(2012)
Runtime: 1 hr 51 min
Drama
Rated: PG-13 Language, sexual references, some thematic material and smoking and drinking
Director: Robert Lorenz
Writer: Randy Brown
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and John Goodman | See full cast and crew
Grade: B-
For decades Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of baseball's best scouts -- but now his age is catching up with him. Still, he refuses to be benched even though his bosses are questioning his judgment. Tasked with checking out the country's hottest batting prospect, Gus is forced to accept help from his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams). Though they haven't spent time together in years, father and daughter make new discoveries about their shared past, which could change their future.
Clint Eastwood as a crusty, cranky, ornery, curmudgeon is something that the movie going public seems to have embraced. When he announced his retirement from feature films in 2008 following Grand Torino, he left us wanting more. Four years later and we have gotten what we wanted. Reviews so far have been mixed. This might be due to a little fallout from his 'Empty Chair' remarks (see clip below) which hasn't set well with the liberal Hollywood culture.
The 82-year-old Oscar winner walked the press gauntlet at the Westwood
premiere of his latest film “Trouble With the Curve” — with 16 empty
chairs right behind him. (Read more)
But back to the movie...
Mr. Eastwood
delivers a fine performance. John Goodman is in good form as usual. Amy
Adams does an adequate job with the shallow script she has been given.
Justin Timberlake is likeable and charming and has been given the
responsibility of delivering the comic relief.
I didn't however see any
real chemistry between Timberlake and Adams. The performance by Matthew
Lillard as Phillip Snyder seemed shallow, merely a caricature of the
egotistic corporate jerk, of course the script gave him little to work
with, but then again isn't that the art of the actor to take a paper
thin script and turn it into something believable.
I didn't however see any
real chemistry between Timberlake and Adams. The performance by Matthew
Lillard as Phillip Snyder seemed shallow, merely a caricature of the
egotistic corporate jerk, of course the script gave him little to work
with, but then again isn't that the art of the actor to take a paper
thin script and turn it into something believable.
Trouble
With The Curves could have been a good family drama but I wouldn't take
children to see it due to the extensive profanity, much of it the
blasphemous type but also a few F-bombs.
We all know someone, a family
member, a neighbor or coworker whom we love that has a habit of using
this peppery way of speaking, those that you are afraid to introduce to
'polite' company for fear of the language that might come out of their
mouth, those that as they speak you want to cover your children's ears
of simply keep children out of range from their voice. Such is Gus
(Clint Eastwood), he swears like a sailor (with apologies to all
honorable sailors who don't 'swear like a sailor'). In addition the character of Bo Gentry (Joe Massingill) the draft prospect, is a very poor roll model for children.
We all know someone, a family
member, a neighbor or coworker whom we love that has a habit of using
this peppery way of speaking, those that you are afraid to introduce to
'polite' company for fear of the language that might come out of their
mouth, those that as they speak you want to cover your children's ears
of simply keep children out of range from their voice. Such is Gus
(Clint Eastwood), he swears like a sailor (with apologies to all
honorable sailors who don't 'swear like a sailor'). In addition the character of Bo Gentry (Joe Massingill) the draft prospect, is a very poor roll model for children.
I
am not a baseball fan but this movie is not really a baseball movie, so
it didn't bore me in that respect, it is a family relations and romance
drama. Trouble With The Curve is enjoyable but if the language will offend or bother you, then you may want to wait for a sanitized version to come out.
Synopsis
Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball
for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to
catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus—who can tell a pitch just by the
crack of the bat—refuses to be benched for what could be the final
innings of his career.
He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is
starting to question his judgment, especially with the country's hottest
batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able
to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter,
Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm
whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming
partner. Mickey has never been close to her father, who was
ill-equipped to be a single parent after the death of his wife. Even
now, in the rare moments they share, he is too easily distracted by what
Mickey assumes is his first love: the game.
Against her better judgment, and over Gus's objections, Mickey joins him
on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own
career to save his. Forced to spend time together for the first time in
years, each makes new discoveries—revealing long-held truths about
their past and present that could change their future.
The film also stars Justin Timberlake as Johnny Flanagan, a rival scout
who has his sights on a career in the announcer's booth…and has eyes for
Mickey. Rounding out the main cast are John Goodman as Gus's old
friend and boss, Pete Klein; Robert Patrick as the Atlanta Braves
General Manager Vince Freeman; Matthew Lillard as Phillip Snyder, the
Braves' associate director of scouting; Scott Eastwood as Billy Clark,
one of Gus's discoveries, who's now in a slump; and newcomer Joe
Massingill as young batting phenom Bo Gentry, who's emerged as the Major
League's hottest young prospect. Also in the cast are Ed Lauter,
Chelcie Ross, Ray Anthony Thomas, George Wyner, James Patrick Freetly,
Bob Gunton and Jack Gilpin.
Trouble with the Curve will
be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros.
Entertainment Company.
Cast
Gus Mickey Johnny
Pete Klein Phillip Sanderson
Bo Gentry Rigo Sanchez
