Rating: 
Summary: I fell asleep
Review: Enough said. The only Keanu Reeves film that kept me awake was "The Matrix. This was boring! and badly acted.
Rating: 
Summary: must see
Review: this is one move you must go see it will make you lange and it
will have you in tears a real life thing.
thanks.
Rating: 
Summary: Beauty out of ugliness.
Review: A moving story and very well played by all concerned. The ugliness and depravity of the context pictured in this movie serve to show that, no matter what the odds are, the beauty of the human soul can emerge in spite of everything. Just two reservations. First, I found the dialect hard to follow: even when I turned on the very helpful subtitles, the meaning often escaped me. Secondly, the enormous change for the better that Conor O'Neil experiences by having to take charge of his young players happens somewhat too quickly. In spite of this, however, the process itself is quite credible and so, given the time constraints of a two-hour movie, you don't need too much good will to suspend disbelief and accept a few psychological corners being cut rather short. - All in all, I find the idealism exemplified in this movie extremely comforting.
Rating: 
Summary: "Hardball" is two-thirds base hit, one-third home run.
Review: If you can't buy Keanu Reeves as a gambler-turned-baseball coach, then you're going to have a tough time sitting through "Hardball," which puts the actor in basically the same life-changing situation found in his previous film, "Sweet November." There, he was a workaholic who found meaning in a relationship with a cancer-stricken humanitarian. Here, he's a down-on-his-luck gambler/alcoholic who finds himself coaching a down-on-their-luck baseball team. That's not to say that the movie gets away with this change easily; there are many drawbacks to Reeve's character, Conor O'Neill, who becomes increasingly in debt to loan sharks and thugs who, when they haven't received payment, begin to make house calls. Of course, Conor makes more bets in hopes of paying off his old ones, only digging his grave deeper when he keeps losing money. He turns to an old friend, who offers him $500 a week to coach a little league team while is away on business. Now, any parent with a head on their shoulders wouldn't think of trusting their children with such an irresponsible man. Conor, as seen by the audience, is little more than a repulsive, incessantly stupid character with no sense of moral value, but this is easily overlooked because the members of the baseball team are all prepubescent African-American boys who live in the projects. As you may have already guessed from previews and commercials, tam and coach go through a standard getting-to-know-you period, followed by the requisite high spirits that lead to various wins and, ultimately, a chance to play in the playoffs. This might actually be convincing if the movie didn't try to pass off pizza parties, a Walkman that plays Notorious B.I.G., and the constant use of profanities by the adolescent players as practice sessions and moments of inspiration. The main problem with "Hardball" is that we have no reason to care much for its characters. Conor, despite some worthy acting by Reeves, doesn't really maintain the moral turnaround needed for us to accept his change of heart, while the baseball players, bless their hearts, are merely players in the movie's game of bringing to light a cliché, overused message. And then, of course, there's the love interest between Reeves and school teacher Diane Lane, who does a serviceable job with what she's given. The surprise trophy of the film is its ending, which really deserves a better film. Without revealing too much, I will say that, despite its conventional feel, there are some good moments of heartfelt emotion that make us wonder just what went wrong in the beginning and mid-sections. The banal characters? The tedious, familiar plotting? Whatever the reason, this much can be said: "Hardball" is two-thirds base hit, one-third home run.
Rating:
Summary: "Hardball"- The Oddest Movie Hybrid of the Year
Review: "Hardball" is like a movie that feels like it was made on an assembly line: This is to say that the movie feels like it is made of different parts, many of which don't fit together, and that the movie is trying too hard to please too many people. This is what is ultimately the problem with "Hardball," a wildly uneven and highly cliched movie. Oh yes, and the movie also stars one of successes greatest enigmas: Keanu Reeves. Many hailed his performance in "Hardball" as the greatest performance of his career... Trust me, folks: That MUST not be saying much. "Hardball" tells the story of a man named Connor O'Neal (Keanu Reeves' brilliant character) who has a gambling problem that is portrayed very intensely. So intensely, in fact, that it would make for a fantastic and highly disturbing independant film. Unfortunately, this film was marketed as a family film, so it only comes across as highly disturbing without the fantastic. Anyway, Connor O'Neal (through a few contrived plot twists) ends up coaching an inner city baseball team composed of foul-mouthed children. The child actors portraying these kids do convincing performances and come off very loveable and playful, making them one of the movie's few strengths. Once again, "Hardball's" biggest fault minus Keanu and his "acting" is the fact that the movie tries to be too many things at once. It goes for intense, then it goes for playful, then it goes for fun, then it goes for thrilling, then it goes for romantic, then it goes for comedy, then it goes for tear-jerking, then it goes for pride, and etc. etc. etc. And all within about an hour-and-a-half's time. All in all, "Hardball" is a bit of a mess that, while a valiant effort, just isn't worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: excellent film
Review: ok so at first it might look bad but it takes a turn for the best when g baby shows up. this was a downright good film to watch. diane lane finnally got out of her acting slump and made a reallly great charector out of elizabeth wilkes. its got its funny moments but close to the end you will be crying. i was sure crying. see this over the incredibly flawed dont say a word.
Rating:
Summary: Hardball
Review: The movie proved that Keanu Reeves is very capable of expressing emotions on screen, contrary to his harshest critics. He was able to convey his initial attitude change from someone who was only coaching a kid's baseball team for money he desparately needed, to someone who genuinely cared with subtle finesse. It wasn't a cartoon character performance. The child actors also performed at a professional level not expected from their age group.
Rating:
Summary: keanu hits a home run...
Review: i saw it a month after it came out and while it isn't groundbreaking, it is very good entertainment. the kids make the movie though...there were a couple of people who sat in front of me who complained about the level of profanity in the film. perhaps they were expecting mary poppins? this movie was real to me and i love baseball. one of those movies where you know what's going to happen and yet it's so good you don't care...
Rating:
Summary: Hardball
Review: Hardbal is about a down-on-his-luck gambler (Keanu Reeves) who is extorted into coaching a baseball team of inner-city kids to help pay off his gambling debts. With the help of these kids and their teacher (Diane Lane) he pulls his life together and takes his team from worst to first. Well, Hollywood did it again folks. Another cookie-cutter, down-and-out loser, thrust into a role of responsibilty, meets the straight-laced love interest, and ultimately succeeds. Of course it is capped off with the loser's obligatory "heart-tugging" speach to show that he really has seen the "light." Every conflict in this movie is almost immediately resolved, and this "baseball" movie includes only one scene of the team practicing. I advise anyone thinking they are going to get 2000's version of the Bad News Bears, to think twice about watching this movie. The plot is cliche, the outcome predicatble, and I came away from this movie groaning.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: I thought Hardball was one of the best movies I've ever seen although it is pretty sad. I can't wait to buy it when it comes out!
Hardball is about a man, {Keanu Reeves}an alcoholic, who places a lot of bets which he can not afford to pay. Then one of his friends,a little league baseball coach, tells him that he is going out of town and wants him to coach his team temporarily and he'll pay him good money. So now he's left alone to coach these little boys all by himself.
This heart-warming movie shows what it's like in the real world, and that everything don't go the way you want it, even if you don't like it.
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