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Friday, September 21, 2012

Sheep Movie Review: Trouble with the Curve


Trouble with the Curve, directed by Robert Lorenz, stars Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, and John Goodman. Clint again goes for the grumpy old man like he did in Gran Torino but I wasn't as impressed this time around. It was a nice attempt but the film comes across more corny than authentic. 

Plot:
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 may 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. 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.

I'm a big fan of sports movies, such as Moneyball, but with any great drama you need to have some suspense and Trouble with the Curve lacked that emotional "umph" I crave. The Clint one-liners became annoying after a while and the predictable plot just added to the overall lackluster quality of the script. I think there was some serious potential here, but somewhere along the line the powers that be lost sight of the end game. 

Surprisingly, Justin does an extremely great job with his character, and though it's not a role which needed a wide range of acting ability he presented the part with flawless effort. Plus the man has a smile that can win the devil over! Amy Adams yet again brings her A-Game to the role of aside pushed aside hardball daughter, though you are left wondering why she even puts up with all her old man's antics.

Predictable bar scenes, miraculous stumbles into late night clogging sessions, as well as midnight river skinny dips with amazingly great lighting and the kid no one saw coming that can throw some heat. The list of sports cliches goes on and on.  

Overall the film gives the audience very little it can substantially cling on to. You root for the good guys and despise the bad guys just because the film gives you no other option. You witness, yet again, how backstabbing in the corporate world can be and feel the woe-is-me from the gal just trying to make a name for herself. I'm suggesting you wait for the dvd on this, it's worth a dollar rental but not much more. 

Getting 2 and 1/2 'swing away' Sheep 
KD

4 comments:

  1. I usually wait for movies to come out On Demand so I'll definitely be doing that with this one as well.

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    1. That would be best. Sadly this is one that shows the best parts during the trailer.

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  2. Adams, Eastwood, and Timberlake all do fine jobs in their roles, but the script really carries them down when it decides to go back to formula. You can see everything coming a mile away with this one. Nice review Katie.

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    1. I agree of the Adams and Timberlake part but did Clint really do such a great job? It's something we've seen over and over...I love the guy but was disappointed this time.

      Thanks Dan for the comment and glad I was not alone in this! :)

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