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James Lees

@jameslees.bsky.social

I write things. ✍️ Author of BALLS ON FILM - a weekly newsletter all about sports movies. πŸΏβšΎοΈπŸ€πŸˆπŸ₯ŠπŸ’ Previously: BBC Good Food, James vs. Burger, Screen Times. ballsonfilm.substack.com

152 Followers  |  206 Following  |  67 Posts  |  Joined: 14.08.2023  |  1.7826

Latest posts by jameslees.bsky.social on Bluesky

The Golden Spurtle - Official UK Trailer
YouTube video by Dogwoof The Golden Spurtle - Official UK Trailer

One day you’re young, and the next you’re awarding five stars to a documentary about porridge.

β€˜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?...

18.09.2025 22:16 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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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 .

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

07.01.2025 16:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I’m currently still on holiday, and β€˜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? πŸ—³οΈ #filmsky

30.12.2024 15:14 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image 23.12.2024 11:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Rocky IV The fourth film in the franchise is a gloriously cartoonish and ridiculous Cold War spectacle that still packs a punch.

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! πŸŽ‰πŸ‘‹πŸ»

#filmsky #moviesky

21.12.2024 17:03 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Paid? I wish πŸ˜… I thought it was very entertaining.

15.12.2024 00:34 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

14.12.2024 20:18 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Cool Runnings Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, this flawed but joyous bobsled tale will warm your heart every time.

31 years following its release, Cool Runnings is still a joy, but it’s imperfections are even more glaring.

πŸ‘‡πŸ»πŸ‘‡πŸ»πŸ‘‡πŸ»

ballsonfilm.substack.com/p/cool-runni... #filmsky

13.12.2024 15:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

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! 😊

12.12.2024 00:33 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

Thanks for this, Molly!

03.12.2024 08:42 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

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. 😊

03.12.2024 08:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Opted for a #coffee chocolate advent calendar this year from Rave Coffee. All of these sound amazing! 🀩

01.12.2024 15:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

What’s your favourite sports movie?

#filmsky #moviesky

30.11.2024 00:53 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

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…

29.11.2024 15:16 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

Happy #Thanksgiving to all of my American friends and family! ❀️ πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ πŸ¦ƒ πŸ‚

28.11.2024 07:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Someone at @nytimes.com games is an Arnie fan πŸ˜‚ #NYTConnections

27.11.2024 08:52 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Still to see Rush, but I’ve not done an F1 movie yet. I’ll make that the first!

Done Moneyball a few weeks ago. One of my favs! πŸ™ŒπŸ»

26.11.2024 21:22 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Balls on Film | James Lees | Substack A newsletter all about sports movies. Click to read Balls on Film, by James Lees, a Substack publication. Launched 6 months ago.

Not strictly baseball as such, but I’m aiming to review every sports movie ever and baseball is my fav sub-genre. ⚾️

ballsonfilm.substack.com

26.11.2024 21:13 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Same. He’s been amazing this whole time. Was rooting for him.

26.11.2024 21:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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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

The U.K. watching Dylan during this finale. #GBBO

26.11.2024 20:59 β€” πŸ‘ 49    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Post a gif of your favourite comfort show…

26.11.2024 09:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 3
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No Holds Barred And the award for most grunting and screaming in a single movie goes to…

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

25.11.2024 21:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@batflipsandnerds.bsky.social Guys, what’s your favourite sports movie of all time? 🍿

25.11.2024 21:19 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yep. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been leaning back towards analogue watches and just using my AW for working out. The thought of buying yet another Apple Watch and more tech going to landfill makes me sad. I’m still on my S6 but it’s my third watch.

25.11.2024 08:24 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I’ve just discovered that there’s a whole catalogue of sports-themed #Hallmark movies. Let’s start with some #baseball! πŸ˜…

24.11.2024 13:19 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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My life in an image πŸ˜…

23.11.2024 17:03 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Good so far, hopefully the bigger brand name accounts will move over soon too. The sports leagues and most teams are still absent. Seems like a pretty good alternative though. It helps that it’s so similar to Twitter, functionality-wise too.

23.11.2024 13:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

These are awesome!

23.11.2024 13:20 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Great job, what a transformation! 🀩

23.11.2024 13:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks! 🀩 Have you seen the original cut or just the Miramax one?

23.11.2024 11:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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