These are high-quality mystery-thrillers, made for British television but better than most American cop films, with more going on than the case that seems to be at the center of each film. But there are three of them.
I've got nothing against sports films that exult in good sportsmanship and the triumph of the underdog. But I'm more inclined towards films like The Damned United that scrape past the noble veneer of sports.
One of my favorite questions to ask friends, family, fellow editors, or, really, any reader is "What's the best book I'm not reading?" If someone were to ask me that question, this would be my answer.