Yeah, this is the OLD (1977) Paul Newman hockey movie. I rented it because it's new on DVD.
Still a great film. What surprised me, watching it again, is how little actual hockey is in the film. You probably remember from this movie are the Hanson brothers and you THINK the movie is half about them. In fact, they're barely in it in terms of screen time (of course, when they're there, they make an impact).
Most of the film is a darkly realistic and cynical look of male-female relationships. Hockey only occasionally intrudes. But it's still a great movie.
Note: I was surprised to find that a woman wrote this movie. The foulest, most violent sports movie ever made... written by a woman. Who knew?
Oh, I forgot to mention the time-warp factor of Slap Shot.
1) they use the word "faggit" like they're being paid $10.00 per mention.
2) The clothes... the clothes! Every woman wears camel-toe stretch pants; every dude wears tight stretch pants too, plus big-ass Pimpin' high-heeled shoes and leather coats with fur collars.
3) The song! Everytime the team goes on a road trip, they play the disco-era sing-along "Get Right Back where We Started From" (I think; I can't remember the song now).
What a time-trip. From the conventions of film-making ("tough," dark material) to the clothes... man, it's like looking back on ancient Athens.
