The Phenom

2016's The Phenom is a bit of a divisive film. It currently hold a 'Certified Fresh' 79% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes but only has a 39% audience score. That was the sort of split in my own house as well; I really enjoyed the movie but my wife didn't. I think this probably has more to do with expectations versus what the film actually is rather than quality. The performances are all good and the script is well written but, if you're looking for a fun baseball flick like Bull Durham or The Natural then this isn't it. Baseball is more of a backdrop in this one rather then the stories real focus.

The plot centers around a young, hotshot pitcher named Hopper Gibson (played by Johnny Simmons) who is going through some struggles on the mound and starts seeing sports psychologist Dr. Mobley (played by Paul Giamatti). Hopper's father (played by Ethan Hawke) was in and out of jail his whole life, and when he wasn't behind bars he was pushing his son to be the best pitcher he could possibly be... even if that meant being overbearing, cruel, and abusive. 

Overall, I think this is a good movie and Paul Giamatti is one of my favorite actors so this film gets a little bit of a boost in my book for having him in it. That being said, while I found this story here to be pretty compelling, I get why it wouldn't be for everyone. I recommend it, but know going in that it's not a typical sports movie.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Home Run Showdown

Released in 2012, Home Run Showdown is one of those sports films where a ragtag group of kids end up on the same sports team, learn to work together, and show that despite initially being castoffs as individuals they can win as a team. It's The Mighty Ducks, it's Little Giants, it's Bad News Bears... it's that kind of story.

This film centers around two constantly feuding brothers Joey (played by Matthew Lillard) and Rico (played by Dean Cain). Rico is the successful, ex- big league player who recruits all the top kids in his town to play for his little league team. Joey is a bit of a loser who got kicked out of minor league baseball and gets stuck coaching the players none of the other coaches want. These are, of course, the usual sports movie castoffs like a fat kid and a girl. The main kid, and source of the movies title, is a boy named Lori who takes the game very seriously. Lori needs his team to be good enough to qualify to participate in the nationally televised 'Home Run Showdown' so that his dad, who is in prison, can see him on TV. Additionally, Joey and Rico's father is going to retire soon and whichever son's team does better at the Showdown, that son will inherit his sports bar.

Overall, while not a fantastic movie, it's watchable. It's predictable, the acting isn't the best and the main kid often comes off more bratty than determined which makes him a pretty unlikeable character. If, like me, you have an elementary school-age kid who like s sports then this makes for a decent 'family movie night' viewing.

2 out of 5

My Favorite Sports Movies

In addition to my love of movies, I'm also a big sports fan. So, when the two forms of entertainment meet the result is some of my favorite films to watch time and time again. This isn't going to be a "Best Sports Films Ever" type of list. These are just some of my favorites. Now, this list was getting WAY too long so I pared it down to the fifteen films I've gone back to most frequently.

#15 The Longest Yard (1974)

This is one of Burt Reynolds' best known films and one that I can't help but watch every time it pops up on one of the movie channels. Unfortunately the 2004 remake with Adam Sandler wasn't nearly as good.

#14 Days of Thunder (1990)

I don't have much to say about this one... Sure, it's the worst critically received film on the list, but I still find it really entertaining. 

#13 Raging Bull (1980)

38 years later and this still holds up as one of Scorsese's best works and one of De Niro's best performances. A fair argument could be made that it's the best film on this list.

#12 The Stratton Story (1949)

This is the film on here that the least amount of people reading this have probably seen. It's based on the true story of Monty Stratton, a baseball pitcher who makes a comeback after having his leg amputated, and it is a fantastic movie. Check it out if you've never seen it. 

#11 Cinderella Man (2005)

This film about James J. Braddock, a boxer who is forced by injuries to retire and later defied the odds to become Heavyweight Champion of the World, is one of the better boxing movies out there in my opinion. 

#10 Jerry Maguire (1996)

"Show me the money!"

Yea, it's a movie about a sports agent, but it's a really good movie about a sports agent.

