James Lees
@jameslees.bsky.social
I write things. ✍️
Author of BALLS ON FILM - a weekly newsletter all about sports movies. 🍿⚾️🏀🏈🥊🏒
Previously: BBC Good Food, James vs. Burger, Screen Times.
ballsonfilm.substack.com
Author of BALLS ON FILM - a weekly newsletter all about sports movies. 🍿⚾️🏀🏈🥊🏒
Previously: BBC Good Food, James vs. Burger, Screen Times.
ballsonfilm.substack.com
One day you’re young, and the next you’re awarding five stars to a documentary about porridge.
‘The Golden Spurtle’, which is about people from all over the world travelling to Scotland to complete in a porridge competition, is just wonderful. A real balm for the soul.
youtu.be/GbicT6IIfGs?...
‘The Golden Spurtle’, which is about people from all over the world travelling to Scotland to complete in a porridge competition, is just wonderful. A real balm for the soul.
youtu.be/GbicT6IIfGs?...
The Golden Spurtle - Official UK Trailer
YouTube video by Dogwoof
youtu.be
September 18, 2025 at 10:16 PM
One day you’re young, and the next you’re awarding five stars to a documentary about porridge.
‘The Golden Spurtle’, which is about people from all over the world travelling to Scotland to complete in a porridge competition, is just wonderful. A real balm for the soul.
youtu.be/GbicT6IIfGs?...
‘The Golden Spurtle’, which is about people from all over the world travelling to Scotland to complete in a porridge competition, is just wonderful. A real balm for the soul.
youtu.be/GbicT6IIfGs?...
All six seasons of #Parenthood are now on @netflix.com. One of my favourite tv shows of all time. If you’ve never seen it before, I can’t recommend it enough. I’m about to jump back in for a rewatch. #tvsky
a group of people are standing around a table in a living room .
ALT: a group of people are standing around a table in a living room .
media.tenor.com
January 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
All six seasons of #Parenthood are now on @netflix.com. One of my favourite tv shows of all time. If you’ve never seen it before, I can’t recommend it enough. I’m about to jump back in for a rewatch. #tvsky
I’m currently still on holiday, and ‘Balls on Film’ will return to inboxes on Jan 10th to kick off our 2025 slate of reviews and sports movie goodness.
I’ve had a couple of review requests - Any Given Sunday (2009) and Jerry Maguire (1996).
Which one would you prefer to see first? 🗳️ #filmsky
I’ve had a couple of review requests - Any Given Sunday (2009) and Jerry Maguire (1996).
Which one would you prefer to see first? 🗳️ #filmsky
December 30, 2024 at 3:14 PM
I’m currently still on holiday, and ‘Balls on Film’ will return to inboxes on Jan 10th to kick off our 2025 slate of reviews and sports movie goodness.
I’ve had a couple of review requests - Any Given Sunday (2009) and Jerry Maguire (1996).
Which one would you prefer to see first? 🗳️ #filmsky
I’ve had a couple of review requests - Any Given Sunday (2009) and Jerry Maguire (1996).
Which one would you prefer to see first? 🗳️ #filmsky
I’m concluding the 2024 season with a Rocky IV review from @johnlees.bsky.social, and a look back at the best movie & tv series I watched this year. Enjoy, and I’ll see you back here for more sports movies in January! 🎉👋🏻
#filmsky #moviesky
#filmsky #moviesky
Rocky IV
The fourth film in the franchise is a gloriously cartoonish and ridiculous Cold War spectacle that still packs a punch.
ballsonfilm.substack.com
December 21, 2024 at 5:03 PM
I’m concluding the 2024 season with a Rocky IV review from @johnlees.bsky.social, and a look back at the best movie & tv series I watched this year. Enjoy, and I’ll see you back here for more sports movies in January! 🎉👋🏻
#filmsky #moviesky
#filmsky #moviesky
Really enjoyed #CarryOn on @netflix.com. Old school action thriller vibes. Like Die Hard 2 meets Phone Booth. Lots of fun, and a great addition to the Christmas movie line-up this year. #filmsky
December 14, 2024 at 8:18 PM
Really enjoyed #CarryOn on @netflix.com. Old school action thriller vibes. Like Die Hard 2 meets Phone Booth. Lots of fun, and a great addition to the Christmas movie line-up this year. #filmsky
31 years following its release, Cool Runnings is still a joy, but it’s imperfections are even more glaring.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/cool-runni... #filmsky
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/cool-runni... #filmsky
Cool Runnings
Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, this flawed but joyous bobsled tale will warm your heart every time.
