Costner and Baseball Movies

[Golden Sombrero]

The Link

Field of Dreams reunion.  I've noticed that Costner is at his best in baseball flicks--although there is a soft place in my heart for the underrated Waterworld.  No, wait, I'm thinking of Bull Durham.  

Anyway, what are youse's favorite baseball movie?  I'd have to go with "The Natural."

[HurricaneDavid]

I really liked For Love of the Game, though I probably would have liked it a lot less if Kelly Preston and Vin Scully weren't in it.

[Andyzipp]

The Sandlot.

[Limey]

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I'd have to go with "The Natural."

Shocker.

I'd have to go with "Bull Durham".  I liked it before I liked baseball.

[Golden Sombrero]

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I'd have to go with "The Natural."

Shocker.

I'd have to go with "Bull Durham".  I liked it before I liked baseball.

Yeah, I bet no one saw the me and Natural connection coming.  Just watched it again the other day--sort of film you can watch over and over again, or just a scene here and there.

[seib22]

Major League before it got ridiculous & became a trilogy.

[MusicMan]

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I really liked For Love of the Game, though I probably would have liked it a lot less if Kelly Preston and Vin Scully weren't in it.

I tried to go back and watch that last week.

It was even worse the second time.

[Bench]

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The Link

Field of Dreams reunion.  I've noticed that Costner is at his best in baseball flicks--although there is a soft place in my heart for the underrated Waterworld.  No, wait, I'm thinking of Bull Durham.  

Anyway, what are youse's favorite baseball movie?  I'd have to go with "The Natural."

I'm a Field of Dreams guy, but I feel obligated to mention Little Big League, if only for Kevin Elster's riveting performance.

[MusicMan]

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The Link

Field of Dreams reunion.  I've noticed that Costner is at his best in baseball flicks--although there is a soft place in my heart for the underrated Waterworld.  No, wait, I'm thinking of Bull Durham.  

Anyway, what are youse's favorite baseball movie?  I'd have to go with "The Natural."

There's Bull Durham, and then there's everything else.  Past BD, I'd have to go:

2.  The Bad News Bears
3.  Major League
4.  The Natural
5.  Little Big League

Alas, I have never seen "The Sandlot" and "Field of Dreams", while good, is not a baseball movie.

[Alkie]

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"Field of Dreams", while good, is not a baseball movie.

Neither is The Natural, which is, almost without question, one of the most overrated, least watchable pieces of formulaic crapola ever put on film.

Seriously, we rented it a couple years ago during Spring Training because neither of us had seen it in about 5-10 years.  Bored us both to tears.  Holy shit...is that a poorly written, poorly acted piece of shit.  I've remember After School specials that had more substance.

[HudsonHawk]

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Anyway, what are youse's favorite baseball movie?  I'd have to go with "The Natural."

The more times I see it, the more I think Eight Men Out is my favorite.

[MusicMan]

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Anyway, what are youse's favorite baseball movie?  I'd have to go with "The Natural."

The more times I see it, the more I think Eight Men Out is my favorite.

Another that I need to see.

Alkie... while "The Natural" was an old HBO staple, I have to say I haven't seen it in at least 15 years.  Does it really not hold up that well?  Would more Kim Basinger and less Kim Basinger's Clothes have helped?

[drew corleone]

I have Eight Men Out on DVD and I'll watch it when I'm in the mood for baseball, but don't feel like listenting to the guys on ESPN. Outstanding movie.

Until about a year ago I had never seen Bull Durham, and I guess I still don't know what the hype is about. Give me Major League over that any day of the week. Both The Sandlot and Little Big League are fun movies to watch, as was the original Bad News Bears.

And I agree that Field of Dreams is less a baseball movie and more a drama about fathers and sons, in which baseball plays a key role. But it still resonates with me, and it will always be one of my favorite films.

[Alkie]

I'm not kidding, go watch it again.  Maybe I'm just jaded or something, but we were really excited to see it again after so long and we both looked at each other 30 minutes in and said "enough."  We watched the rest anyway, and it was horrible.

More Clothes-Free-Kim-Basinger would improve anything, including I'm pretty sure, my marriage.

[Golden Sombrero]

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"Field of Dreams", while good, is not a baseball movie.

Neither is The Natural, which is, almost without question, one of the most overrated, least watchable pieces of formulaic crapola ever put on film.

Seriously, we rented it a couple years ago during Spring Training because neither of us had seen it in about 5-10 years.  Bored us both to tears.  Holy shit...is that a poorly written, poorly acted piece of shit.  I've remember After School specials that had more substance.

Well, I like it.  But then I also like the the ouevre of Ed Wood, Jr.

[Alkie]

I didn't call YOU a cocksucker.  I said it was a cocksucking MOVIE.  Everyone is entitled to like awful movies.  I happen to love Joe vs. The Volcano.  

