Hardball (2001)

"...the film packs some powerful emotional swings...  David Germain, Associated Press
"...simply fantastic!  Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV
"...alive with vitality and many pleasures! Keanu Reeves excells.  Gene Shalit, Today

Editor's Note Brian Robbins (VARSITY BLUES) directs another sports-related picture with HARDBALL, an uplifting story about a man who finds redemption when he's least expecting it. Keanu Reeves stars as Conor O'Neill, an underachiever whose gambling addiction has gotten him into seemingly insurmountable trouble. Desperate for money, he begs his friend Jimmy (Mike McGlone) to bail him out one more time. Jimmy agrees to give Conor a weekly stipend, but only if Conor agrees to coach a little league baseball team in Chicago's inner city. At first, Conor realizes just how unequipped he is for this particular task, as the assembled team goofs off, fights, and curses, paying no attention to his authority. Eventually, however, he gains their respect, and pretty soon, they're winning games. Meanwhile, off the field, Conor finds himself falling for the children's schoolteacher, Miss Wilkes (Diane Lane). He also places a potentially life-threatening bet with a high-level bookie, but after a miracle saves him and he begins to fully embrace his new role as a coach and father figure, tragedy strikes and teaches Conor a much more valuable life lesson. Based on the non-fiction book by Daniel Coyle, HARDBALL is an uplifting story that gets a boost of energy from its non-professional cast of youngsters.

	D.B. Sweeney
	Graham Beckel
	Diane Lane
	John Hawkes
	Keanu Reeves
	Kristopher Lofton
	Michael B. Jordan
	Mike McGlone
	Daniel Coyle - Based On Book By
	Brian Robbins - Director
	Tom Richmond - Director of Photography
	Kevin McCormick - Executive Producer
	Erwin Stoff - Executive Producer
	Herb Gains - Executive Producer
	Ned Bastille - Film Editor
	Mark Isham - Musical Score
	Brian Robbins - Producer
	Michael Tollin - Producer
	Tina Nides - Producer
	Jaymes Hinkle - Production Designer
	John Gatins - Screenplay

Los Angeles Times
"...A surefire heart-tugger made with skill and judgment....This endearing film strikes an all-crucial consistent balance between grit and sentiment..." 09/14/2001 p.2

Variety
"...[Warren is] a tiny fireball of energy....Perkins provides quiet intensity..." 09/10/2001 p.57-68

New York Times
"...Its uplifting message about teamwork and caring wouldn't hurt a fly. You might even say, the movie is good for you..." 09/15/2001 p.B14

USA Today
"...Lane conveys warmth and intelligence..." 09/14/2001 p.8E

Sight and Sound
"...It offers a refreshingly realistic approach to the way pre-teens actually talk..." 06/01/2002 p.44

Los Angeles Times 9 of 10
...a surefire heart-tugger made with skill and judgment, affords Keanu Reeves a career high point... this endearing film strikes an all-crucial consistent balance between grit and sentiment... - Kevin Thomas