#9 Moneyball (2011) 

Who would've thought a movie about the analytics of baseball could be this entertaining. Moneyball is well written, well directed, and features what I think is Brad Pitt's best performance.

#8 The Hustler (1961)

Is Billiards a sport? Well, Google and ESPN at 2am say it is. Plus, The Hustler is a phenomenal film, so it makes the list. 

#7 Happy Gilmore (1996)

I've lost count how many times I've seen Happy Gilmore and I still get a bunch of laughs out of it every time. Sandler's schtick got old after a while, but in the mid-90's he was on top of his game and Happy Gilmore still holds up.

#6 The Wrestler (2008) 

This isn't one of those feel-good sports movies where the lovable underdog wins the big championship and everyone is happy in the end. But, if you want to see a great movie with a terrific performance by Mickey Rourke, then this is a must-see.

#5 Field of Dreams (1989)

It's become a tradition of mine to watch this one a few days before Opening Day each year. It's the most sentimental film on the list, but it doesn't take it too far.

#4 Caddyshack (1980)

This is one of those rare movies that when the final credits role, and the Blu-ray returns to the home menu, I can press play and watch it all over again. 

#3 Bull Durham (1988)

"Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls, it's more democratic" - 'Crash' Davis

I love this movie.

#2 Slap Shot (1977)

A few sports-comedies made the list, but this one is arguably my favorite of the bunch. Paul Newman is great in the film, and despite my love of the sport, it's the only hockey movie to make the list.

#1 Rocky (1976)

Since 1976 everyone who makes sports movie, is hoping that they are making the next Rocky. I wrote a whole blog entry on the Rocky film franchise a while back (you can check that out by clicking HERE) and the original Rocky film still stands out as not only my favorite film in that series, but as my all-time favorite sports movie.

Some movies that just missed the cut: Rocky IV (1985), Miracle (2004), Creed (2015), The Natural (1984), The Mighty Ducks (1992), Hoosiers (1986) A League of Their Own (1992), All the Right Moves (1983), The Sandlot (1993), Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story (2013)

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Trouble with the Curve (2012)

No one plays angry, grizzled, old man as well as Clint Eastwood... and, if you can buy into the idea that his character has the ability to hear if a player can correctly hit a curveball, then your going to have a good time with this movie. 

The plot centers around an aging baseball scout named Gus (Clint Eastwood) who is sent by the Atlanta Braves to check out a hotshot prospect down in the Carolina League. The only problem is that Gus is losing his eyesight. A friend and colleague (played by John Goodman) convinces Gus' daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) to go look after her dad. 

Mickey is a workaholic lawyer and so the film has her constantly butting heads Gus. While at a game in North Carolina, Gus is approached by a former player turned scout that the Braves drafted a few years back named Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake). Johnny is now a scout with the Red Sox and also quickly takes a liking to Mickey. The plot pretty much goes exactly where you expect it to; Even after Gus warns the team he is proven correct when the Braves find out that their new prospect can't hit a curve. Mickey and Johnny end up falling for each other. Mickey doesn't get her big promotion and realizing the time with her dad was more important...

Overall, it's definitely not going become my favorite baseball film, but it's a good movie. The cast is solid and they have great chemistry, the film is well shot, well paced, and even though it hits a lot of those expected beats it still ends up being a satisfying story.

I give it a 4 out of 5. 

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80's Month Day 20: Bull Durham

"Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls, it's more democratic" - 'Crash' Davis

80's Month continues with one of my favorite sports movies, the 1988 film Bull Durham starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins.

Costner plays Crash Davis a veteran minor league catcher that has been brought to Durham to help groom the Bulls' young hotshot pitcher Ebby LaLoosh (played by Tim Robbins) into a major-league caliber player. The two get off to a rough start and Ebby initiolly doesn't see the value of the lessons Crash is trying to teach him. Crash tries to get Ebby to stop thinking so much, and to trust the catcher and just throw the pitches he calls for. When Ebby ignores this, Crash tells the opposing player at-bat which pitch is coming next to prove his point. While this learning process is going on, a baseball groupie named Annie (played by Susan Sarandon) who every year chooses one player on the Bulls to be her lover and student, is also thrown into the mix. She ends up choosing Ebby for this year and the combination of her and Crash starts to payoff and by midseason. While Ebby, now nicknamed "Nuke", is turning into a dominant pitcher the relationship between Annie and Crash grows, and it soon becomes obvious that the two of them are a more appropriate match. Ebby "Nuke" Laloosh is eventually called up to the majors, opening up the opportunity for Crash and Annie to get together.