ballsonfilm.substack.com
December 13, 2024 at 3:36 PM
31 years following its release, Cool Runnings is still a joy, but it’s imperfections are even more glaring.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/cool-runni... #filmsky
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/cool-runni... #filmsky
My newsletter passed 100 subscribers! It’s not much, but the fact that over a hundred people choose to read my silly thoughts about sports movies means a lot. Writing on the internet can sometimes feel like posting into the void, so hitting little milestones like this helps make that less so! 😊
December 12, 2024 at 12:33 AM
My newsletter passed 100 subscribers! It’s not much, but the fact that over a hundred people choose to read my silly thoughts about sports movies means a lot. Writing on the internet can sometimes feel like posting into the void, so hitting little milestones like this helps make that less so! 😊
Every morning, my wife and I have coffee and breakfast and play the @nytimes.com daily games together before we have to get ready for work. Maybe I’m just getting old, but it’s my favorite part of the day. 😊
a man with curly hair and a mustache is saying ok lets go connections mini bandle time
ALT: a man with curly hair and a mustache is saying ok lets go connections mini bandle time
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2024 at 8:41 AM
Every morning, my wife and I have coffee and breakfast and play the @nytimes.com daily games together before we have to get ready for work. Maybe I’m just getting old, but it’s my favorite part of the day. 😊
November 30, 2024 at 12:53 AM
I’m revisiting one of the best sports movies ever this week. It’s a great #Thanksgiving movie too, and one of my fav Denzel Washington performances.
Let’s Remember the Titans…
Let’s Remember the Titans…
Remember the Titans
Let’s remember one of the best sports movies ever made. Denzel Washington and a stacked cast score a touchdown in this tale of unity that transcends the Gridiron.
ballsonfilm.substack.com
November 29, 2024 at 3:16 PM
I’m revisiting one of the best sports movies ever this week. It’s a great #Thanksgiving movie too, and one of my fav Denzel Washington performances.
Let’s Remember the Titans…
Let’s Remember the Titans…
Happy #Thanksgiving to all of my American friends and family! ❤️ 🇺🇸 🦃 🍂
a cartoon of snoopy and woodstock eating a turkey with the words happy thanksgiving
ALT: a cartoon of snoopy and woodstock eating a turkey with the words happy thanksgiving
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2024 at 7:56 AM
Happy #Thanksgiving to all of my American friends and family! ❤️ 🇺🇸 🦃 🍂
Someone at @nytimes.com games is an Arnie fan 😂 #NYTConnections
November 27, 2024 at 8:52 AM
Someone at @nytimes.com games is an Arnie fan 😂 #NYTConnections
The U.K. watching Dylan during this finale. #GBBO
a man says " you were the chosen one " in front of a burning fire
ALT: a man says " you were the chosen one " in front of a burning fire
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2024 at 8:59 PM
The U.K. watching Dylan during this finale. #GBBO
Post a gif of your favourite comfort show…
November 26, 2024 at 9:09 AM
Post a gif of your favourite comfort show…
No Holds Barred is pure 80s schlock. The film was created with the sole purpose of trying to make Hulk Hogan a Hollywood star. Vince McMahon may have been a great wresting promoter back in the day, but he was clearly out of his depth as a movie producer. 😬
#wrestlesky #wrestlingsky
#wrestlesky #wrestlingsky
No Holds Barred
And the award for most grunting and screaming in a single movie goes to…
ballsonfilm.substack.com
November 25, 2024 at 9:28 PM
No Holds Barred is pure 80s schlock. The film was created with the sole purpose of trying to make Hulk Hogan a Hollywood star. Vince McMahon may have been a great wresting promoter back in the day, but he was clearly out of his depth as a movie producer. 😬
#wrestlesky #wrestlingsky
#wrestlesky #wrestlingsky
@batflipsandnerds.bsky.social Guys, what’s your favourite sports movie of all time? 🍿
November 25, 2024 at 9:19 PM
@batflipsandnerds.bsky.social Guys, what’s your favourite sports movie of all time? 🍿
My life in an image 😅
November 23, 2024 at 5:03 PM
My life in an image 😅
Reposted by James Lees
Love this movie. And James’s write-up has me wanting to revisit!
This week’s sports movie is Shaolin Soccer. Kung fu meets soccer/football. It’s as bonkers as it sounds.
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/shaolin-so...
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/shaolin-so...
Shaolin Soccer
Martial arts meets The Beautiful Game.
ballsonfilm.substack.com
November 22, 2024 at 9:22 PM
Love this movie. And James’s write-up has me wanting to revisit!
This week’s sports movie is Shaolin Soccer. Kung fu meets soccer/football. It’s as bonkers as it sounds.
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/shaolin-so...
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/shaolin-so...
Shaolin Soccer
Martial arts meets The Beautiful Game.
ballsonfilm.substack.com
November 22, 2024 at 9:17 PM
This week’s sports movie is Shaolin Soccer. Kung fu meets soccer/football. It’s as bonkers as it sounds.
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/shaolin-so...
ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/shaolin-so...
November 22, 2024 at 2:08 PM
Remember when #followfriday was a thing? 😅 We should bring that back over here.
November 22, 2024 at 8:22 AM
Remember when #followfriday was a thing? 😅 We should bring that back over here.
It’s amazing how many great movies just come and go, and get totally lost in the streaming shuffle. Came across this last night while looking for something to watch. Had never even heard of it, but I loved it. May never even have found it if I hadn’t just been scrolling through menu after menu.
November 22, 2024 at 12:23 AM
It’s amazing how many great movies just come and go, and get totally lost in the streaming shuffle. Came across this last night while looking for something to watch. Had never even heard of it, but I loved it. May never even have found it if I hadn’t just been scrolling through menu after menu.