The Winning Season (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

John Kent Harrison

Writers (WGA):

Dan Gutman (book)
Steve Bloom (teleplay)

Release Date:

4 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Fantasy | Sport

Plot Keywords:

Baseball | Baseball Card | Nine Year Old | Baseball Team | Young Boy

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Honus Wagner
Kristin Davis	...	Mandy
Shawn Hatosy	...	Joe Soshack
William Lee Scott	...	Ty Cobb
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matt Aquin	...	Owen Wilson
Sharon Bajer	...	Flo
Chad Bruce	...	Photographer
Jackie Burroughs	...	Mrs. Young
Rebecca Gibson	...	Flora
Michal Grajewski	...	Viv
Kerr Hewitt	...	Program Boy
Ryan Hollyman	...	Babe Adams
Robert Huculak	...	Stranger
Matt Kippen	...	Tiger Player #2
Dave Lemoine	...	Sam Crawford
Stan Lesk	...	Nate
Michael McMurtry	...	Stanley Piedmont
Carin Moffat	...	Terry Soshack
Steve Ratzlaff	...	Hotel Clerk
Mark Rendall	...	Joe Soshack (at 11)
Sandy Robson	...	Dots Miller
Colin Rosemont	...	Mike Petty
Darren Ross	...	Tiger Player #1
Ray Shuper	...	Second Base Umpire
R. Morgan Slade	...	Vendor
Candace Smith	...	Nurse
Blake Taylor	...	Groudskeeper
John Tench	...	Cap Clarke
Samantha Weinstein	...	Reeny Soshack
Barry Wowk	...	Homeplate Umpire

Also Known As:

Honus and Me (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and some violence.

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials) | Germany:87 min | Argentina:88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

German | English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | UK:U | Australia:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Hotel Fort Garry, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

TNT Originals

Trivia:

To get into shape to play baseball legend Honus Wagner, Matthew Modine was invited by Cal Ripken Jr to join the squad of the Ironbirds, a minor league baseball team owned by Ripken in Aberdeen Maryland. Modine's 17-year-old son accompanied him and the two warmed up with the team and also played in several training games with the squad.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Supposedly in 1985, when young Joe does his home run, a modern-day White Buick Rendezvous can be seen parked in a driveway behind the field.

Quotes:

Honus Wagner: There ain't much to being a ballplayer, if you're a ballplayer.

Excellent for families to watch and enjoy together

I thought this was an excellent movie for families to enjoy together.It is one of hope and excitement of imagination and of life.The direction and the cinematography was really beautifully captured and the era of the early 1900's were shown so realistically. The story follows young Joe Shosak,who is a poor and frustrated 9 year old baseball player and son who just can't seem to find any luck on the field and off.His big break comes in shape of a vintage baseball card of Honus Wagner , mysteriously he is sucked back in time and is in the body of a 25 year old version of himself and winds up face to face with Wagner and his Pirates at the World Series, Pittsburgh 1908.He then befriends and begins to follow Honus and his boys,he meets a devilish Ty Cobb and is faced with many exciting and comedic situations. The acting was genuine by all the cast.Matthew Modine is a great Wagner,playing him with a wink and smile,his love interest is played charmingly by Kristen Davis,and I especially enjoyed the endearing performance of Ryan Hollyman as the nervous pitcher. I would strongly recommend this movie to all who enjoy baseball and good old fashion family movies.