(If you’re curious, my review process. It’s also pasted at the end of this post. I don’t believe in Rotten Tomatoes. I just believe in me.)
(***all-purpose SPOILER ALERT*** there may be some in this review)
acting 7
directing 7
effects 6
editing 6
writing 6
SW SCORE: 32
3.2 out of 5 🐙
++
James Earl Jones was cool. Kevin Costner, who I’ve never much cared for as an actor, does his usual flat, one-note performance. Perpetually annoyed and irritated and angry is not acting. It is tiresome. I personally don’t understand the vast love for this movie, however. It’s a melodramatic, Hallmark, soft filter, love letter to an America that never existed. Look, we all have daddy issues. I’m no exception. But I don’t think this milquetoast magic realism story does any significant work towards trying to understand this universal relationship. Or maybe I’m just not a baseball fan.
For an instruction manual on how to execute the delicate balance that is inspiring sports nostalgia, Iowa is not the place to go. Head to Indiana (Hoosiers, Rudy).
.
.
.
.
.
.
(1) Shark Wrighter (SW) Score: Based on a sum of 5 sub-scores (acting, directing, writing/story, effects: cinematography &/or animation &/or effects, editing) with 1 being terrible and 10 being terrific.
(2) Octopuses (0-5 🐙, with 5 being fantastic and 0 being feces)
(3) Octopuses are my unquantifiable feeling…not that SW score is scientific…but this one is even less so
(4) ++ This optional section includes any incredibly *brilliant observations that don’t fit into simple quantitative slices like the scores and octopuses *(they are likely NOT brilliant)