Day 173: A Movie Review: 42

It's no secret, I love me a good baseball movie. I have my favorites, and now have another one to add to the list—"42." I'll just say this... even if you're not a baseball fan and you feel like it's almost more torturous than watching paint dry, you must see this movie. (When I underline and bold something, you know I mean business!) The number 42 is synonymous across baseball with courage, bravery and determination.

The movie is the story of Jackie Robinson. In 1947, after approximately 60 years of segregation, he broke the color barrier in major league baseball and left the Negro league for the bright lights of Brooklyn and a Dodgers' uniform. Robinson overcame more obstacles than probably any other player and paved the way for men of all races to play professional baseball. To honor what he did for the sport, on April 15, 1997, Major League Baseball retired Robinson's #42, throughout the entire league—the first time any number had been retired across an entire sport.

IMDb synopsis of the movie:

In 1946, Jackie Robinson is a Negro League baseball player who never takes racism lying down. Branch Rickey is a Major League team executive with a bold idea. To that end, Rickey recruits Robinson to break the unspoken color line as the first modern African American Major League player. As both anticipate, this proves a major challenge for Robinson and his family as they endure unrelenting racist hostility on and off the field, from player and fan alike. As Jackie struggles against his nature to endure such abuse without complaint, he finds allies and hope where he least expects it.

Jackie Robinson played just 10 years in the majors, but made every second count. He was Rookie of the Year in 1947 and won the MVP in 1949. He played in six World Series and won in 1955 with the Dodgers. He was a six-time All-Star from 1949 to 1954. For a man that was persecuted and mistreated, and at times bullied, he did well to put it all aside and just play ball. And he played great ball.

My hat goes off to Branch Rickey for seeing a special baseball player and human being in Jackie, and for changing the face of baseball for generations. In this day and age, it's so difficult to watch how he was treated, not only by some of his teammates, but by fans, opposing players and even managers. Imagine if there were still Ben Chapmans in the game...

See the movie. Trust me.

Day 76: Happy 25th Anniversary, Bull Durham!

Bull Durham and I have something in common—25 years ago marked a milestone in both our lives. The movie, Bull Durham was released on June 15, 1988 and I graduated from high school sometime around that same date. Of course, I can't remember the exact date I graduated because hello... it was 25 years ago! I don't remember what I did 25 minutes ago.

It was not until several years later that I finally watched the movie and it still sits atop my list of all time favorite baseball movies. Actually, it would probably be close to the top of my favorite movies of any subject. There are many important lessons to be learned... like never shake off your catcher because most likely he's just vindictive enough to tell the batter what you're going to throw! Or how to properly use the word "lollygagger." And don't forget that candlesticks make a really great wedding present. Vital stuff.

To celebrate 25 years, here's a list of nine Bull Durham trivia facts you might not know as compiled by EW.com.

1. Costner, Robbins, and Sarandon weren’t anybody’s first choice for the movie. For Costner’s aging minor-league catcher character Crash Davis, other actors who were considered included Harrison Ford, Kurt Russell, and Mel Gibson. Costner said yes first. For Robbins’ dim-bulb pitching phenom Nuke LaLoosh, the first choice was Charlie Sheen. But he’d just signed on to be in another baseball movie, Eight Men Out. As for Sarandon’s baseball groupie Annie Savoy, both Kim Basinger and Ellen Barkin passed first.  

2. In addition to wanting Sheen to play Nuke LaLoosh, the studio (Orion) was also keen on Breakfast Club star Anthony Michael Hall. But when director Ron Shelton and producer Mark Burg went to New York to meet with the actor, he not only showed up a half hour late, but hadn’t even read the script. “I thought Ron was going to shoot him,” says Burg. When Hall came back the following day, he said that he’d only read half of the script. When he heard that, Shelton had had enough. He got up and walked out.

3. The head of Orion, Mike Medavoy, apparently thought that Sarandon was too old for the part of Annie — and not funny enough either. So producer Thom Mount told the actress to buy a tight, tight dress that showed a lot of cleavage and then go into Medavoy’s office and lean over his desk for 30 minutes. Says Sarandon, “As a rule, most studio executives’ strong suit isn’t imagination… I definitely didn’t go in there in a T-shirt and jeans. I remember I had on an off-the-shoulder red-and-white-striped dress. It was very form-fitting. It was understood what I had to do.”  

4. A young choreographer named Paula Abdul was flown down to the Durham, North Carolina, set to teach Robbins some flashy moves for a scene where he dances at a bar. When she was done, she approached the director, Ron Shelton, and asked him what part he had for her in the film — she claimed she had been told by one of the producers that if she taught Robbins some moves, she be rewarded with a speaking part. Shelton apologized, but informed her there was no part. “She marched off screaming,” says Shelton.  

5. The name Crash Davis was actually based on a real baseball player from the 1940s. Shelton spotted the name in an old Carolina League record book, liked it, and used it. Then on the first day of filming he got a call from the real Crash Davis, who was still very much alive. Shelton invited him to the set, hoping that he could get the old timer’s okay to use the name in the film. Davis had one question about the Crash character for Shelton before he agreed to it. “Do I get the girl?” Shelton replied, “Yes! In fact, I’ll introduce you to the girl.” Sarandon charmed the heck out of him.  

