Hard Ball (2001)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Brian Robbins

Writers (WGA):

Daniel Coyle (book)
John Gatins (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 September 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The most important thing in life is showing up

Plot:

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. |

Plot Keywords:

Little League | Coach | Gambling | Irish American | Children

Awards:

2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 12

10:36 AM

FX

Cast

Keanu Reeves	...	Conor O'Neill
Diane Lane	...	Elizabeth Wilkes
John Hawkes	...	Ticky Tobin
Bryan Hearne	...	Andre Ray Peetes (as Bryan C. Hearne)
Julian Griffith	...	Jefferson Albert Tibbs
Michael B. Jordan	...	Jamal (as Michael Jordan)
A. Delon Ellis Jr.	...	Miles Pennfield II
Kristopher Lofton	...	Clarence
Michael Perkins	...	Kofi Evans
Brian M. Reed	...	Raymond 'Ray Ray' Bennet
DeWayne Warren	...	Jarius 'G-Baby' Evans
Carol Hall	...	Pearla Evans (as Carol E. Hall)
Jacqueline Williams	...	Lenora Tibbs
Freeman Coffey	...	Darryl Mackey
D.B. Sweeney	...	Matt Hyland

Also Known As:

Hardball (Germany) (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language and some violence. (re-rating)

Runtime:

106 min | Spain:109 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | USA:R (original rating) | Australia:M | Canada:PG | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) (certificate #38188)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Fireworks Pictures

Trivia:

All of the league's team names are taken from tribes in Africa.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Characters often discuss going to "Sluggers" (a sports bar) and refer to it as being "on the corner of Clark and Addison". "Sluggers" is a real sports bar and several scenes from the film were shot there, however it is not on the corner of Clark and Addison - another famous sports bar, "The Cubby Bear", is the only bar on that corner. "Sluggers" (3540 N. Clark Street) is actually a full block from the intersection of Clark and Addison and is located at the intersection of Clark and Eddy.

Quotes:

Elizabeth Wilkes: So you work for Smith & Stevens Securities?
Conor O'Neill: Yes.
Elizabeth Wilkes: What deal did you blow?
Conor O'Neill: What?
Elizabeth Wilkes: Well, I'm sure you're not coaching this team by choice.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Reese Witherspoon/Alicia Keys (#27.1)" (2001)

A little miracle of a movie: moving, realistic anduplifting

This film portrays the life of a group of boys who play one summer on a baseball league organized in the projects in Chicago. With out flinching an iota in portraying the material decay and the real fear of violence that permeates its setting, the film still shows the beauty of life--the importance of "just showing up" and trying. The young, unknown boys give outstanding performances which are matched by a moving performance by Keanu Reeves. Reeves, in his most emotive performance to-date, plays the team's coach who is redeemed by his contact with the kids, by simply learning to care about someone besides himself. Definitely NOT the "Bad News Bears," but a great movie experience for everyone--sports lovers or not.