Since the world series started this week and I watched Field of Dreams last week, I thought that this would be a good week to do the top 5 baseball movies. Granted I haven’t seen every baseball movie every made, so these are my favorite. This list is not to be taken as the be all end all. But then again, maybe it is.
5. A League of Their Own - Probably the best and only movie ever made about female baseball players. Based on the true story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, this movie went on to gross over a 100 million dollars and brought us the now classic line “Are you crying? There’s no crying! There’s no crying in baseball!” Ah, pre oscar winner Tom Hanks, when he would still do something funny.
4. Fever Pitch - Okay, I know I am going to get a lot of shit for adding this to the list, but you know what, I don’t care. I really enjoyed this film. In fact, so much that I have seen it twice. Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore star in this loose adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel about soccer fandom. This is a movie more about the baseball fan then the game itself and thats what I like about it. I will never be a pro hockey player, but I will be lifelong fan of the game, and I can relate to what Fallon goes through in the movie. Except that my team has yet to hoist the cup. But this is our year, I can feel it (I have said that for the past 18 years, one time it has to be true, right?)
3. Major League - This the movie that my friends and I would get together and watch. Mainly because two of my friends were serious baseball players and loved baseball movies and because it is just a fun film. The story of the hapless Cleveland Indians and there almost cinderella season on the arm of “Wild Thing” Charlie Sheen is just a treat to watch. Add in Corbin Bernsen, Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes and pre 24 president, Dennis Haysbert and the silliest baseball comedy is born. The addition of Bob Uecker as the play by play announcer was the perfect touch. Don’t know how many times I have seen it, but I can tell you that there are more to come.
2. Field of Dreams – This was my vault pick this week from our radio show and is the catalyst for this whole top 5 list. What can I say about the movie that makes you want to run out into the backyard for a catch with your dad? It is just a great time and a uplifting movie. Well acted, well shot and as much about believing as it is about baseball. If you haven’t seen it lately, go pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.
1. Bull Durham - The story of an up and coming pitcher making his way through the minor leagues and the down and out catcher tasked with showing him the ropes. This movie has a lot going for it, mainly though, its the cast. Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon are great together in this film and Kevin Costner brings his stoic approach to baseball roles again. This is probably the sexiest baseball movie ever made, with Sarandon bringing the HOT as a baseball groupie making the rounds through the local minor league team. Fun to watch, but definitely not for the kids.
Hey, Hanks still does comedies. He’s been in this weird second coming of Jimmy Stewart thing for a while, but Toy Story was a comedy, and Forrest Gump had a lot of comedic elements to it.
If you want to be picky then okay. But Toy Story is in essence a animated film and Forrest Gump is more of a fantasy then a comedy. Its no Splash or Joe vs the volcano or the man with one red shoe. Or Bosom Buddies for that matter. I am sure there were funny moments in Philadelphia but I wouldn’t say that Hanks was still doing comedies cause of it.