out of some other baseball movies (bull durham, field of dreams, for the love of the game, the rookie, etc) i think the is the best there is. it does so well recreating what they went through and maris and mantle look so much like them. i just think its so powerful and does so well. anyone else agree?
sharei have to agree. billy crystal dared tell the truth - the hypocrisy (at times)of owners, commissioners, writers ("what am i going to tell my editor...?" so was the story really ever "roger"?); the fickle, even hurtful nature of the public, the fans; the truly male nature of baseball (i almost wrote "sorry ladies" then thought, if they truly want to understand us, learn from very honest portrayals such as this)and men's, at times, wordless communication through the medium of sport and understanding gained through common experience and travail(i guess that's friendship).
there were the dual good/bad father/son paradigms often associated with "manhood" and sports, delicately handled without the club-over-your-head cheap emotionalism evident in many films of this genre, written by individuals unfamiliar with the true nature of these experiences, either because of life experience or gender.
i was especially impressed as i read the sources for this information - the mantle and maris families, yogi berra, whitey ford, etc. (did you catch the portrayal of billy and his father(?) at the end of the credits 'that's mickey mantle, and that's a home run!", played by none other than danny and will mantle, son and grandson of #7?) yes, you can be a demi-god, and still have feet of clay. and that's ok.
somewhat unflinching, yet still tender, much like i and, i think, most men face life, this movie is a gem. seriously, if that female significant other in your life doesn't "get" your "thing" with your sport of choice, (as long as you're not a self-centered neanderthal about it) but really wants to, invite her to watch this movie with you, then without you. and if you take the time to answer her questions, you may see a wonderful thing happen - understanding.
i own this movie and watch it, honestly, 6 times or so a year. thanks, billy, you really captured it for many of us.
I definitely agree that this is the best baseball movie ever. I'd love to see someone try to top it, but I doubt it could be done.
I'm so girly, when I watch it though. I have to be the only girl in the world that can watch a movie about baseball and bawl like a baby, at the end. When Roger hits #61 and the voiceover talks about how he died without knowing that the record was his, I'm inconsolable.
Hey, I'm with you Rentboy Bloom, although I ain't a girl. The part that turns my faucet on every time is when a game is rained out, and Roger is in his hotel, alone, sad. They show a picture of him and Pat at their wedding and seconds later, he's shown crying.
"Nobody knows me, like my babe." Ugh, the song does me in every time.
For the second time in my life, right now, I live apart from my wife and kids because my job has forced a temporary seperation. I know if I watched it right now, I'm lose it and start bawling like my infant daughter.
"When I left you I was but the learner. Now I am the master."
Bull Durham, Bull Durham, and Bull Durham. Did I mention Bull Durham. That movie is flat out hilarious from start to finish, it is a classic, and always will be, while this movie, while very good, will not be a classic.
Chris J. Nelson
This movie will never be a classic? I dunno, it's in the top 2 for baseball movies, it and Bull Durham. If this had been released in theaters, I think it coulda done very good. It's another movie where we know the ending (because of the historical content) but the execution of it is flawless.
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I was amazed to find out that Jane lied his ass off about having baseball experience so he could get the role. Pretty incredible how they got him up to speed so quickly. Pepper was outstanding as well. No doubt in my mind that this is the best baseball movie ever.
shareSeriously how in the world did Billy Crystal find two actors that pretty much is Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Those two actors were perfect for the role it seemed like it was written for those two.
shareI have to say that Pride of the Yankees is the best. I feel more emotion from that. This movie is great enough to be a classic, but to me, Pride of the Yankees is the best.
shareBull Durham is the best baseball movie by far, but this is an excellent film with great performances and directed by a guy who really loves the characters and the game.
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Bull Durham was garbage. The performances were so-so, at best. Costner aint much of an actor. The Susan Sarandon Character was absurd "I decide which ballplayer Im gonna sleep with at the start of the season?" And shes a college Professor? The baseball pitcher Robbins was too stupid to be believed. The Costner character was dull. Sorry, but this movie stunk.
Best baseball movies? Eight Men Out, 61*, Pride of the Yankees, Field of Dreams was great if one likes fantasy.
You nailed that one. *Bull Durham* was warmed-over cliches from 'way back -- very "with it" but quite ignorant re Baseball. The TV-movie *Long Gone* got it all better.
shareMy favorite by far is The Pride of the Yankees. It was 61* until I watched Pride. But of course I still love 61*. It was VERY well done.
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Bull Durham rewatchablity is hurt by Susan Sarandon. Her liberal insanity has killed her body of work.
shareBy far the best sports movie that I have ever watched. Every detail is nicely taken care of and the dialogue and events are not sugar-coated. Billy Crystal did a wonderful job showing the human aspect of a sports hero.
sharei would have to say that 61* by far is the best baseball movie i have seen and although i have never seen pride of the yankess of even ever been to a real base ball game before (i'm british) this is one movie i love
If you can't be a good example you'll have to be a terrible warning
Just watched 61* and it was great. I can't beleive no one has mentioned Cobb!
shareFav baseball movies:
-Pride of the Yankees
-The Natural
-Field of Dreams
-61
-Bull Durham
It's one of my favorites, although I admit to being a huge Yankee fan during this time period. Actually, I think this list is pretty accurate:
http://www.sportzflickz.com/top-50-sports-movies/
Bull Durham is a good baseball movie if your idea of a good baseball movie is a baseball movie combined with a chick flick.
61* is the best bsaeball drama movie of all time, and the best baseball comedy movie of all time is Major League.
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1. The Natural
2. Field of Dreams
3. 61
After that its a decent drop IMO.
For Love of the Game is an underrated gem IMO.
shareHead and shoulders above any other baseball movie out there.
MS or not she is a borderline sociopath and the worst troll I've encountered on IMDb
The Natural?!?! ughhhh (puking)
61* is a great movie and my favorite baseball movie other than The Sandlot (grew up with that movie)
Best baseball movies:
1-61*
2-The Bronx Is Burning
3-Eight Men Out
4-Babe Ruth (The Stephen Lang TV-movie, not the Goodman atrocity)
5-The Rookie
The "Natural" gives this movie a run for its money, but I agree, "61*" is something special-10 stars. I rated "The Natural" 9 stars on here. Cannot say anything about "Pride of the Yankees", havent seen it yet but from all the buzz around here, Ill have to see it soon...
shareI agree. Billy Crystal outdid himself. He was true to the spirit of Maris and Mantle and the whole Yankee team. All the more amazing was that he did this film on a relatively low budget and with no stars. It shows that great movies don't always need big stars and huge budgets.
shareMy top ten baseball movies...
1. The Natural
2. Eight Men Out
3. Field of Dreams
4. Major League
5. Pride of the Yankees
6. 61*
7. Bad News Bears
8. Bull Durham
9. Little Big League
10. Bang the Drum Slowly
If you are unable to tolerate people who don't agree with you, you are not tolerant.
This rates a perfect 10/10 in my book and I'm not even a Yankee fan. Billy Crystal made a gem.
shareI have yet to see 61*, but it's on my Netflix queue so I'll be seeing it soon! I remember all the buzz around it when it came out and I remember wanting to watch it but for whatever reason I missed out... I'm sure I'll love it!
As for other baseball movies I've seen, I'd have to put Pride of the Yankees (just watched it recently) and Field of Dreams way up there on my list! But, I can't beleive nobody has mentioned A League of their Own yet...I absolutely adore that movie. YES! It's girls baseball, but still baseball, and it's great!
No arguing, A League of their Own is a great film as well.
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