Eastwood and Adams great

Rating: 7/10 (11 April 2015)

Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) is the grumpy aged baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves. His eyes are failing and he never touches a computer. His friend head of scouting Pete Klein (John Goodman) continues to support him but Phillip Sanderson (Matthew Lillard) is gunning for his job. GM Vince (Robert Patrick) is looking to not extend Gus' contract. Gus' daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) is a workaholic pushing to be a partner in her law firm. If she wins the next big case, she'll be partner. Pete asks Mickey to join Gus on an important make-or-break scouting trip to evaluate hitting phenomena Bo Gentry. Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake) was a pitcher scouted by Gus. He's the new scout for the Red Sox.
There are lots of interesting things going into this movie. Eastwood and Adams have a good chemistry and a good father daughter relationship to tell. This is also the anti-Moneyball movie. That is probably enough for the movie to concentrate on. The two veteran actors are really good here but the movie adds some more extra. Justin Timberlake is a functional actor but I keep thinking that there are better actors around. The villains are a bit too broad. Lillard is going overboard a little especially at the end. Basically he needs to shut up after he gets beat. The movie sets up a few things way too neatly. While I understand why Bo is made out to be a villain, some of it seems unnecessary. Then there is Peanut Boy. The whole thing is too perfect. Eastwood and Adams are great. The rest are not all up to that standard.