This was such a great read, I really enjoy the layout of your reviews it makes reading them a lot of fun. I watched Bull Durham for the first time a few years ago after picking the DVD up at a pawn shop, I went in expecting a baseball movie and was so surprised by how much romance/drama/comedy there was. Still, I really enjoyed it and agree that Susan Sarandon was incredible in it.
I recently watched September 5 as well and I put up a review for it, it reminded me of a play given that much of it is set in a single location and the movie relied mostly on dialogue to progress the plot.
I just went back and read your review now. I didn’t at the time as I hadn’t seen it yet and I like going into movies without reading too much. You summed it up perfectly. I love movies where you get to see people who are specialists at what they do just go to work. I love Spotlight for the same reason.
Ah, great movie, great review. But, indulge me a minute...
One of the strengths of this movie is the authenticity of the minor league lifestyle, the ultimate minor tragedy that maybe LaLoosh will make the big leagues, but it's all over for Crash Davis. And so the majors becomes this unseen, heralded Valhalla. Implicitly, even though it doesn't make logical sense, you wish Crash Davis could make it.
Contrast with the true life story "The Rookie" starring Dennis Quaid. It's considered a fairy tale that Quaid's Jim Morris somehow legs it out to become a major leaguer for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the age of 35. A few things about that:
1) Morris' career was unimpressive, statistically. During his brief time in the majors, he only pitched for small parts of two seasons before blowing out his arm.
2) That specific Tampa Bay Devil Rays team was one of the worst teams in baseball history. They went 69-93, only in their second year, when their rosters expanded in September to 40. The franchise was in such bad shape that they would have called up ANYBODY to play for them. Morris pitched more in 2000, but they won an identical 69 games, a win total they wouldn't surpass until 2004.
3) This was an expansion era for baseball with the Devil Rays and the Diamondbacks (who, inexplicably, won 100 games in their second year). "Bull Durham" takes place in a world with four less teams. And, back then, did they even expand the rosters to 40 in September?
If "Bull Durham" takes place from some point between, say, 1998-2008, then I'll bet Crash Davis gets a September call-up. And if "The Rookie" took place in 1988, Jim Morris is in no way getting to the majors.
Does this make "Bull Durham" more tragic? Or does it make "The Rookie" way less inspirational?
Big fan of this film and agree that Susan Sarandon is the centre of the film.
This was such a great read, I really enjoy the layout of your reviews it makes reading them a lot of fun. I watched Bull Durham for the first time a few years ago after picking the DVD up at a pawn shop, I went in expecting a baseball movie and was so surprised by how much romance/drama/comedy there was. Still, I really enjoyed it and agree that Susan Sarandon was incredible in it.
I recently watched September 5 as well and I put up a review for it, it reminded me of a play given that much of it is set in a single location and the movie relied mostly on dialogue to progress the plot.
Thanks, Matthew!
I just went back and read your review now. I didn’t at the time as I hadn’t seen it yet and I like going into movies without reading too much. You summed it up perfectly. I love movies where you get to see people who are specialists at what they do just go to work. I love Spotlight for the same reason.
Ah, great movie, great review. But, indulge me a minute...
One of the strengths of this movie is the authenticity of the minor league lifestyle, the ultimate minor tragedy that maybe LaLoosh will make the big leagues, but it's all over for Crash Davis. And so the majors becomes this unseen, heralded Valhalla. Implicitly, even though it doesn't make logical sense, you wish Crash Davis could make it.
Contrast with the true life story "The Rookie" starring Dennis Quaid. It's considered a fairy tale that Quaid's Jim Morris somehow legs it out to become a major leaguer for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the age of 35. A few things about that:
1) Morris' career was unimpressive, statistically. During his brief time in the majors, he only pitched for small parts of two seasons before blowing out his arm.
2) That specific Tampa Bay Devil Rays team was one of the worst teams in baseball history. They went 69-93, only in their second year, when their rosters expanded in September to 40. The franchise was in such bad shape that they would have called up ANYBODY to play for them. Morris pitched more in 2000, but they won an identical 69 games, a win total they wouldn't surpass until 2004.
3) This was an expansion era for baseball with the Devil Rays and the Diamondbacks (who, inexplicably, won 100 games in their second year). "Bull Durham" takes place in a world with four less teams. And, back then, did they even expand the rosters to 40 in September?
If "Bull Durham" takes place from some point between, say, 1998-2008, then I'll bet Crash Davis gets a September call-up. And if "The Rookie" took place in 1988, Jim Morris is in no way getting to the majors.
Does this make "Bull Durham" more tragic? Or does it make "The Rookie" way less inspirational?
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