No Doubt the Greatest Baseball Movie Ever...

Rating: Null/10 (10 July 2003)

I've read most of the comments that have come before mine. And everyone is entitled to their opinion. So here is mine...
This is a fantastic movie. I fell in love with Kevin Costner's Crash Davis because he was passionate about the game and the integrity that should be afforded America's greatest pastime(although not always it's players). I've been around a lot of baseball players - and these characters are a dead on portrayal of a very dynamic group of men - how they act and how they think. They swear, they fight, some of them love the game, some of them only think of themselves, and players should ALWAYS respect a streak. Parts of it may be romanticized - but it's the movies! It's supposed to be. The heart of this movie is pure. It's wonderfully done.
Ok - Nuke is unrealistically old for the part. But I have enjoyed this movie since I first saw it on video in 1989 - and I don't care. I appreciate that they cast an actor that could capture the spirit of who Nuke, as a character, was intended to be. And Tim Robbins did that VERY well. [The first time I saw Tim speak as himself (which was only recently)- I was shocked at how intelligent he was!] Most young actors could not accurately invest that kind of retrospect to the "fear and ignorance" that 20-somethings hide behind to take on the world.
Finally, I have to say, this is the best quotable movie in the world! My husband and I know most of the lines between us. This was the first movie we ever bought - before we even owned a VCR. There are so many wonderful lines and speeches: "I believe in the soul..." "I know women like you..." "Cute? Baby ducks are cute!" "Candlesticks make a nice gift..." And I'm sure I'm leaving out some of the best ones.
I can understand why people who do not like baseball or have not had great exposure to the game would not fully enjoy this movie. And I feel sorry for them. But then there are movies they probably enjoy much more than I do because of their different experiences - and for that I feel sorry for me! But I do know that this is a great movie.
If you "love" baseball and do not love this movie - you may be able to score a game, or root for the home team, but you do not understand the heart of the game.