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Hardball
2001 106 min Germany, United States of America PG-13 12+
★6.1
Drama
Director: Brian Robbins
Trailers
Description
An aimless young man who is scalping tickets, gambling and drinking, agrees to coach a Little League team from the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago as a condition of getting a loan from a friend.
Budget:
$32M
US Gross:
$40.22M
Worldwide:
$40.22M
Starring
Keanu Reeves
Actor
Diane Lane
Actor
John Hawkes
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 2002
— Worst Actor
Key opinion
Hardball is viewed as an earnest and emotionally resonant sports drama that succeeds more through its performances than its familiar underdog tropes. While the script is frequently criticized for being conventional and lacking depth in character development, the genuine chemistry with the young cast elevates the film into a poignant, albeit sentimental, experience.
| Acting | The child actors deliver vivid, distinct performances that provide the film with its emotional heart. | |
| Acting | Keanu Reeves relies on natural charisma and a melancholic screen presence to effectively ground his character's redemption arc. | |
| Theme | The narrative successfully captures the harsh, gritty realities of life in impoverished urban neighborhoods. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay relies on tired sports movie tropes and fails to provide convincing motivations for the protagonist's growth. | |
| Screenplay | The romantic subplot and the central redemption arc are forced, Hollywood-style additions that feel disconnected from the film's more grounded elements. |