Return to the "POINTER VIEW"
                         November 16, 2001

Her Point: I met an MP at the laundry facility here on West Point who told me about this movie and how I HAD to go see it. I am not a baseball fan, but Keanu Reeves could get me to any of his movies. So, I talked Casey into visiting our AAFES movie theater once again.

"Hardball" is a fantastic flick. I have very little to say to disparage this film and lots to praise it. I laughed and I cried, so you know this is a winner. I haven’t cried at the end of a movie that hard since "Terms of Endearment." Reeves plays Connor O’Neill, who has a serious gambling problem. His "friend" offers to pay him $500 a week to coach a Little League baseball team in Chicago’s public housing projects. I’ve never even heard some of the profane words that come out of the mouths of the kids on the team, and they are such an unmotivated bunch that a lot of laughter comes just from their presence. Yet Connor takes them under his fragile wing and bonds with the budding baseball players. When he realizes that the boys had never been to a professional baseball game, he takes them to Wrigley Field for the time of their lives. The audience becomes very acquainted with the different personalities of the teammates, which makes the film so enjoyable. There is an asthmatic, a pitcher with an unusual windup, and a player too small and young to play who reaches into our hearts so much that we want to take him home. His name in the movie is "G-Baby," played by DeWayne Warren, and his end performance will break anyone’s heart.

I could have used a lot less of the gambling story, and Connor’s schoolteacher love interest (Diane Lane) did nothing for me. This is a good date movie and one that could teach children values and morals. It also gives us a look into the inner city gloom and violence and made me feel blessed that I live in such a clean and secure place.

His Counterpoint: We certainly live in a secure place, but a cursory glance behind the refrigerator brings cleanliness into question. I also found much of the movie touching, particularly when Connor exchanges two tickets to a Chicago Bulls game for pizzas to celebrate the boys’ first post-game victory. In reality, I found the transformation of Connor from loser-sports-gambler into responsible-coach completely implausible. How does one go from a life of beer, cigarettes and betting, to driving kids around in a station wagon for fun, in a few weeks? It just does not happen.

Her Point: If I haven’t already talked you into seeing "Hardball," let me give you ladies one more interesting tidbit -- Reeves has a scene sans clothing wearing only a bath towel. For the guys, you’ll have to take Casey’s recommendations; he did tell me that he liked this movie. I think the director, Brian Robbins, did a remarkable job, especially working with such young actors. The writer, John Gatins, deserves accolades for teaching me new words and adapting the movie from the book "Hardball: A Season in the Projects" by Daniel Coyle. I haven’t read the book, but I think I might after seeing this terrific movie. I gladly give "Hardball" four stars. ****

His Counterpoint: I will not even dignify the comment about Reeves’ towel shot with a response. Lane did not bother to grace us with any quid pro quo of her own. After weeks of not seeing one exchange of gunfire in a movie, I had to settle for a nonsensical shootout between gang thugs at Chicago’s Cabrini Green. Watching that was about as exciting as viewing a lawn bowling tournament on ESPN -- who really cares who the winner is? Next week, I am definitely going to pick the movie and there will be some butt-kickin’ going on. I give this pint-sized "Boyz ‘N the Hood" sports thriller three stars. ***