Jack Elliot, autrefois un grand joueur de baseball, est obligé de jouer au Japon où ses manières impétueuses et égoïstes provoquent des frictions avec ses nouveaux coéquipiers et amis.Jack Elliot, autrefois un grand joueur de baseball, est obligé de jouer au Japon où ses manières impétueuses et égoïstes provoquent des frictions avec ses nouveaux coéquipiers et amis.Jack Elliot, autrefois un grand joueur de baseball, est obligé de jouer au Japon où ses manières impétueuses et égoïstes provoquent des frictions avec ses nouveaux coéquipiers et amis.
- Prix
- 1 nomination au total
- Toshi Yamashita
- (as Kosuke Toyohara)
- Takuya Nishikawa
- (as Naoki Fuji)
- Niven
- (as Bradley Jay 'Animal' Lesley)
Avis en vedette
The movie itself should rate among the best baseball movies EVER, but doesn't because it's not about American baseball. Take "field of dreams" or whatever. That basically boils down to some plot contrivance about ghosts and whatnot and is only REALLY about the game at a very superficial level (despite pretentions otherwise). This one has an intelligent and realistic view of many aspects of the game--clubhouse behavior, on-field action, player-manager interactions, the business of sports, and so on. If you're into baseball movies, view this one--and if you don't like it, I challenge you to find ONE other baseball movie that does as well as capturing so many aspects of the game intelligently with a minimum of sap.
Characterizations in this movie: yes, we all know that by the end of the movie the Tom Selleck character will do something to redeem himself. In this regard, except for one interesting plot nuance (not really a twist), the plot itself is straightforward. But the characters all stand on their own--I dont think there is a single bad characterization there with the possible over-stereotyped American agent. From Yoji the interpreter through the teammates who are Japanese jocks to the strong female love interest.. well.. let's put it this way.. if you still think all Japanese look and act alike, see this movie.
Clearly this isn't the best movie ever made, but I really like it on a lot of levels enough that on a scale of one to ten, I honestly have to give it a 10 (and I rate a lot of movies poorly). You probably won't like it quite that much, but I think you will enjoy it--whether you are male OR female, by the way. Definately a good rent.
Elliot finds himself in his coach's(Ken Takakura)doghouse more often than not. The team finds him easy to dislike. Unknowingly he finds romance with the coach's daughter(Aya Takanashi)and that is just part of the humor found in this likable and short of heartwarming movie. Most of the humor comes from Jack's interpreter. Selleck fits the role pretty well. Ted Danson would have been another good choice for the role, but Selleck provides enough arrogance to carry it off. Not a total waste of time, but there is doubts about a double header. Twice is enough for me.
Along the way Elliot would do well to heed the advice of new Dragon teammate Max "Hammer" Dubois (Dennis Haysbert), not a Frenchmen but an African-American. Dubois, earlier traded to the Dragons, had the gumption to learn Japanese ways and some of the language. Fitting in as well as he can, Dubois is resigned to his challenging situation. Conversely, as Elliot is green in Japan, he is accompanied by an interpreter, Yoji Nishimura (Toshi Shioya), who is wise enough to clean up the American's sardonic comments for the Japanese press. Overall, the movie does well in depicting the Japanese sports culture: manager-player interaction, the fanfare of the large crowds (which appear genuine), umpire esteem, corporate pressure on the managers, and the voracious sports media. Also note the importance placed on saving face, which means that certain on-field events are sometimes compromised. The climax involves the big game between the Dragons and their traditional rivals who always seem to beat them, the Yomiuri Giants. Will Elliot find redemption? Watch and find out!
PS: Know that the Japanese certainly love their baseball, and have played it a long time. The sport was introduced in Japan in the late 19th century! In 1934 Manager Connie Mack, Babe Ruth (called "Beibu Rusu"), Lou Gehrig, Charlie Gehringer, Jimmie Foxx, OSS spy Moe Berg, and other Major League Baseball all-stars visited and were greeted by huge and enthusiastic crowds.
Le saviez-vous
- AnecdotesThe rookie who pushes Tom Selleck's character off the Yankees roster was played by Frank Thomas, who went on to become one of the best MLB hitters in the 1990s. He won two MVP awards and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
- GaffesWhen Elliot is hit with a pitch in the final game, the trainer comes out and sprays the "freeze spray" on his uniform to lessen the pain. The spray is useless unless it's applied directly to the skin.
- Citations
[Jack just found out that Uchiyama is fluent in English]
Uchiyama: I am the Japanese manager for Japanese baseball team that you agreed to play for. It is your duty to learn my ways, not the other way around!
Jack Elliot: [to Hiroko] Different language, same attitude! Let's go!
- Autres versionsThe Japanese theatrical version had three additional scenes. The first additional scene is following Jack and Hiroko's first dinner together, where she drops him off at his apartment building. The second scene is an extension of Jack and Hiroko visiting a shrine. The third has Jack and Uchiyama at a graveyard.
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Détails
- Date de sortie
- Pays d’origine
- Langues
- Aussi connu sous le nom de
- Mr. Baseball
- Lieux de tournage
- sociétés de production
- Consultez plus de crédits d'entreprise sur IMDbPro
Box-office
- Budget
- 40 000 000 $ US (estimation)
- Brut – États-Unis et Canada
- 20 883 046 $ US
- Fin de semaine d'ouverture – États-Unis et Canada
- 5 240 375 $ US
- 4 oct. 1992
- Brut – à l'échelle mondiale
- 20 883 046 $ US
- Durée1 heure 48 minutes
- Couleur
- Mixage
- Rapport de forme
- 2.39 : 1