Hardball Movie Review 2001

Loosely based on Daniel Coyle's book "Hardball: A Season in the Projects," the plot plays like a watered down "Bad News Bears" with a dark edge. Conor O'Neill (Reeves) is a gambler who owes money all over Chicago. He asks broker pal Jimmy (McGlone) for financial help, but it comes at a cost. Jimmy has him take over a baseball team from the Cabrini-Green projects as part of his company's community outreach program. Conor and the foul-mouthed little tykes inevitably get off on the wrong foot, setting up the eventual "rag-tag bunch of misfits turn into champions" scenario. Grimmer overtones show up, however, with the realities of the projects and a tragedy that deeply affects Conor and the team. The kids' teacher Elizabeth (Lane) is the guiding influence/unfulfilled love interest. The kids, especially Griffith and Warren, steal pic from the grown-ups with their performances.

Distribution

Paramount Home Video, 5555 Melrose Ave., 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, Phone: (323)956-5000, URL: http://www.paramount.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 106 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Baseball, Childhood Visions, Gambling, Chicago

Screenplay

John Gatins

Cast

Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane, John Hawkes, Bryan C. Hearne, Julian Griffith, A. Delon Ellis, DeWayne Warren, Michael B. Jordan, D.B. Sweeney, Mike McGlone, Graham Beckel, Mark Margolis

Cinematography

Tom Richmond

Director

Brian Robbins

Music

Mark Isham

Other

David Obermeyer, Michael McQuarn, Ned Bastille, Francine Jamison-Tanchuck, Jaymes Hinkle

Producer

Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Tina Nides, Fireworks Pictures, Paramount Pictures