"Well, you're the best I've ever had...and you're the greatest hitter I ever saw!!"

Rating: 10/10 (3 July 2000)

How this movie was snubbed by the Academy, I'll never know. Combine a great story (adapted beautifully from the Bernard Malamud novel) with a stellar cast, a powerful score, and brilliant direction (Barry Levinson's best, I think) and you should walk away with an armful of Oscars, right? Not!!! What were these people thinking? Just another baseball movie? First, the cinematography in this movie is awe inspiring and has the type of "texture" to it that illustrates and exemplifies the true beauty of film. Further, it has some of the most perfectly framed shots I have ever seen. This is also a period piece, circa 1920's, and the sets and costuming are, for lack of words, perfect. This is one for the time capsule, folks! Don't miss it (even if you've already seen it)!!!