Ed Wood, Jr. movies are great.  As long as Joel and the Bots are also in the shot.

[Golden Sombrero]

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I didn't call YOU a cocksucker.  I said it was a cocksucking MOVIE.  Everyone is entitled to like awful movies.  I happen to love Joe vs. The Volcano.  

Ed Wood, Jr. movies are great.  As long as Joel and the Bots are also in the shot.

Don't worry, I didn't take your post the wrong way.  I just felt obliged to stick up for my pick and my avatar.  Sort of.  

I think MST3K is good if you are watching the films by your lonesome, but if you get a group of friends together it is best to see the filth in its true form--that way you are forced to supply the commentary rather than relying on the bots' hilarious offerings.

[jaklewein]

I like the usual baseball movies listed here more, but here's a little diamond in the rough, "Long Gone".  If you haven't seen it...please do.

Notable actors...William Peterson (Grissom from CSI but playing Cecil "Stud" Cantrell in this movie), Dermot Mulroney, Virginia Madsen, Henry Gibson (this guy is always funny) & Teller.

[Golden Sombrero]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll netflix it--I've added a few I haven't seen in a while.  I'll throw out another one I really like that hasn't been mentioned, but which is a bit of a hagiography and over-the-top: Pride of the Yankees

ETA: Curses, it seems that Long Gone isn't part of the netflix library yet

[jaklewein]

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Thanks for the suggestion, I'll netflix it--I've added a few I haven't seen in a while.  I'll throw out another one I really like that hasn't been mentioned, but which is a bit of a hagiography and over-the-top: Pride of the Yankees

Pride of the Yankees...never seen it.  Heard of it, just never taken the time to watch it.  Thanks.

Oh, and "61"...hell of a movie.

[jaklewein]

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ETA: Curses, it seems that Long Gone isn't part of the netflix library yet

It's old and didn't get much pub...I'm pretty sure it was mid to late 80's.

[No? in Austin]

1. Field of Dreams
2. The Sandlot
3. Eight Men Out
4. Bull Durham
5. Pride of the Yankees
6. Bad News Bears
7. Major League
8. The Monty Stratton Story
9. The Natural
10. Bang The Drum Slowly
11. The Winning Team
12. 61
13. The Rookie
14. The Pride of St. Louis
15. Soul Of The Game
16. Mr. Baseball

[Golden Sombrero]

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1. Field of Dreams
2. The Sandlot
3. Eight Men Out
4. Bull Durham
5. Pride of the Yankees
6. Bad News Bears
7. Major League
8. The Monty Stratton Story
9. The Natural
10. Bang The Drum Slowly
11. The Winning Team
12. 61
13. The Rookie
14. The Pride of St. Louis
15. Soul Of The Game
16. Mr. Baseball

Mr. Baseball, nice one Chief.  "It's like Cleveland, but I can't read any of the signs." (or something close to that)

[ASTROCREEP]

1. The Stratton Story
2. *61

[No? in Austin]

I totally spaced and forgot to add "Fear Strikes Out".  It's the story of Jimmy Piersall.  He used to have panic attacks out in right field during a game and he was sure he was going crazy.

Good movie.  I'd put it before Bang the Drum Slowly, so it's one of my top ten.  I also considered "Bingo Long and the Traveling All-Stars", but in the end, I personally thought that "Soul of the Game" did a better job of telling the Negro League story.  I further like "A League of their Own", because I thought Tom Hanks was brilliant in that one.  But alas, other than a few of the lesser character actors in that movie, the on-field play wasn't too believable.

[Bench]

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1. Field of Dreams
2. The Sandlot
3. Eight Men Out
4. Bull Durham
5. Pride of the Yankees
6. Bad News Bears
7. Major League
8. The Monty Stratton Story
9. The Natural
10. Bang The Drum Slowly
11. The Winning Team
12. 61
13. The Rookie
14. The Pride of St. Louis
15. Soul Of The Game
16. Mr. Baseball

Man, I haven't seen Bang the Drum Slowly in years. That's a fantastic movie.

[No? in Austin]

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1. The Stratton Story

One of my favorites.  Next to Pride of the Yankees, this is a great baseball movie!  A tub of popcorn and the missus along side and it makes for a great movie watching night.  And it's baseball too!  W00-HOO!

[astrojo]

1. Bull Durham
2. Eight Men Out
3. 61
4. The Sandlot
Edited to Add #5. A League of Their Own

And I have to give an honorable mention to Baseketball.  Those guys are hilarious in both this movie and Orgazmo.

[Danimal]

doesnt get any better than major league boys

[Limey]

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I further like "A League of their Own", because I thought Tom Hanks was brilliant in that one.  But alas, other than a few of the lesser character actors in that movie, the on-field play wasn't too believable.

I'm pretty sure the Dodgers had a promotion where Piazza would kiss anyone catching a foul ball, but I could be wrong.

