Hardball

Rating:
Summary: Complain of This Tearjerker? Look at Those Kids, Then!
Review: Here's the greatest mystery of the modern Hollywood -- Can Keanu Reeves really act? This question has long baffled us since the time of "Bill & Ted," and "Hardball" still seems to refuse to settle the issue because, for all its sugary moments and too obvious intention of wringing out tears, the film has some good things about it, and one of them is Keanu himself.

The film follows a chronic gambler Coner O'Neill, who gets a reluctant job of coaching the kids living in the projects. His monetary motive of getting a weekly check develops, of course, to the love of baseball games, and finally his redemption of soul. But haven't you heard the same stories before? "The Bad News Bears"? Or three "Mighty Ducks" films?

"Hardball" is given its energy with, not surprisingly, its good cast of kids, all so adorable and believable, that you may forgive and forget all the manipulating elements clearly intended for our tears. And though I hate those attitudes of the filmmakers, it works pretty well, especially when we see cute Little G, who literally steals every scene. And Keanu Reeves is not as bad as you may expect (though sometimes he overacts, as he did in the past, to accentuate the character's glum mood), and he is totally convincing as an amateur coach whose love for kids slowly grows. But who can be insensible to those kids' smiles?

The film often shows us the reality of the life there, and the authentic locale (shot in Chicago's ALBA Project) greatly helps. But, though the film's ending, of which grave message about the reality should be respected, I thought it went too far, and the scenes of cutting back and forth minutely seem to me superflous touch to thw work, which could have stood alone with the good acting of the children and surprisingly good Keanu Reeves.

Rating:
Summary: The Same Silly Formula That Never Works!
Review: How many films are out there that depict black youth as lost over ghettofied, and hopelessly marred by a harsh urban environment and then guess what, a white saviour arrives and teaches the troubled little black kids how to be civilized and learn to read and stop all the cussing because you know if it were not for this white saviour, these trouble little black kids will grow up and sling rocks on the street or gang bang. FOOL PLEASE! and Keanu Reeves hasn't acted in a movie since...well he's never acted in a film or a day in his life. I found this film a little demeaning, I mean I am a black male and I grow up in the subburbs and I am not a mama's boy and I know who my father is and believe it or not I am in the majority. Hispanic and African Americans are shameless stereotyped I mean the film could at least be a good film and stereotyped but the movie is more dull than watching my cat cough up a furball. And people really like this movie because it's one of those "feel good" movies that if you don't think about it too much, it will entertain otherwise get a bucket and prepare to hurl! You'll need it just for Reeve's acting!

Rating:
Summary: Hardball-Movie for people with big hearts and an open mind!
Review: Hardball is an emotional story of a young man trying to make ends meet by gambling, this hasnt always worked out. He is forced to coach a intercity little league team. He befreinds the entire team as they endure a very successful season and the season rests on the playoffs, but due to some gang related problems are forced to play the championship game with an emotional block on their shoulders. I would reccommend this movie to ages 13 and above due to harsh and vulger language.

Rating:
Summary: Poor Bad News Bears Rip Off
Review: Keanu Reeves plays a person who is scalping tickets, gambling, and drinking and has no choice but to coach a Little League team from the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago as a condition of getting a loan from a friend.

It's an enjoyable movie that makes you laugh. I wouldn't watch it with young children because there is a lot of bad language especially from the kids in the movie.

There was one part that was depressing, but it's unfortunately a reality for some places in the country. It's one of those that would make a good rental when there is nothing to watch, but not something worth buying.

Rating:
Summary: Keanu found his niche!
Review: I never found Keanu Reeves to be interesting at all, but I found this movie to be Keanu's best so far! I think he's found his "niche" in sports-related movies, such as the Replacements, which he starred in also, regarding football. It's a great movie filled with inspiration, and the challenge of growing up in the projects, and is very moving throughout the movie! All of the kids who acted in this movie are great little actors, and Keanu did very well with them!

Rating:
Summary: Iffy, at best
Review: Maybe my problem is I hate Keanu Reeves. I think he is possibly the worst actor. But this movie was the type that I am glad I saw it once, but I would not want to see it again and again and again, like most baseball movies. I did not see the charm depicted from 8year olds having as foul of mouthes as 25year old men. Towards the end is definately one of the bigger tear-jerkers of movies made lately. But I would not recommend seeing it more than once.

Rating:
Summary: An solid drama.
Review: A down on his luck man by the name of Connor O`Neal (Keanu Reeves), who does have a large debt to Pay but he has been giving a Second Chance to Teach Underprivileged Kids in the Toughest Parts of Chicago to becoming an Coach of a Baseball Team but Slowly Connor learns to be a Coach and Caring of the Kids from the Team-discover that Redemption comes in all Different Sizes in Life.

Directed by Brian Robbins (Ready to Rumble) made a Often Funny and Touching Film. This Movie is Actually, Based on a True Story, Based on a Novel by Daniel Coyle and From an Screenplay by John Gatins. Keanu Reeves gives a fine Performance in This. The Kids are also Great in This. DVD`s has an Sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an fine Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD`s has an audio Commentary by the Director and Screenwriter. DVD`s Feautres are:Three Deleted Scenes, Feautrette and More. This is a fine, Well-Made Drama. Grade:A-.

Rating:
Summary: A Great DVD With A Little Extra
Review: This DVD is great. It first of all is a great movie!! It tells how real life is for some people in our society today. It has trials that some may go through in life. Plus if you like baseball you will love it. On DVD's we all know they have extras. On this DVD they have great deleted scenes, the music video of the theme song, also they have a behind the scenes look at how they learned to play baseball. This DVD is AWESOME, so I recommend it to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Don't see this movie
Review: This movie was really bad. I love the usual Hollywood formula, and this movie was too poorly acted, and the script too thin for me to even enjoy that. They use every gimmick to make you feel emotions for these characters and it all adds up to one really bad movie. Though I like to cry and get into movies - I couldn't believe this one!

Rating:
Summary: Keanu Reeves has split personality
Review: As this movie begins, Keanu Reeves is running away from the bad guys who are after him to collect gambling debts. In order to earn some money, he agrees to coach a boys' baseball team in the projects. Suddenly he is a teddy bear who knows exactly how to relate to small boys. When the boys are practicing, he is up in the stands smoking, but somehow they progress into a very viable team. His character changes drastically as he spends more time with the boys, and all of this seems to happen somewhat magically. It's hard to know who this film is for because there is too much cussing by the young actors for it to be suitable for kids and yet it purports to be a kid movie.