarian,” “Predator” and “Terminator 2,” or with Stallone selections from the “Rambo” or “Rocky” franchises (other than the abysmal “Rocky V”). For high-octane action a few years later, I’m always energized by re-watching “Gladiator” (2000) or “300” (2006).

 

Now, let me throw out some more off-the-beaten-path choices you might find interesting. Charles Bronson was an actor who played the lead in the original series of “Death Wish” movies. In 1975, he starred in “Hard Times,” playing a Depression-era drifter who competes in illegal bare-knuckle boxing matches. Bronson, already in his 50s, was shredded at an age when few if any actors were in that condition at all. More recently, David Belle, a French actor and stunt coordinator credited as the founder and leading pioneer of the physical discipline Parkour, showed his athletic skills in a 2004 French action movie called “District 13” (or “District B13”). Set in a dystopian 2010, the thriller features some amazing foot chases, fights and stunts. It made me want to start free running at my local park!

 

Still need more? This may sound pretty esoteric, but lately I’ve been getting into Asian action movies. “The Man from Nowhere” (2010) is a South Korean rescue thriller about a retired special agent who goes on a blood-soaked rampage to save a child hostage (one reviewer said, “South Korea may just be the most exciting place on the planet these days when it comes to stylish and violent thrillers”). “The Night Comes for Us” (2018) is a bloody Indonesian thrill ride about a former mob enforcer trying to protect a young girl from virtually every assassin in the Pacific Rim. It’s a whopping 90% fresh on RottenTomatoes.com with 30 reviews, but the squeamish should be warned: one reviewer called it a “no-holds-barred bloodbath that hits the ground running and barely lets you catch your breath,” while another said, “you have never experienced as ludicrously violent and gore-soaked a film” – and both were positive reviews! I love this movie!

 

Hopefully, you’ve now got enough to inspire some seriously hardcore training. Have at it! And be sure to follow me on Instagram @RickCollinsEsq where I post training videos from time to time, as well as other cool stuff.

Rick Collins, Esq., CSCS [https://rickcollins.com/] is the lawyer who members of the bodybuilding community and dietary supplement industry turn to when they need legal help or representation. [© Rick Collins, 2021. All rights reserved. For informational purposes only, not to be construed as legal or medical advice.]

 

 

 

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