Overall, this one is a really enjoyable movie. It's well written with some good comedic moments sprinkled throughout, and 'Crash' Davis is up there with Rocky and Reggie Dunlop as one of my favorite fictional sports characters.

I give this one a 4.5 out of 5.


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80's Month Day 5: The Natural

The Natural is a 1984 sports movie starring Robert Redford as a baseball player named Roy Hobbs.

The film starts out with a young Roy playing baseball with his father on their farm. Later, Roy's father dies under a tree and that evening the tree is struck by lightning. Roy decides to carve a baseball bat from the damaged tree and even burns a lightning bolt and the name "Wonderboy" on the barrel. Jump ahead a few years to a now 19yr old Hobbs who is on his way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs. Along the way, while at a carnival, Hobbs is challenged to strike out one of the Majors top hitters,"The Whammer" (played by Joe Don Baker) and much to everyone's surprise he does.

Soon after, Hobbs meets a woman named Harriet who lures him to her hotel room. Harriet then shoots Hobbs and commits suicide. It turns out Harriet had been killing rising star athletes, and two others had already been murdered.

Jump to 16 years later. Hobbs now 35, and no longer a pitcher but now playing right field instead, has just been signed by the last-place New York Knights. The move that frustrates the team's manager Pop Fisher (played by Wilford Brimley) who isn't thrilled by the signing of a middle-aged rookie. After riding the bench for some time, Hobbs eventually gets his chance to play and, along with his bat 'Wonderboy', stars to turn the season around for the Knights. There's a lot that goes on between this point in the season and the Knights winning the pennant at the end, which you know early on is going to be where the film ends up. Hobbs' old gunshot injury causes him problems, Pop Fisher loses his ownership of the team if they fail to win the pennant, Hobbs refuses a bribe to throw the season, there is (of course) a love interest, there is a sports writer played by Robert Duvall desperate to find out anything he can about Hobbs' past, Hobbs helps the bat boy make is own bat which will come back later on in the film... It's not a movie that throws any real surprises at you, but it's all done really well

Overall, it's an entertaining movie and a must-see for baseball fans.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

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Today's Movie: A League of Their Own

"There's no crying in baseball!"

Though not my favorite baseball movie, 1992's A League of Their Own is both fun and entertaining. It was also one that I debated placing on my "10 Tom Hanks Movies Everyone Should See" list (which you can check out by clicking here), but ultimately there were just too many movies that I didn't want to leave off.

The film is about a women's baseball league that is started up while many MLB players were fighting in WWII. The two main players the film focuses on are a pair of sisters from Oregon, a catcher named Dottie Hinson (played by Geena Davis) and a pitcher named Kit Keller (played by Lori Petty). They are recruited to the league by scout that is played by Jon Lovitz, and though he's only in the film for a short time, he provides a couple good laughs. They play ball for the 'Rockford Peaches' and are joined by woman from across the country played by Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Anne Ramsay, Megan Cavanagh, Tracy Reiner, Bitty Schram, and others. Their manager Jimmy Dugan (played by Tom Hanks) is a drunk, ex-MLB player, with a bad knee, and who doesn't initially even think the women should even be considered real baseball players, but he comes around in the end.There's a decent amount of comedy sprinkled throughout, and the chemistry among the cast works well enough that you buy into them being a team.

As the season goes along tension builds between the two sisters because, due to her baseball skill and good looks, Dottie becomes the star of the league and Kit is constantly frustrated being in her shadow. Eventually, Kit is traded and both the 'Peaches' and her new team the 'Racine Belles' meet in the world series. This is Kit's time to shine and in game 7 she scores the winning run, allowing herself to finally feel like more than just Dottie's kid sister.

