Forgotten gem of a film, Hardball is an adorable little sports feature you won't want to miss

Rating: 9/10 (7 December 2007)

Now here's a little forgotten gem of a film that had the misfortune, or shall I say audacity, of being released on September 14th, 2001, only three days after the day the world changed forever.
It is mostly this misfortune to blame for the fact that this adorable little sports film is mostly overlooked and unappreciated. It's a shame, though, as Keanu Reeves really shines as a lost soul who gets to coach a team of Little League baseball players by mere chance. Dealing with mostly African American kids from the projects of Chicago is never an easy thing to do, but through some clichés and many true moments of genius, Reeves's character manages to find himself again. Oh, and you'll really fall in love with Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Papa" after seeing this tear jerker (and yes, I know it sounds lame, but I still felt obligated to mention this).
Enjoy!