Product Description

An aimless young man who is scalping tickets, gambling and drinking, agrees to coach a Little League team from the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago as a condition of getting a loan from a friend.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10616 in DVD
• Brand: Team Marketing
• Released on: 2002-02-19
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 106 minutes

Amazon.com
Keanu Reeves stars in this story that might best be described as Bad News Bears in the projects. Conor O'Neill (Reeves) is a charming ne'er-do-well with a disturbing gambling addiction. His penchant for betting on the wrong teams leaves him owing several thousand dollars to very violent people, and he ends up coaching a children's baseball team to pay off his debt. The movie skimps a bit on process: the kids start out as terrible players and become better but we don't see how; Conor starts caring but we don't see why. As by-the-numbers movies go, though, it isn't a bad one. The young actors in the cast are talented and understated. Most of the kids' characters are only barely fleshed out by the script, but this keeps the movie from being hijacked by extra-cute mugging. Parents should be cautioned--this movie has some very violent scenes that will frighten young children, and swearing is depicted as precocious and adorable. Still, like a baseball game, it isn't a bad way to spend your time. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews

Great film
This is a great film, and a nice departure for Keanu from his usual role as action superheroe. While I enjoyed him in "The Matrix," we find him at his best in "Hardball." As a gambler/drunk who gets turned aroud by coaching a kid's baseball team, Reeves is surprisingly believable, and manages to show the change in his character in a non-formulamatic way. It's nice to finally see a realistic view of inner-city kids. The language is rough throughout the movie, especially on the baseball field, but that's what makes it realistic. Also, great job by the child actors on Keanu's team. They pull of the really touching moments, and you find yourself not really minding their rough language, as they are a very likeable group of boys. For adults, I highly reccomend it. However WARNING: THIS IS NOT THE BAD NEWS BEARS. It's a drama about inner-city kids, not a nice little comedy. Please don't take your very young kid to see it expecting a nice little movie. It's not a kid's movie. Older kids and adults should enjoy baseball at it's best in "Hardball."

"HARDBALL" --EXCELLENT MOVIE - THUMBS UP FOR ME
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE TRAILER IN THE THEATER PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WERE CRYING JUST FROM THE TRAILER. GREAT ACTING BY EVERYONE ESPECIALY THE KIDS. THE KIDS DID HAVE SOME PRETTY STRONG LANGUAGE, BUT THIS MOVIE WAS BASED ON A TRUE STORY. IT'S GREAT THAT THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE LANGUAGE OUT BECAUSE IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW THEIR WAY OF LIFE IS. CHILDREN LIVING IN THESE CONDITIONS SEE AND HEAR THIS KIND OF VIOLENCE ON A DAILY BASIS. I HIGHLY RECOMEND THIS FILM - VERY TOUCHING MOVIE.

Healing American Story
This is a great story which will make you feel good, especially after the WTC tragedy.

I struggled over whether to go to a movie this weekend, just days after the WTC tragedy. This movie was a great respite from constant news of the tragedy. It is so all-American, telling of a flawed human presented with the challenge and opportunity to make a difference. He starts off coaching an inner city team of little leaguers for the wrong reasons, but finally sees the light.

This is one example of how plugging in the usual formulas produces positive, predictable results. It just about perfectly fits the Joseph Campbell/ Chris Vogler Hero's Journey (see Writer's Journey) It does a beautiful job of taking Keanu Reeves' role through a character arc demonstrating personal growth. It has just enough sweet romance. It's a shame that this movie was scheduled to be released on a weekend when not many people are going to movies. But it is a movie that Americans could use seeing.

We Americans are so like the main character-- flawed, often selfish, weak-- yet we as a nation, as a people, can pull together and do the right thing. That's the movie's message. Enjoy it. Bring your kid to see it. There is some foul language, but nothing my 11 year old hasn't heard on the playground.

I must confess that as a Dad of two little leaguers, one who has coached for at least eight years, this movie really got to me, tears and all. But I am not a sports fanatic. I couldn't even tell you who won the last world series. I coached for my kids. The movie is one you'll enjoy even if you are not a sports fan.