"glory"

Love it or hate it: our system of justice is a large part of what keeps anarchy at bay — and us safe. Deny that if you will. Still, there’s plenty to question and complain about. Like so many of our institutions, sometimes it works, too often it doesn’t. But no one yet has found a better model.

Career advice can come from any quarter. Sometimes it’s the guy who sells you the newspaper. Other times it’s a chance encounter with a titan of industry. But there is no guidance likely to make a deeper impression than that given by our proxies on the screen.

Small towns, kind strangers, generous impulses, lasting friendships, and oodles of pluck are just a few of the pleasures you’ll find in these blasts of (and to) the past.

When we think of movie heroes, soldiers always rank high, particularly those on the front lines. Bradley Cooper's Oscar-nominated turn in last year's "American Sniper" is just the latest example. These men face the prospect of death most every day, leading or working with other men to accomplish seemingly impossible objectives.

The finest sports movies are about more than the glory of the contest; they peer into the psychology of fans and players alike. Who are these athletes as people? And what’s behind all the devotion fans feel for them?