A movie that makes baseball look interesting.

Rating: 10/10 (19 February 1999)

Baseball is not big in Australia and, for a long time, I had no interest in watching this movie. I finally succumbed and I have to say that this film turned what I perceive to be a really stupid game into something far more interesting. The plight of the not-quite-good-enough player is shown in startling clarity. It's a situation common to most sports, I would imagine. The desperation of the players to get a hit and keep their place in the team is clear and you can't help but feel for the guy who gets let go. In fact, all the characters are desperate in their own way. Crash is desperately trying to hang on to the only life he knows; Annie is desperately trying to find meaning and purpose; Nuke is just plain desperate! The acting is superb, the ballgames are realistic (to my eye anyway) and the various storylines mesh together wonderfully. And it's funny too! If you haven't seen this movie, do so now.