The national pastime has inspired great writing from Roger Angell, John Updike, David Halberstam, George Will, and many others. But when it comes to movies the pickings are rather slim. Kevin Costner has taken it upon himself to singlehandedly populate an entire genre, with some success. Actually, most of the baseball movies made recently have been quite successful in the box office and in overall popularity. Perhaps the lesson is "If you show it, they will come"?
The Natural
Review coming soon. For now: Overrated
Field of Dreams
Instant Classic. Highly Recommended
Kevin Costner follows the voices in his head, with a little help from James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster. The love of baseball, the Black Sox Scandal of 1919, and Ray Kinsella's (Costner's) relationship with his wife Anni (Amy Madigan) and deceased father. Great movie.
Eight Men Out
Classic. Recommended
This one is ALL about the Black Sox Scandal. John Cusack, Charlie Sheen & Co. are White Sox players in 1919 (back when ballplayers weren't filthy rich and usually worked in the offseason) whose team owner shafts them at every turn. A sympathetic portrayal of the worst sports scandal ever. Well acted, fairly well scripted, well done overall. There's no need to see this before Field of Dreams, though -- FOD gives a good synopsis of the most controversial -- not most infamous -- Black Sox figure, Shoeless Joe Jackson.
Bull Durham
Disappointing baseball movie, but enjoyable nonetheless. Humorous at times and 'cute' but with a weak central premise: Kevin Costner as a veteran minor league catcher for a fireballing young prospect, Susan Sarandon as a local who sleeps with one minor leaguer a year. Costner is not exactly a believable catcher, and the sex obsession of the movie is geared toward 30- to 50-year-olds (not that there's anything wrong with that). Still, the baseball parts of the movie are priceless.Still Pretty Dang Good. Shout out to North Carolina -- the movie features the Durham (NC) Bulls minor league team.
For Love of the Game
Very Good. Costner again, and again he's a veteran ballplayer, this time a 40-year-old Detroit Tiger pitching the last game of the season, against the Yankees. The baseball portions of the movie -- and there is a great deal -- are outstanding (Costner IS believable as a pitcher, and his friend/catcher is also on the ball) and the romantic relationship bits can be quite touching as well, though perhaps overly dramatic.
Also features Vin Scully and Steve "Psycho" Lyons playing themselves as announcers. Baseball fans might also recognize players Dave Eiland, Ricky Ledee (has more of a role than he ever did with the Yanks), Scott Pose and Juan Nieves, and Rick Reed, Richie Garcia, and Jerry Crawford.
Major League
Instant comedy classic. Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger. Hilarious. Highly Recommended I'm not sure whether the edited (to be shown on TV -- for language) or unedited version is funnier -- the dubbing job is about the most ridiculous out there.
The Rookie
Dennis Quaid stars in the real life story of a high school teacher-turned-major leaguer. Recommended Quaid is a very believable husband, father, coach, teacher and pitcher and the story is strong on faith and the family. It would be unbelievable if it hadn't actually happened. Great story of a normal, decent, upstanding guy who finds his old arm has quite a bit of juice left in it. If you complain all the time about how all the movies these days are filled with sex and violence, this is the movie for you to watch and to give as a present to your R-rated-movie-watching friends and family (except for me -- I've already seen it, of course.)
A League of Their Own
Eh. Starting a women's pro baseball league during WWII. The sisters (Geena Davis and Lori Perry) who are the focal point of the story are pretty and show some diamond skills, but the movie takes so many detours into feminism and emotional trauma/drama that this could properly be placed with the chick flicks. Not so hot, brother. Women would probably appreciate it more than men. Oh, and Tom Hanks is the manager of one of the teams. Oh, and Madonna is in it too.
Angels in the Outfield
Good for children, laughs thrown in for adults as well. Hoky but Pleasant Two kids, fans of the California/Anaheim Angels, pray for the team and see real honest-to-goodness angels-with-wings-from-heaven angels come down to the field to help the pitiful ball team win a few. It's a Disney movie so they go over the top on some of the special effects (if you can call them that) -- a ground ball flies into the air, swoops in circles, returns to earth, backspins, rolls in loops away from fielders -- yeah, I'd call that hoky; but there are more charming moments as the coach (Danny Glover) team structures its behavior to please the angels. The only well-known ballplayer in it is Carney Lansford, the Red Sox and A's 3rd baseman.
Rookie of the Year
Do not let your children watch this movie. Unless, that is, you want to destroy their respect for fair play and sportsmanship. Or unless you enjoy hearing them taunt, "Pitcher's got a big butt!". Don't Allow It
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