[UpTooLate]

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I further like "A League of their Own", because I thought Tom Hanks was brilliant in that one.  But alas, other than a few of the lesser character actors in that movie, the on-field play wasn't too believable.

Same can be said of Bull Durham (which btw i liked).  Tim Robbins as a major league pitcher? ummmm.....no.

[JGrave]

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I further like "A League of their Own", because I thought Tom Hanks was brilliant in that one.  But alas, other than a few of the lesser character actors in that movie, the on-field play wasn't too believable.

Same can be said of Bull Durham (which btw i liked).  Tim Robbins as a major league pitcher? ummmm.....no.

Mr. 3000.  Probably the most realistic.

I like Bull Durham.

[ybbodeus]

You think Bang The Drum Slowly would have been as big a critical success had it been centered around the Twins or Brewers....or Padres?

Edit typo and change Braves to Padres.

[ValpoCory]

What about Mr. 3000?  Oh wait.

I like Eight Men Out, 61*, Field of Dreams, and The Sandlot.

"Ham Porter: Hey, Smalls, you wanna s'more?
Smalls: I haven't had anything.
Ham Porter: No, do you wanna s'more!
Smalls: I haven't had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?
Ham Porter: You're killing me Smalls!
"

[No? in Austin]

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What about Mr. 3000?  Oh wait.

I like Eight Men Out, 61*, Field of Dreams, and The Sandlot.

"Ham Porter: Hey, Smalls, you wanna s'more?
Smalls: I haven't had anything.
Ham Porter: No, do you wanna s'more!
Smalls: I haven't had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?
Ham Porter: You're killing me Smalls!
"

The Great Hambino! "You throw like a GIRL!"

[Taras Bulba]

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The Link

Field of Dreams reunion.  I've noticed that Costner is at his best in baseball flicks--although there is a soft place in my heart for the underrated Waterworld.  No, wait, I'm thinking of Bull Durham.  

Anyway, what are youse's favorite baseball movie?  I'd have to go with "The Natural."

I liked pretty much everything about "The Natural" except for the choice of Redford in the central role.

[Curly]

Not my number one, but haven't seen it on anyones list yet.  Bingo Long and the Traveling All Stars was always one to watch when I saw it in the show listings.

[Duman]

Love: The Natural (book is very different than the movie, different ending)

Enjoy: Sandlot, 8 Men Out, Bang The Drum Slowly, 61*

[jeffrey]

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Love: The Natural (book is very different than the movie, different ending)

So different... I read the book a few years ago and was surprised at how completely opposite it was from the film.  The novel is far more interesting to me, as is the case with most adaptations, I guess.

[drew corleone]

Not a movie, per se, but right now HBO has their documentary Nine Innings From Ground Zero in the rotation (and on On Demand). If you haven't watched it I highly recommend it.

It's about baseball in the wake of 9/11, with a little bit about the Mets, but most of it about the Yankees-D'backs Series.It reminded me of that month after 9/11, when I found myself actually cheering for the Mets during their improbable run, and then again for the Yankees in the Fall Claasic (though I think it was as much because I didn't want another expansion team winning a world title before the Astros, as it was because of New York).

[Bench]

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Not a movie, per se, but right now HBO has their documentary Nine Innings From Ground Zero in the rotation (and on On Demand). If you haven't watched it I highly recommend it.

It's about baseball in the wake of 9/11, with a little bit about the Mets, but most of it about the Yankees-D'backs Series.It reminded me of that month after 9/11, when I found myself actually cheering for the Mets during their improbable run, and then again for the Yankees in the Fall Claasic (though I think it was as much because I didn't want another expansion team winning a world title before the Astros, as it was because of New York).

I didn't root for either team (like you, despite my loathing of the Yankees, I couldn't pull myself to root for a team that barely existed), but I definately leapt out of my chair when Gonzo hit the series winner. What a wacky series that was, Schilling and Unit, the BH Kim meltdowns, Gonzo the "superstar," and Mariano and the Yanks finally getting beat. The whole thing was so improbable.

Milo is interviewed in "Nine Innings," a fact he touted ad nauseum when it first debuted.

[Navin R Johnson]

Here is another recomendation for "Long Gone."   Solid  baseball movie about the minor leagues.

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Mr. 3000. Probably the most realistic.

Outside of "Talent for The Game," which features Edward James Olmos at his absolute apex.  Do yourself a big favor, and catch this flick.   It is Caddyshack II good.

[BUWebguy]

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Love: The Natural (book is very different than the movie, different ending)

So different... I read the book a few years ago and was surprised at how completely opposite it was from the film.  The novel is far more interesting to me, as is the case with most adaptations, I guess.

I had to re-read the last four or five pages, as I was just sort of trying to get through it at that point... I got to the very end, and assumed Hobbs had hit the home run, but it didn't make sense. On re-reading, I got that he had failed.