'Undefeated' Oscars 2012: Great Sports Documentaries All Fans Should Watch

Oscars and sports, two worlds that don't really sync. One has a red carpet, Gucci dresses, stuffy speeches. The other is dirty and sweaty. Take away the money factor between top pros and A-list actors, and the parallels dissolve into a haze. 

Not in 2012, though. Moneyball garnered multiple nominations, and the documentary Undefeated took home the Academy Award in its category. On the surface, it's about high school football, but this LA Times synopsis shows why the movie is worthy of a statue. 

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The film by directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin follows an inner-city football team struggling to survive high school and their crime-ridden neighborhood in Memphis, Tenn.  Lead by their volunteer coach, Bill Courtney, the Manassas Tigers must fight stereotypes and their own demons to win the game and the respect of their teammates.

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Though sports movies don't always crash the glitziest Hollywood party of the year, there's plenty of great ones, something ESPN's series 30 for 30 proved for people who don't usually seek out documentary films. With the help of B/R Swagger movie guru Amber Lee, here's a few films you should check out. 

Senna

Why You Should Watch: Just look at the stars on that movie poster: constellations' worth. That doesn't happen by coincidence, and it shows that even a sport you may not have any interest in can be captivating. 

IMDB storyline: "The story of the monumental life and tragic death of legendary Brazilian motor-racing Champion, Ayrton Senna. Spanning the decade from his arrival in Formula One in the mid 80's, the film follows Senna's struggles both on track against his nemesis, French World Champion Alain Prost, and off it, against the politics which infest the sport..."

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92 percent. 

Murderball

Why You Should Watch: When we think "sports" we think NFL, MLB and NBA—we think traditional. But there's so much more to the world of athletics, and this film shows that. 

IMDB storyline: "Quad rugby as played by the US team, between 2002 games in Sweden and the 2004 Paralympics in Athens. Young men, most with spinal injuries, play this rough and tumble sport in special chairs, seated gladiators. We get to know several and their families. They talk frankly about their injuries, feelings in public, sex lives, competitiveness, and love of the game..."

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 98 percent

Dogtown and Z-Boys

Why You Should Watch: In an era of X-Games and reality shows and big-money skating brands, it sometimes make you forget the roots of skateboarding. Sports is as much about the past as it is the future. 

IMDB storyline: "[T]his documetary (sic) takes a look at the transformation of skateboarding from its former image as a land-bound pastime for surfers to its status today as an extreme and acrobatic sport in its own right. Starting from the California surf community of Dogtown, the film follows the evolution of modern skateboarding..."

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92 percent

When We Were Kings

Why You Should Watch: Ali, Foreman, "Rumble in the Jungle"—enough said. Oh, and like Undefeated, this film won an Oscar. 

IMDB storyline: "It's 1974...Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another...and the 'Rumble in the Jungle' is set ..."

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 98 percent

Hoop Dreams

Why You Should Watch: If you ask someone to name a sports doc, there's a great chance this is the one that comes out of his/her mouth. A film earns a reputation like that by being something special. 

IMDB storyline: "This documentary follows two inner-city Chicago residents, Arthur Agee and William Gates, as they follow their dreams of becoming basketball superstars. Beginning at the start of their high school years, and ending almost 5 years later, as they start college, we watch the boys mature into men..."

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 98 percent