A Near-Perfect Film

Rating: 9/10 (9 July 2011)

Funny thing is, I'm not a sports fan, but I often like movies about baseball. I can't really explain it. But I think that this baseball movie is as good as it gets in the field of sports-story films. This is, in my view, a near-perfect film. Not in the class of spectacular films (such as "GWTW", "Dr. Zhivago", or "Ben-Hur"), but probably in the class with "Casablanca".
The one criticism I have of this film is that about two-thirds of the way into the film it does drag a bit for a while. But it was necessary because the director had to let the story catch up with itself, because although the story is about baseball, it is even more about a man and destiny, and how destiny is sometimes denied.
Robert Redford was at his peak at this point, and although he made quite a few films after this, this was his last truly great performance, in my view. But still, overall, Redford should be right up there in the top ten of American film-making.
It seems to me that Glenn Close didn't live up to her early performance, but I enjoyed her in this film. Darren McGavin has long been a favorite character actor of mine, both in film and on television. He's excellent here. Kim Basinger, not one of my favorites, is good. Wilford Brimley (they should have shaved his chest!) was excellent as the baseball manager, as was Richard Farnsworth as part of the management team.
The script -- a masterpiece -- with a little evil, a little magic, depression, inspiration, and all the touches that put you right in the era.
This was a class act, so to speak. Perfection near everywhere in the production. Very highly recommended.