Overall, though not great, I think it's a pretty good movie.
I give it 3 out of 5.


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Today's Movie: The Man from Left Field

The Man from Left Field is a 1993 TV-movie directed by, produced by, and starring Burt Reynolds and, for something that it sounds like he was heavily invested in, Burt gives a pretty phoned-in performance.

The movie is about a drifter with amnesia that wanders into a small town one day, starts giving baseball tips to a little league team, and thus becomes their coach. None of the parents seem to have a problem with this, but that's besides the point. Anyway, this is a movie full of problems so I'll start with the team. This is the stereotypical, 90's, ragtag team of nonthreatening misfits: There's a short kid, a kid with glasses, a pudgy kid, a kid with a troubled home life, one kid that's actually pretty good at the sport, etc. Imagine a less interesting version of the kids from The Sandlot or Disney's The Mighty Ducks and that's this team. 

Along the way Burt Reynolds is teaching them life lessons and helping them with their problems, and all the while he can't remember any of his past. He also starts dating the mom of one of the players, she's played by Reba McEntire, and she seems like the only person who's actually trying in the movie. One evening one of the kids runs away, falls into a lake and, of course, Burt Reynolds saves him. The traumatic experience gives Burt his memory back, for some reason, and he remembers that he used to be a great Major League player and...also... a Doctor?! Why? I don't know, that part just comes out of left field (pun intended).

Anyway, you can probably guess how it ends, the team wins the big game against last years champs who are also a bunch of rich bullies and everyone presumably live happily ever after. It's not a good movie. In addition to the things I already mentioned, there are also some random awkwardly placed freeze frames, music that doesn't always seem to fit the mood, and some really cheesy writing.

Overall, it's watchable but not something I recommend.

I give it a 1 out of 5.

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10 James Stewart Movies Everyone Should See

There aren't many actors that have filmagraphy that boast as many great films as James Stewart. I've previously written list like this about Sean Connery, John Travolta, Alfred Hitchcock, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Hanks, and Chuck Norris, and easy part in creating this particular list was that I had so many quality films to choose from. Anyone who frequents this blog or has talked with me about movies knows I'm a huge fan of James Stewart and, unfortunately, there were so many good choices that I had to leave a lot of films that I really enjoy off of the list. Like all previous entries this isn’t necessarily a ‘Top 10’ but rather a list of films that is both some of my personal favorites and that I think best represent the person’s career.

#10 Rope -1948

"... You've murdered! You choked the life out of a fellow human being who could live and love as you never could, and never will again!"

You're going to find a couple of James Stewart-Alfred Hitchcock collaborations on this list, but that's bound to happen when an on-screen legend and one of cinemas best directors work together on a handful of films. This one is about two college friends who commit a murder just to see if they can get away with it. It's a simple plot done so well that it is, in my opinion, one of the great psychological-thrillers.


#9 The Spirit of St. Louis -1957

"The idea of committing suicide never crossed my mind except when I took this cigar"

There probably wasn't anyone more fit to play American icon Charles Lindbergh, than perhaps the greatest 'American every man' actor James Stewart. This biographical film focuses on the time leading up to Lindbergh's historic trans-Atlantic flight, as well as the flight itself. And even as someone with very little interest in aviation history, I still think this is a really interesting and entertaining movie.

 

#8 The Stratton Story -1949

 "I'm through gambling. Well, I found out what it's like to lose, and what it's like to win. Why keep at it?" 

This is one of my favorite Baseball movies (maybe I'll write a piece on all of those sometime). Stewart plays Monte Stratton, and it's the true story of a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in the 30's who has his leg amputated after accidentally shooting himself in an offseason hunting accident, but against all odds plays ball again. It's a great film.

#7 The Man from Laramie -1955

"I figure this place owes me somethin' and I'm gonna make it pay" 

 James Stewart was in a number of Westerns over the course of his career, but while some of his most famous ones How the West was Won and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance are both really good films, they also starred Western legend John Wayne. This one is 100% a James Stewart picture and I honestly think it's just as good.

