Cooperstown

Alan Arkin and Graham Greene are terrific in this poignant, funny look at friendship, regret and unrealized dreams played out against a background of baseball as it was before multimillion-dollar contracts and prima donna stars. Baseball scout and retired pitcher Harry Willette may not seem too lovable at first (cantankerous might be a better description), but it's a measure of Arkin's talent that the better we come to know him, the more we care about him and where he is in life. Greene offers a deadpan and laconic portrayal of Harry's deceased best friend and former catcher, Raymond Maracle, and delivers some of the best laughs. The other supporting roles -- from Josh Charles as Harry's nephew to Ann Wedgeworth as a faded baseball groupie and director Charles Haid in a small, explosive cameo as an old nemesis -- are perfectly cast and beautifully played. All in all, a baseball road trip well worth taking.

This film was made by TBS and has been shown rarely after its initial blitz on that network. I found it to be a very good movie about baseball, regret, and bigotry that was present in the early days of baseball. A touching tribute to the boys of summer.

A retired pitcher (Alan Arkin) finds out his long time battery mate was elected to the Hall of Fame, but died just before finding out. The movie is Arkin coming to terms with his regrets of the past, and driving to Cooperstown, but with the ghost of Greene in the car with him. Along the way come his great nephew who practises meditation, and a girl they pick up along the way who is fanatical about baseball. The movie touches on the plight of the non-white baseball player, the "Zen" of the game, and the regrets and grudges people keep between each other.

Unfortunately, the movie had way too many silly moments and forced situations, that one best beware that this is not Field of Dreams. The pacing is glacier-like at times as well. Just a Sunday afternoon time waster kind of movie, nothing more.

This movie is a must-see, not just for baseball fans; but for every movie fan. There is a wide range of emotions that the characters go through; and, as such, you will go through all the same emotions while watching it. The chemistry between Josh Charles and Maria Pitillo is very touching, and as their relationship develops, you really root for them to get together. And the way that the grandfather-character talks to the ghost of his Indian catcher is a lot like Sam Beckett talking to Al Calavicci on "Quantum Leap." So, if you liked that show, you'll like this movie. If you ever get to see it, that is. I first saw this movie on cable five years ago; and every month, I scour the TV Guide looking to see if it will be playing again. Alas, it hardly ever is. But I will be quite happy when it does.