I was not impressed upon my first viewing of this film years ago. I liked it more the second time around, but I still wasn’t blown away right after. However it stuck with me and I kept thinking about it. Maybe its reputation made me want to know what I was missing. But I think it’s the subtly of the film that had me off guard. Subtly doesn’t typically go hand in hand with sports movies.
This film also doesn’t have the “big game” plot line to string the characters along, which is an instant rooting factor for an audience. This film is actually about holding onto youth and missed chances that really don’t have anything to do with not trying hard enough. Ebby “Nuke” LaLoosh (Tim Robbins, BOB ROBERTS) is a promising young pitcher, who has a major control problem. He throws as many wild pitches and walks as he does strike outs. Veteran minor league catcher Crash Davis (Kevin Costner, DANCES WITH WOLVES) is brought in to help the kid mature.
Between the two ball players is Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon, ATLANTIC CITY), who knows a lot about baseball and picks one new player on the team each year to have a steamy affair with. Almost by default, she finds herself with LaLoosh, who is quite immature and has a lot to learn. As I thought back on the film, the things that struck me were the parallels between Crash and Annie’s characters. Both are LaLoosh’s teachers and both are trying to hold onto their youth.
Costner is a hit or miss actor. But when baseball is involved he seems to always swing for the fences. His bewilderment toward Annie is sweet and his frustration with LaLoosh is understandable. Sarandon is perfectly cast as Annie, making her sexy, not slutty. She's a liberated woman who feelings she brings luck to her favorite team. Robbins as LaLoosh is clueless on the field as well as the bedroom. He's the kind of livewire that really brings a spark to Annie, but she is plagued by the mystery of Crash, who slyly undermines her relationship with LaLoosh, because he is plagued with the mystery of her.
When it comes to baseball, the key scene in the film comes when Crash tells LaLoosh about the statistical difference between batting .250, which won’t get you into the majors, and batting .300. It pretty much comes down to one extra hit a week. The theme of innate talent versus hardworking intelligence is brilliantly brought out in that scene. The film can be funny, raunchy, smart, sexy and sad. I guess I didn’t expect subtle human drama in a film billed as a baseball comedy. Who woulda thunk?
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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