#6 The Shop Around the Corner -1940

"I think people who like to smoke candy and listen to cigarettes will love it"

I'm not usually the biggest fan of romantic-comedies but this film about two shop employees that can barely stand each other but, without realizing it, are falling in love through letters as eachother's anonymous pen pal is a really fun movie. Both James Stewart and Margret Sullavan are really good, and Felix Bressart cracks me up.

#5 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -1939

"...You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well I'm not licked. And I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Even if this room gets filled with lies like these. And the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me" 

What can I say about this one? It's an all-time classic, well written, well directed, the whole package... but most of all, and this isn't something I claim very often, this is an important movie. On the surface it's just a film about an idealistic young Senator who goes to Washington D.C. and learns about corruption. It's both inspirational and cynical in many ways. I first saw it in school as a kid and, even though it's not always easy to get kids to sit and watch a black & white movie about government, I think it's something everyone should see at least once.

#4 Rear Window -1954

"...she didn't know she was going on a trip and where she was going she wouldn't need any luggage"

Look on any Alfred Hitchcock or James Stewart "Best of" list and you'll find this one near the top, it's a masterpiece. Stewart plays a photographer who, because of a broken leg, is confined to his apartment for a bit. So, he spends his days curiously watching his neighbors through his back window, but things get really interesting when he suspects one of those neighbors of being a murderer. It's a must-see especially if you like really suspenseful movies

#3 It's a Wonderful Life -1946

"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down"

This one also made a 10 Christmas movies everyone should see list I wrote (you can check out that article here) and it's not just a great Christmas movie or just a great James Stewart movie, it's one of the all-time great films period.


#2 Harvey -1950

"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say...'In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."

Harvey is not the most critically acclaimed film on this list but, for me, it couldn't come in any lower than the #2 slot. Stewart is fantastic as Elwood Dowd, one of my all-time favorite characters across film history. There are very few actors that can play a man who's best friend is an invisible 6'-3 1/2" tall rabbit and still come off so genuine and sincere that you find yourself thinking that the people who don't believe in Harvey the rabbit are the one's with a problem.

#1 Vertigo -1958

"You shouldn't keep souvenirs of a killing. You shouldn't have been that sentimental."

I could go on and on about this one, but I'll keep it simple and if you want more check out a piece I wrote called "The Greatness of Vertigo". This is one of those films and performances where everything works and, no matter how many times I've seen it, the movie always sucks me in.

Honorable Mentions: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) , The FBI Story (1959), Broken Arrow(1950), Bell Book and Candle (1958), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)


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A Look Back At ‘Field of Dreams’ (1989)

Well, we’re coming up on the World Series, so why not look back at one of my favorite baseball movies?

If you’ve seen this one, then you probably don’t need a detailed recap. However if you haven’t seen this film then I won’t spoil it, because it really is an enjoyable journey. I’ll just offer the setup and some overall thoughts.

Released in 1989, the film stars Kevin Costner as an Iowa corn farmer named Ray Kinsella. One Evening while walking through his cornfield, he hears a voice whisper "If you build it, he will come." After eventually seeing a vision of a baseball diamond in the field, he decides that he has plow down his crops and build a baseball field. Finally one night, after a couple of months pass without anything happening, a mysterious man in a Baseball uniform appears. It turns out that the man is deceased baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson (played by Ray Liotta). He asks Ray if it’s ok to bring others to the field to play, and returns the next night with other deceased players. 

As the film moves along Ray receives other cryptic clues like “ease his pain”, “go the distance” and even the statistics for a player named Archibald Graham, who played one game for the Giants in 1922, on a scoreboard. This takes him from Iowa to Massachusetts to Minnesota and back to Iowa in search for the ultimate meaning to it all. As stated earlier, it’s all about the journey. There’s some good drama, a few surprises, and a really satisfying ending.

It’s a solid, enjoyable movie and I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

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