|
The Arts Beat is a weekly deep-dive into Memphis arts, music, dance, theater, fashion, film and events. Keep scrolling for a roundup of the best arts and culture stories from the week. Have a story idea? Send it to eperry@dailymemphian.com.
 Director Penny Marshall displays a t-shirt with a line from her film "A League of Their Own" as she presents the award for best sports movie during the 10th annual Espy Awards, Wednesday, July 10, 2002, in Los Angeles. The Espy Awards recognize the top achievements and perfomers in sports. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)
The Daily Memphian’s resident film buff — and Memphis Grizzlies columnist — Chris Herrington writes a weekly guide to Memphis movie screenings every Tuesday.
If you are even remotely interested in going to see a movie, the column is worth the price of admission.
In the last edition, Herrington highlighted a Throwback Thursday screening of “Major League” at Malco’s Studio on the Square movie theater.
That spurred a list of his Top 5 Baseball Movies. In order from 1 to 5: “Bill Durham,” “The Bad News Bears,” “Everybody Wants Some!!,” “Eight Men Out” and “Eephus.” (Click here for the rationale for each.)
In turn, that spurred significant newsroom chatter on Tuesday.
Two things that were perhaps surprising: the number of opinions even the less sports-inclined had to offer and how each person defined a “baseball movie.”
To keep the conversation going, Daily Memphian staffers share their favorite baseball movies.
Some of these can be considered to be more baseball movies than others, but hear us out. — Elle Perry
‘Major League’ (1989)
As a member of the Flabongos, one of the worst teams in the Memphis Kickball League, I have a deep appreciation for the Cleveland Indians, the unfortunately named motley crew of sports outcasts in “Major League.” (The real-life Cleveland baseball team was renamed Guardians in 2021.) Much like the movie version of the Indians, our kickball team has bad knees and can’t catch half the time. I’m still in my fourth season and can’t kick the ball past the pitcher. Spoiler: The Indians actually get really good by the end of the movie, and well, that gives me a little hope for the Flabongos. — Bianca Phillips
‘Field of Dreams’ (1989)
“If you build it, they will come.” When I think baseball movie, I think “Field of Dreams.” Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) is going broke but builds a baseball field in his corn patch because it will “ease his pain.” He also goes on a road trip with Terence Mann (James Earl Jones) and Dr. “Moonlight” Graham (Burt Lancaster) to watch Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) and a bunch of dead pros play baseball on the field.
In the meantime, Ray’s brother-in-law Mark (Timothy Busfield) is upset about losing the farm, but he can’t see the ghost players. Dr. “Moonlight” saves Ray’s daughter from choking on a hot dog.
After that, Mark and everyone in the world can “go the distance” and see the dead players, and the farm is saved.
The themes of connection, faith, and following your heart lead to forgiveness that will have you weeping as Ray and his dad “have a catch.” — Alys Drake
‘Pastime’ (1990)
An underrated gem of a baseball movie is the film “Pastime,” starring William Russ as aging pitcher Roy Dean Bream trying to hang on in the low minor leagues, and Glenn Plummer as new phenom Tyrone Debray, who can throw the ball through the backstop.
As the older pitcher is white and the younger pitcher is Black in 1957 California, the two form a bond, as outcasts on the team, that lies at the heart of the film.
Both actors give superb performances, so much so that you ache along with their loneliness through the screen. And when Roy Dean realizes his career is over, only the hardest of hearts won’t feel his pain. Not only that, but the baseball is solid too, as many of the actors knew what they were doing with a ball and glove.
Several critics sniffed at the film upon release, but it still holds its own. It’s not streaming anywhere, but you can hunt down a DVD copy fairly easily on eBay and the like. — Jody Callahan
‘A League of Their Own’ (1992)
As Jimmy Dugan, the washed-up baseball star player-turned-coach, says, “There’s no crying in baseball.” As viewers, we follow the journeys of two sisters who join the Rockford Peaches, part of a new women’s professional baseball league.
The Peaches were a real team. The movie is a fictionalized account of the league created to keep interest in baseball while the country’s able-bodied men were serving in World War II.
Sexism, sports marketing, illiteracy, sibling rivalry and alcoholism are all topics at play. Rather than serving as just a history lesson, the film is funny and touching. There’s lots of action on the field, too, if you’re into that sort of thing. — Elle Perry
‘The Sandlot’ (1993)
Nostalgia wins again for me with the classic, “The Sandlot.”
It gave us, “You’re killing me smalls!” and “Fore-e-ver…”
It has a large, terrifying dog owned by James Earl Jones, who apparently liked being in baseball movies. It’s funny and infinitely quotable.
Would Squints be canceled for pretending to drown at the rec pool so his lifeguard crush, Wendy Peffercorn, has to give him mouth-to-mouth? Maybe, but no one can forget the scene.
Also, it has a where-are-they-now epilogue that’s ultra-satisfying. One of the kids makes it to the big leagues, the main character is a baseball announcer and Squints ends up with Wendy. A big ol’ nineties chef’s kiss of a sports movie. — Holly Whitfield
‘Sleepless in Seattle’ (1993)
Does it count as a baseball movie when it’s a third baseman bringing two lovers together? After he opens up about his dead wife to a radio show therapist, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) becomes suddenly flooded with attention from possible romantic partners. But only one sticks out.
When Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) writes to him, she mentions she believes that Brooks Robinson was the best third baseman ever. Though it’s Baldwin’s son who brings it to his attention, Baldwin, a baseball fan who shared a passion for the Chicago Cubs with his late wife, is intrigued.
What unfolds is a tension-filled romance and a sweet salute to Brooks Robinson. It would take me an hour and 40 minutes to tell the full story. — Kelsey Bowen
‘Angels in the Outfield’ (1994)
I’m not sure “Angels in the Outfield” holds up as more than a Disney-fied baseball family flick, but my 7-year-old self loved to rent this on VHS again and again, ready to be inspired by the angels (led by Christopher Lloyd) carrying players across the outfield to make outrageous catches and hit home runs.
The cast is stacked.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a cute orphan. Danny Glover, Matthew McConaughey, Adrien Brody — yes, future Oscar-winner and Wes Anderson character Adrien Brody! — are all in this movie.
But nothing compares to the heartstrings tugged by Tony Danza, an aging ace pitcher who’s having health problems and sweats his way to win the pennant.
The scene where the entire stadium flaps its arms like angel wings is as corny as a Cracker Jack, but it has lived rent-free in my head ever since. — Holly Whitfield
‘Good Will Hunting’ (1997)
While no baseball is played in “Good Will Hunting,” the climax of the film is set in motion by a game. Walk with me. Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) tells Will Hunting (Matt Damon) that he got tickets to the legendary Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Hunting jumps to his feet, dazzled at the opportunity as Maguire acts out Carlton Fisk’s famous home run.
They’re excitedly talking over each other, relishing the storied game, when Maguire tells Hunting that he didn’t actually go. Instead, he passed on the chance so he could have drinks with his future wife. A decision he says he never regretted despite her death and the grief he suffered. And it’s that moment of vulnerability that breaks through to good ole Will Hunting, who decides to drive to California “to go see about a girl” of his own. — Kelsey Bowen
Top arts and culture stories
..... |
