Director: John Sayles
Starring: John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, D.B. Sweeney
Year: 1988
The first time I ever heard of 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson was in Field of Dreams. A great movie with a great story, it's a must see for any baseball fan, and Kevin Costner's finest hour. I don't know why, but the history of the White Sox and 'Shoeless' Joe is something that everyone can relate to; a simple man put in a tough spot with no easy answer. Eight Men Out expands on that story, putting faces to a scandal that changed the game of baseball and is still relevant one hundred years later.
The White Sox scandal of 1919 will be infamous for eternity. Underpaid, overworked, young, and angry, the players of the best team to ever play the game decided to do the unthinkable; throw the World Series. In a deal that would give them more money than they could possibly make playing as hard as they could, a group of unbeatable players beat themselves. Known now as the Black Sox, one team changed a city, a sport, and an idealistic nation.
This is definitely a film for baseball fans more so than movie buffs. If you love baseball, if you loved Field of Dreams, if you think John Cusack is adorable, than this is for you. If you're looking for an acting clinic than look elsewhere. As an avid Cardinals fan and a member of the Cusack Fan Club, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the history. As a critic, I laid off a little so I could enjoy myself. That's not to say the film is horribly made, but it is a who's who of B-list actors and their B-list talent. Watch because you love the game, but give it some slack or you might be underwhelmed.
My rating: ✰ ✰ ✰
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