Movie about the Leafs
As everybody knows, there hasn’t been a good hockey movie since “Slap Shot” in 1977.
To rectify this problem, I have taken it upon myself to write a script for a good hockey movie. However I would appreciate any good suggestions I can get from HTR readers.
I want to build an intriguing story, so I have decided to make the movie about the Toronto Maple Leafs.First off, I should mention I’ve never written a script before. But heck, how hard can it be? I mean it’s only a hockey movie, not a war epic.
The reason I decided to build the story around the Leafs is because they have gone a long while without a cup win, and they have one of the largest number of fans. This would help to generate a huge interest story right there.
I mean, think about it. If you saw someone in the desert dying of thirst, you’d want them to find an oasis, right? The Leafs have a long cup drought, so naturally audiences would be cheering for the Leafs. It’s clear.
The story
The story would be based on the events of the 2007-08 Leafs. But note, the movie is fiction and not based on actual occurrences.
The team would get off to a terrible start. The team is losing fans and money and everything would seem lost.
But being a strong veteran team, led by a Sundin-type leader, the team would slowly turn things around and eke their way into the playoffs on the last game of the regular season. Then in the playoffs, the team would go on and win the Stanley Cup in 7 games on an overtime goal by Wade Belak, played by the real Belak! I’m hoping he’d agree to play the role.
Turning their season around
Why the turn around? Well, the turning point would be the few weeks before the trade deadline. With the threat of being traded, the team gets it together and turns their season around. Good idea, eh?
The Leafs also use all sorts of new tactical or strategic changes in their game. For instance, the coach proposes a “reverse trap” system, which has never been used before in hockey (my invention)!!! Basically the Leafs have 4 players skating through the neutral zone at top speed, and the only player back ices the puck at just the right moment to avoid both an offside and icing call. The Leaf players get to the puck first and score on the helpless goalie.
The Leaf players are also the first to start using titanium hockey sticks, which prevents them from breaking.
To get additional motivation, the players feed off the team’s tradition. There are constant references to the achievements of Leafs past. I know the Habs have done this before, so there you go, it’s based on a real life event.
Subplots
The Leaf players have to fight through personal problems, like gambling, ties to bookies, plenty of womanizing, and bizarre hockey superstitions.
The team would face all sorts of challenges. Throughout the regular season when the team is struggling, several Leaf players are about to be demoted or having their contracts bought out.
Also the team is often chewed out by the media on a daily basis. Several of the Leafs get into a brouhaha against a number of reporters. The players feed off the adversity.
The playoffs
And here’s what would happen in the playoffs. In Round 1, the Leafs beat Ottawa (again) in 7 games, but the series includes 5 major brawls. The Leafs sweep the Habs in Round 2. Then the Flyers go down to defeat, despite their attempt to “goon it up”.
To generate additional interest, the Leafs opponent in the finals will be the Anaheim Ducks. All of these movie bigwigs are either Anaheim or L.A. fans. You know how that politics stuff works.
Actors
I’m not really sure about which actors to get for the parts, so some suggestions would be welcomed.
I’m hoping Mike Myers would agree to play the Leaf goalie (he’s a Leaf fan), and Tom Hanks would make one hell of a coach.
Future potential
I can foresee that fans would really dig this movie. I mean they liked flicks like Brokeback Mountain, The English Patient, and Amadeus. I mean, what do those movies have that this doesn’t?
This story would be loved by all demographic groups, men, women, young, old, rich, poor, and so on. It deals with a human interest story, the Leafs! They haven’t won for so long, so the audience would be rooting for them like there’s no tomorrow. It’s obvious this hockey movie would have box-office smash written all over it. Any fool can see that.