6. When the filmmakers needed to fill the stadium stands with extras, they had a novel idea — they went to a Pink Floyd concert in nearby Chapel Hill and asked the band to invite the audience out to the ballpark afterwards. That may be why so many of them look a little hazy…and why there are so many Dark Side of the Moon T-shirts in the background. 

7. Everybody knows that Bull Durham is the movie where Robbins and Sarandon met and began a relationship that would last for the next 20 years. Well, not everybody. In fact, just about everyone on the set says they had no idea — except producer Burg. “It was obvious. You’d be sitting in the bar of the hotel, where almost everyone was staying except Susan. And Tim would be drinking with us and then say he was turning in and walk out to the parking lot and get in his rental car and head to Susan’s house.” But both Robbins and Sarandon insist that the relationship didn’t begin until after the film wrapped. Says Sarandon: “I mean, there was an attraction during the movie, and I could see something was changing from friendship to something else, but we both decided we would wait until we cleared up things in our lives.”  

8. The funniest scene in the movie was based on real life. “The candlesticks scene on the mound — I came up with that,” says Robert Wuhl, who played the team’s pitching coach. Apparently, a week before the film started shooting, Wuhl’s friend was getting married and he asked his wife what he should get as a gift. Her reply: Candlesticks always make a nice gift. Or find out where they’re registered and perhaps a nice place setting. Wuhl ad-libbed that line during a hilarious meeting on the pitcher’s mound in the film. The rest is history. And Wuhl says that ever since then, he’s never had to think hard about what to get someone as a gift.  

9. So whatever happened to Crash and Annie and Nuke? Robbins has a theory. “Well, I’d like to think that Crash and Annie ended up having a pretty good marriage and that they’re still together. And Nuke? I always thought that Nuke maybe had a flash in the majors and then blew out his arm and is now signing autographs at trade shows. But maybe you shouldn’t print that. That’s the kind of idea that leads to sequels.”

If the Bruins weren't on tonight, I might've celebrated by watching the movie for the eleventy millionth time! Happy Anniversary, Bull Durham!

Day 63: Baseball Movies That Make Me Happy!

I can't bring myself to write about the Red Sox or the Bruins tonight in fear of jinxing them. *whispers* They both did so well last night... So instead, I'm going to treat you to a countdown of my most favorite baseball movies. I originally posted this over at Fenway Fatales in early 2012 so if it looks familiar... sorry.

Who doesn't love a movie about baseball? Ok... maybe there are some people who think it's a little like watching paint dry (and I am not friends with those people.) What is it about a baseball movies and this power they have over me? They make me laugh, cry, cheer, boo, and most importantly, they make me happy. Sure there may be ups and downs, but in the end, you're usually treated to a victory of some sort.

Let the countdown begin!

#5 - Field of Dreams: How many times have you heard someone say it? "If you build it, they will come." Years ago, ESPN compiled a list of the top 100 sports movie quotes - this was #11. When I hear it, I immediately picture a young Kevin Costner, hacking away at his cornfield to begin erecting his very own baseball diamond. What happens next kind of made me want to build my own baseball field. Give me chills just thinking about it. Come to think of it, it's been too long since I last saw this one. *runs off to Netflix queue*

#4 - For the Love of the Game: What can I say? It's got baseball, it's got romance, it's got Kevin Costner. What's not to love? I'm just a sucker for all of it. And I'm especially a sucker for a nail-biter of a ballgame with the possibility of not just a no hitter, but the holy grail for all pitchers - the perfect game. If I had any complaints about his movie, it would be Kelly Preston. She's just not one of my favorites.

#3 - A League of Their Own: "There's no crying in baseball!" possibly one of the all time greatest baseball movie quotes (and #7 on that really old ESPN list I mentioned above.) This is saying a lot since Bull Durham has its fair share of great quotes. This is the one baseball movie that makes me cry. And it usually happens at the end, when all those women gather at the Hall of Fame, and Dottie and Kit reunite...gets me every time. I love this movie so much because I'd like to think I would've totally tried out. Even though I can't hit a fast ball to save my life.

#2 - Fever Pitch: If Bull Durham was never made, this would be my all time favorite baseball movie. How could I not love it -- it's the Sox. And it's the Sox winning the freaking World Series. Plus my love for Jimmy Fallon runs deep. And evidently, the feeling is mutual since he is actually following me on Twitter. Yup, you heard right, Jimmy and I are total bffs. He even sent me a direct message. I'm sure if he gets wind that I'm bragging about it, he's totally going to dump my sorry ass. Shhhhh... don't tell, mkay?

#1 - Bull Durham: Looks like I'm not the only who thinks this is the best! The first time I watched this movie it was before the days of big screen TVs. I was home alone and I pulled the recliner really close to the TV to give it the appearance of being a big screen. See how crafty I am? I had my popcorn and soda and I watched. I watched and I drooled and I loved. Crash Davis might be the single sexiest baseball character ever to grace the silver screen. That Annie Savoy is one lucky lady. I aspire to be just like her some day! Well... maybe not now, but years ago I did! You know, BH (before husband.)

Well, there's my list. It was difficult to narrow it down to just 5 movies! Honorable mentions go out to Moneyball, The Natural and The Rookie. So what's your favorite baseball movie and what makes it so special?