Top Ten Movie Prodigies

25th January 2015

By Matt P.

In honor of Oscar season, I’m providing top ten lists inspired by the eight movies nominated for best picture this year. List number two is inspired by Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. In Whiplash, Andrew, a young musical conservatory student with limitless potential is put to the ultimate test when he comes face to face with an aggressive instructor. I would consider Andrew a musical prodigy, but where do you draw the line between natural talent and skill due to hard work? Dictionary.com defines the word prodigy as: a person, especially a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability. I think you’ll find that these ten characters make the cut. Maybe, you’ll even find that I’m a top ten list writing prodigy…

10. Will Hunting, Good Will Hunting (1997)

Will Hunting couldn’t catch a break. He was abused as a foster kid, in and out of jail, misunderstood by his peers, and stuck in the pits of Boston. The bright side was that he was such a freaky genius that he had some of the most prestigious companies and government agencies salivating at the opportunity to hire him. This little Boston punk was proving mathematical theories that stumped even the world’s greatest mathematicians. He’s the only “academic” prodigy on the list, but definitely a prodigy. He bangs Harvard bitches too. Because…math.

9. Boobie Miles, Friday Night Lights (2004)

All Boobie knew was football! Why didn’t Billy Bob sit him!? Why couldn’t Waterbug find his helmet!? Why did his uncle lie!? If things went differently, Boobie Miles might have been a N.F.L. Hall of Famer! Unfortunately you can’t change the past, but Boobie’s status as a prodigy is undeniable. He was a beast of raw talent and the best running back the Permian High School football team had ever seen. Major props to the actor, Derek Luke, in what I consider to be one of the greatest performances in the last fifteen years.

8. Billy Elliot, Billy Elliot (2000)

Billy grew up in a small British coal mining town. You can probably guess what his coal mining father and old brother thought of ballet. Ballet is for girls and poofs! Not anymore dad. It took serious balls to drop out of boxing class and join the neighboring all girls ballet class. Sometimes being a prodigy isn’t enough, sometimes, you need to have the guts to follow your dreams. Billy Elliot taught me that.

7. Eddie Felson, The Hustler (1961)

Billy Elliot taught me that sometimes it’s hard for even a prodigy to follow his dreams. “Fast” Eddie Felson taught me that some prodigies should walk away from their dreams. Characteristics of Eddie Felson perfectly capture those of the degenerate gambler and alcoholic. If he wasn’t going to win, he was going down in a fiery crash. Regardless, “Fast” Eddie was a crack-shot billiards player. While watching the pool scenes in The Hustler, I fantasize about shooting a game of straight pool with a whiskey and a cigarette. The love scenes make me happy that I’m not banging an alcoholic handicapped woman.

6. Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez, The Sandlot (1993)

Benny does not play ball like a girl. He’s the first baseball prodigy on my list, but he won’t be the last. Let’s take the focus away from his natural abilities and talk about Benny, the person. Benny Rodriguez was a damn nice kid. He didn’t have to invite the obviously lonely and pathetic Smalls to The Sandlot. He was the best player in town and he was a good looking guy. I bet during the school year he had to beat the girls off with a bat (pun intended). My point is, you would think a dude like that would be a total dick. Still He takes Smalls under his wing and defends him every step of the way. That’s a true friend and a true prodigy. Plus he outran a big ass dog.

5. “1900”, The Legend of 1900 (1998)

His full name was Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon Nineteen Hundred, or 1900 for short. An incredible piano player, 1900 was born in the year of his name on an ocean liner. Assumed to be left behind by travelers, he was taken care of by a lowly ship worker. Once he found the ship’s piano he also found his passion and he never let it go. 1900 even gets to do a piano battle against, the world famous, Jelly Roll Morton where 1900 plays the keys so fast he’s able to light a cigarette using the heat radiating off of the strings inside the piano. That’s hot as Hell, bro.

4. Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh, Bull Durham (1988)

So many prodigies in movies are met with road blocks that try to prevent them from reaching their dreams. Let’s think about what some of those road blocks are, shall we? Will Hunting faced serious psychological trauma, Billy Elliot lived in a repressive household, Eddie Felson’s worst enemy was his ego, and Ebby Calvin Laloosh a.k.a. “Nuke” was just so STUPID! To paraphrase the great Crash Davis, Nuke had a million dollar arm, and a ten cent head. Please go watch Bull Durham if you haven’t seen it. Although, Susan Sarandon’s skank ways are a little disturbing.

3. Josh Waitzkin, Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Along with Boobie Miles, Josh is the only other character on my list based on a real person. Josh Waitzkin was the U.S. Junior Chess Champion in 1993 and 1994 so the comparisons made to Bobby Fischer in the movie are very real. Searching for Bobby Fischer is a lovely film about Josh’s initial interest in chess and his instructor’s obsession with helping Josh reach his full potential. This film takes a close look at the price you have to pay if you want to be the best.

2. Kelly Leak, The Bad News Bears (1976)

Dude. Kelly Leak was such a gangster. First of all, I like the super cool kid having the gender ambiguous name. I don’t know why, but it seems to add to his badassness. This kid was like twelve years old and he smoked, rode dirt bikes in an urban setting, caught fastballs with his bare hand, and probably got poon on the reg. Kelly Leak brought the Bears to the brink of greatness, and in the end, even displayed some compassion for his fellow man. He’s number two on the list but number one in my heart. Ugh and Tatum O’Neal was super-hot as a saucy little tomboy.

1. Daniel LaRusso, The Karate Kid (1984)

Danny LaRusso has to be the ultimate child prodigy. Not only does he go from total scrub to karate master in a matter of weeks, he does it via the questionable training from Mr. Miyagi. Honestly, does anyone really believe waxing cars, sanding decks, and painting fences can turn you into a black belt? If that’s true, maybe if I pull weeds and mow the lawn enough I’ll become a master guitarist…or a bestselling novelist. Oh and don’t forget standing on the edge of boats. That’s probably straight from the Bruce Lee guide to whooping ass. Here’s another shocker: He gets the hot chick. Elisabeth Shue sure did have some impressive sweater meat as a teen. For real, I love this movie and I watch it every time it’s on TV. Fuck Cobra Kai and their bitch-ass leg sweeps!

There you have it, the Top Ten Movie Prodigies. Disagree with some of my picks? Feel free to leave comments. Want to give me god-like praise? Feel even freer to leave comments.

Matt P. is a podcaster, improviser, and film lover. He resides in Chicago, Illinois and by day he works as an accountant dreaming of a better life. By night, he co-hosts the Matt & Andrew Vs Society Podcast. Find it on iTunes. Matt has also studied improvisation and comedy writing at The Second City and Improv Olympics in Chicago.

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