I had to skip the Q&A after today’s screening with the producer and screenwriter, so I missed hearing what they had to say. But I enjoyed the movie itself in spite of my reluctance to see it. For one thing, the reviews were mixed. For another, I got the sense that Clint would be playing Clint – the same crabby, crusty guy from “Gran Torino,” “Million Dollar Baby,” etc. For a third, I wasn’t up for two hours of baseball cliches, no matter how big a baseball fan I am.
However, the movie got to me, cliches and all.
Yes, Clint was crabby, very much the guy who talked to a chair at the Republican convention. The raised eyebrow, the lip curl, the salty putdowns – all in evidence.
But then there was Amy Adams, who can do no wrong, as far as I’m concerned. She created magic as Clint’s lawyer daughter – feisty yet vulnerable, tough-talking but charming – plus she had the best hair of any woman I’ve ever seen (she should do shampoo commercials).
Justin Timberlake continues to grow as an actor, and he was perfect as the former pitcher-turned-scout and Amy’s love interest.
There aren’t a lot of surprises in “Trouble With the Curve” – the villains are one-note villainous, the good guys (especially John Goodman) have hearts of gold and there’s no question how the story will end. And the big “reveal” – the reason Clint and Amy have been estranged – was downright weak. But I’m a romantic sap and a sucker for schmaltz and I love baseball movies, so I walked out of the theater feeling glad I’d come.
Jane,
I went to see this movie on Saturday with my Pops. It was definitely predictable, but I still enjoyed it. It had baseball and Justin Timberlake. That’s enough for me! Too bad you couldn’t stay for the Q&A; maybe you could have asked if there was actually more to the estrangement story, but it was cut from the final version. It seemed as though there should have been more story there, but they just kinda popped that little bit in b/c the audience needed an explanation. I haven’t seen too many Clint Eastwood films, so I am not really a fan or a credible critic of his talent, but to me all he did was growl and smoke his cigar. I agree Amy Adams is wonderful and she should do shampoo commercials. That gal has some fabulous hair! The movie seemed a little choppy, scenes were short and constantly jumped from one to the next, but in the end seeing a baseball/father-daughter flick with my Pops was quite enjoyable.
My husband asked if I wanted to see this knowing how I love baseball movies.
But I am not a Clint fan in any way.
As for movies I feel as you said that he is just Clint Eastwood in every movie.
I just find him boring. But I was tempted with this movie.
I like the idea of baseball, love Amy Adams and Justin.
But a friend told me I would be disappointed after he saw it. He felt it wasn’t more than a rental.
Now from your review I am hearing the same thing.
I think I’ll just wait to rent it.
Aw, how nice that you went to see it with your dad, DJ. I agree about Clint, as I wrote in the post, but there was that one scene (spoiler alert) at the cemetery where he surprised me with how much his emotion touched me. Then he went right back to growling. I don’t know if the estrangement story was cut so much as subtle, but it was too subtle for me. We did get a glimpse of how it might have happened when Clint went off on the guy in the bar.
Since you love baseball, Peg, you might want to see it in the theater. There’s a lot there to like, Clint being Clint aside, because it’s really the anti-Moneyball – i.e. no stats, just gut feelings and talent – and the romance between Amy and Justin is sweet.
I’m on the fence about this movie, but I do love Justin Timberlake, so I will probably see. We saw ‘The Master” yesterday, and we both hated it!!! I guess it was above my simple brain or something, because I just don’t see what the hoopla is all about. I was so excited to see Joaquin Phoneix’ ‘best work ever’ or something to that effect (read that in a few reviews). I thought ‘if this is better than his performances in Gladiator and Walk the Line, we’re in for a treat,’ but I couldn’t disagree more. All Joaquin does is a play a disturbed man with a hardly any dialogue. Put a wig, beard and glasses on him, and it’s not far from his ‘peformance’ in his mock-umentary about him starting a singing career, which all turned out to be a hoax. For me, this movie was torture from beginning to end. So curious to see what you think, Jane.
We were also invited to an opening of a new movie theater last Thursday, and saw a screening of ‘Hyde Park on Hudson,’ a movie about FDR and one his mistresses, I guess you’d call her, a cousin, played by Laura Linney. I didn’t know much about FDR, but enjoyed the movie. Entertaining and Bill Murray’s performance was excellent. Looking forward to Oscar season, to fill the gap that baseball season will leave when it ends.
I’m very curious to see “The Master,” Ruth. We didn’t get it at Cinema Society but it’s playing now in Santa Barbara, so I’ll try to see it this week and weigh in. Also looking forward to “Hyde Park on Hudson” and Bill Murray’s performance. Always love Laura Linney so I know she’ll be good. So many interesting films to come this season!
Well, I’m so glad you’ve now actually seen the movie and still recommend it. You had me anyway, once you provided the trailer many weeks back. I love both Clint Eastwood AND Amy Adams — sorry for any-1 who may have an axe to grind with The Old Curmudgeon — but c’est la vie. And Timberlake can actually act, which is a nice plus. Sorry it didn’t come to theaters here until last weekend (coulda woulda seen it on vacation, but now? Unlikely ’til rental time). But that’s alright.
“Hyde Park on Hudson” sounds compelling too. FDR’s been on my mind a bit lately, because one of his fave vacation spots was a tiny island in the Bay of Fundy named Campobello (Jane, does “Sunrise At Campobello” ring any old bells for you? It was a play, and maybe a movie way back when). I learned in recent weeks that my grandmother was married on Campobello, too — okay, enuf obscure trivia — the leading cast members are sufficiently intriguing…