The popular screenwriting book "Save The Cat" contends that all successful mainstream movies follow the same structure. I read the book two years ago and have been more or less able to track a plot's beats in my head for nearly every movie I've watched. Some older movies, foreign films and art house mind-jags don't fit perfectly, but still contain many of the same elements. On the other hand, sports flicks fit the mold best. Author Blake Snyder nicknames the formula a "Beat Sheet," and in a nutshell it goes like this: setup, problem, start fixing problem, B-story (usually a love interest), problem solved, solution unravels, bad guys close in, all seems lost and then hero/team rallies to win or learns very important lesson.
As it stands now, Kobe Bryant's life would make a great sports movie.
Title: "Black Mamba Moan"
Setup: Star high-school player is drafted by the Lakers.
Problem: Can young Kobe compete at that level?
Fixing Problem: Works hard and plays better his first three seasons.
B-story: Marries Vanessa Laine. (Foreshadowing: Does not sign pre-nup).
Problem Solved: Kobe and Shaq lead the Lakers to a three-peat of NBA Finals.
Solution Unravels: Shaq leaves after butting heads with Kobe.
Bad Guys Close In: Charged with sexual assault and the Lakers suck.
All Seems Lost: Wife threatens to leave Kobe; Kobe wants to leave the Lakers.
Hero Rallies: Wins back wife, NBA MVP and two more NBA Finals with the Lakers.
Cutting Kobe's movie off after 2010, "Black Mamba Moan" is packaged and ready to go. But a number of today's biggest sports stars are not so lucky. If the careers of Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Danica Patrick, Albert Pujols and the Vancouver Canucks ended today, their movies would tank at box offices.
Tiger Woods
Title: "The Legend of Swagger Romance"
Setup: Charisma-less golf prodigy goes pro.
Problem: Is Tiger the best golfer ever?
Fixing Problem: With laser focus, he robotically begins winning tournaments.
B-story: Marries former Swedish model Elin Nordegren.
Problem Solved: Wins 14 major championships in 11 years.
Solution Unravels: Tiger crashes his Escalade after The National Enquirer uncovers his first extramarital affair.
Bad Guys Close In: Over one dozen mistresses come out of the woodwork.
All Seems Lost: His wife leaves him and so does his golf swing.
Hero Rallies: Wins no more tournaments, but after losing all of his sponsorships Tiger finally does sign an endorsement deal with a Japanese muscle relief heat cream.
LeBron James
Title: "Like Mike 2: Nothing Like Mike"
Setup: LeBron boosts the NBA and Cleveland by joining the Cavaliers.
Problem: Is he better than Michael Jordan?
Fixing Problem: Wins Rookie of the Year, two NBA MVPs and leads the Cavs to their first NBA Finals.
B-story: Develops a bromance with rival Dwyane Wade.
Problem Solved: Cavs have the best record in the NBA.
Solution Unravels: LeBron and Cavs can't win a title.
Bad Guys Close In: LeBron leaves Cleveland to be with Wade and the Miami Heat.
All Seems Lost: Everyone but Miami hates the Heat.
Hero Rallies: After leading his team through the playoffs, LeBron chokes in the finals against an NBA version of the Washington Generals. Credits roll while various audience members tell jokes such as: "Why don't you get change for a dollar from LeBron? Because he'll only give you three quarters."
Vancouver Canucks
Title: "The Bad News Nucks"
Setup: No Canadian team since 1993 has won a Stanley Cup.
Problem: Can the Canucks win their very first Stanley Cup?
Fixing Problem: They have the best record in the NHL.
B-story: It's the Canucks 40th anniversary season!
Problem Solved: They're the favorites over the Boston Bruins going into the finals.
Solution Unravels: After winning the first two games, the Canucks are forced into Game 7.
Bad Guys Close In: Bruins beat them to win their first Stanley Cup in 39 years.
All Seems Lost: Canucks fans riot in the streets, causing over $4 million in damages.
Hero Rallies: Everyone apologizes, police use social media to arrest rioters and … yawn, the audience falls asleep.
Danica Patrick
Title: "Talladega Smites"
Setup: Sexy female Indy car driver becomes sexy NASCAR driver.
Problem: Can a woman compete in the good ol' boys' sport?
Fixing Problem: Her Indy sponsor GoDaddy.com lets her drive their stock car.
B-story: Danica becomes a bigger sex symbol and everyone forgets she's married to a physical therapist who is 17 years older than her.
Problem Solved: Looks good in her first NASCAR event...
Solution Unravels: Until she is caught in 12-car wreck and finishes 35th.
Bad Guys Close In: Blames her car and team for poor finishes in Indy car events. Fans turn against her.
All Seems Lost: Keeps crashing and finishes no better than 19th in any 2010 NASCAR race.
Hero Rallies: Finishes fourth in the 2011 Sam's Town 300 Nationwide Series Race. In the post-race interview, Danica says her goal was to finish in the top 10. Audience becomes confused why the movie heroine's bar is set so low.
Albert Pujols
Title: "The Pride of St. Louis 2: Pride Hurts"
Setup: ESPN selects Pujols as the greatest baseball player of decade.
Problem: Can he get the contract he deserves in the new decade?
Fixing Problem: The St. Louis Cardinals suspend Pujols' contract negotiations and tell him not to worry.
B-story: He secretly begins worrying.
Problem Solved: After having his worst start, Pujols starts hitting and is named the NL Player of the Week.
Solution Unravels: Pujols fractures his wrist.
Bad Guys Close In: He's on the DL for six weeks.
All Seems Lost: Commentators and other players claim Pujols will have a tough time coming back from injury and may not get the contract he wants.
Hero Rallies: Pujols says he'll be fine …. audiences fall asleep waiting for him to get healthy and prove it.