Talent for the Game (1991)

Edward James Olmos, his face as weathered as the glove he packs in his suitcase, hits it out of the park as Virgil Sweet, a California Angels scout--"the last of a dying breed"--who travels from coal mines to cornfields in search of a phenom. His newest discovery is pitching prospect Sammy Bodeen, an Idaho farm boy around whom the team's hateful pony-tailed billionaire new owner orchestrates a massive marketing campaign. It's up to Virgil to ensure that the kid lives up to the hype. This 1991 drama struck out in its bid for a wide theatrical release, but until its credulity-straining Big Game climax and disappointingly cynical conclusion, it qualifies as the kind of "hold on to your dreams" sleeper that always connects with baseball movie fans. --Donald Liebenson Amazon.com

Another good baseball movie!

Even though this movie did not win everyone's heart ( and I understand),this was a good baseball movie about overcoming the odds. A fine cast with Edward James Olmos as a baseball scout in search of a player from the fields of Idaho to help the stuggling California (now L.A. Angels of Anaheim) Angels. One thing that made me wonder in the closing minutes of the movie. The Angels were down but the movie never mentioned if the Angels won their game over the Royals! It's a mystery! Anyway I thought it was a good movie worth watching! August 7, 2008

I'm not really sure how the other reviewers watched all the way

In spite of a talented cast, this movie is pretty poor, I couldn't even watch it the whole way, and I love baseball movies. That might be part of it, if you know any thing about baseball, important parts of the plot are just too fantastic, too illogical, too incredulous to accept, even for a couple of hours while watching a movie. The lines are so poor even Almos, one of the most talented actors of his time, is unable to sound convincing (he says "son" so often he'll actually get on your nerves). Bracco and Almos don't pull off the couple in love, and the pitcher is poorly casted, he doesn't look like an "Idaho farm boy," he looks as old as the other players, and his dumbfounded look, meant to accentuate his innocence, will also begin to grate quickly. If you love Edward Almos, go get "Stand and Deliver," a true story masterpiece, and posssibly the acme of his acting career, but you never know with him. If you like Bracco, she's better in virtually every other movie (though it is funny that in this movie she has a master's in psychology, and she goes on to become Tony Soprano's shrink), I really liked her live when she did Mrs. Robinson, "The Graduate" on stage. If you're looking for a sad baseball movie, try "Bang the Drum Slowly," if you're looking for a "Dying breed" themed baseball movie, try "Bull Durham," if you want a funny baseball movie I'd suggest "Mr. Baseball," or "Major League," or if you want a family baseball movie with a deeper message, "In a League of their Own," or "61." June 3, 2008

Boring and predictable

Edward James Olmos is a great actor. He is the only reason that I gave this movie even a '2 rating'.

This was a very disappointing, far from memorable movie. I will probably pass it on to one of my grandsons who likes baseball.

I found this movie to be boring and predictable. March 29, 2008

One of the best!

This is simply one of the best (and most realistic) baseball movies ever, and I've seen them all. June 15, 2007

Good baseball Flick

This movie is about a baseball scout who finds a player at the last minute just before he is released by the new owner of the team. It sets in play an excellent story line and viewers get to see another side of the game. Excellent video. April 4, 2007

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