Two new releases hit the suburban theatres last Thursday, just in time for this week’s column. One of them was Million Dollar Arm, the other was Godzilla. A no brainer right? Well, I’m not sure. The AMC parking lot was full, but my theatre was a ghost town. I can tell you, without looking, that the theatres were packed for the great Japanese monster and those folks were most assuredly having more fun than our little group.
Million Dollar Arm is based on a true story and a most intriguing one at that. Sports agent J.B. Bernstein, played by Jon Hamm, is down on his luck. In a desperate effort to find talent that he can actually turn into paying clients, he decides to go to India in search of Cricket “bowlers” that he can convert into major league pitching prospects. Ironically with a population of 1.2 billion, there are only four or five people in India who know, or care, what baseball is. Conversely over here nobody understands or cares about Cricket. Extenuating circumstances, to say the least.
The highlight of the film is the time spent in India looking for “players.” Bernstein drags a retired baseball scout, played by Alan Arkin, with him, and they scour the country looking for two candidates they can bring home to train for a major league tryout. A successful public relations program results in thousands of young men showing up, nary a one of them had ever held a baseball. Along the way we are treated to a bit of a travelogue as the search moves from one locale to another. In the process we learn some things about India, its culture, and family values, which was perhaps was the best part of the movie.
Million Dollar Arm
Entertainment Rating: ★★
Rating: PG, No profanity, no sex and no violence, an upstanding Disney film
Possible Oscar Nominations: None.
Two of my favorite actors are in this film. Alan Arkin is one of them, and he sleepwalks through his role. The other is Suraj Sharma, the young Indian lad who starred in The Life of Pi, (one of the best movies ever). He is commendable as one of the two chosen finalists.
Unfortunately the movie is very predictable, moves slowly, and the characters seem lost in the script. There is little or no passion among the players, even the one scene with some romance looks like they are going through the motions. The scenes filmed in India, contained the best acting but not from the stars. The locals were far more entertaining. As the film ground to its inevitable conclusion, I kept hoping that Godzilla would burst through the screen and give our little audience a thrill, but alas that wasn’t to be.
Questions or comments, email me at tsansom2002@gmail.com.
