There is a dramatic subgenre which one must traverse very carefully if they want to avoid becoming a problematic cliche of a “white savior” swooping in to save the economically-challenged people of color who cross their paths. There are too many examples to name that have faltered in this respect, but one unexpected gem that subverts the tropes while still delivering the same emotional impact is the 2001 sports drama Hardball. At this point in time, Keanu Reeves was in an awkward period between the unexpected success of The Matrix and the much-requested sequel a few years later, but this film is the one that holds up the best even after twenty years of reflection. Based on the book Hardball: A Season in the Projects by Daniel Coyle, this baseball tale does not seek to shepherd anyone to a better life, a more “acceptable” life, but rather showcase how the life they have could be improved when given the care and attention they deserve. It is still a very sentimental movie, but it is one that you can feel good about giving your heart over to for a couple of hours.
Conor O’Neill (Keanu Reeves) is not a savior. He does not even have his own life together, so there is little chance he could help anyone else. He is a degenerate gambler who has gotten himself so into debt that violence seems not far around the corner. The ever-talented John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone) is an especially welcome sight as an unsettling presence urging Conor to settle his debts sooner rather than later. The one way Conor is told he will be able to cover his debts is by agreeing to coach an inner-city for his sleaze ball corporate friend who is trying to get out of doing actual charitable work. The way in which this movie portrays the empty gestures of wealthy elites feels like a subtle jab at the types of movies this movie is working so hard not to be. Conor is in need of changing more than any of the kids he is soon to be coaching. He is not coming from a position of being better than anyone; his redemption is just as important as the ascension of the kids in his care.
Keanu may be the star of the film, but the kids are the ones who steal this movie away from him. The characterizations are not altogether unique; there is the jokester of the team, Andre (Bryan Hearne); the hot-head with all of the potential in the world, Kofi (Michael Perkins); the older boy who is holding onto this team as long as he can, Jamal (Michael B. Jordan); and, of course, the precocious youngster who is too young to play but helps out in other ways, “G-Baby” (DeWayne Warren). There are more team members that you grow to love, and along the way you as an audience member and Conor begin to understand the logistical struggles they face in their community. From the danger they face walking in certain areas or after dark, or not being able to face off against certain teams because of league sanctions, Conor attempts to shed his screw-up persona in order to engage with them and help them on their level. Whether it is using their love of the Notorious B.I.G. to focus their mind or simply treating them as equals whose words have value, Conor gives them so much for simply being present in all the ways that matter.
This may seem trite, but being present and engaged can make all of the difference in the world. Sure, this film also has a romantic subplot with the always-tantalizing Diane Lane as a teacher also invested in the well-being of the kids. This is not the point of the film, though, and one could argue that it could be jettisoned if it was not played by Diane freakin’ Lane. The team and Conor are all you need for an emotionally fulfilling journey. The narrative does not go for anything unexpected, but it is set up in a way that feels organic to what is established in the world. The performance from Reeves was never going to win him any awards, but it kept him firmly in the dramatic range that worked for him. The kids give natural performances full of excitement, and it is especially fun to look back at the first featured film role for Michael B. Jordan. This film does everything that is expected of it, and it succeeds in being inspirational and emotional in a way that is not off-putting. It is okay to allow yourself to shed some tears at the end of this one, we definitely did.
Video Quality
Hardball makes its Blu-Ray debut with a 1080p transfer that is quite striking and represents a big step up in quality from the dated DVD. While I have no specific details about the transfer, this appears to be derived from a solid older master that shows no signs of age-related wear and tear. For the majority of the film, the transfer looks incredibly clear and detailed with only a couple of shots exhibiting a bit of excessive softness. The transfer is naturally filmic with some impressive detail in the production design and texture of clothing. Colors stand out in a really pleasing manner with bright, vivid hues leaping off the screen in almost every scene. Black levels are pleasing in their depth with not much in the way of crush present. There are no specks of print damage present in the transfer. Overall, I was quite impressed by how strong the presentation was from beginning to end.
Audio Quality
Paramount Home Entertainment brings us this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that does everything it needs to do really well. From the opening moments, the sound of the rain pouring on the city along with the soundtrack brings nuanced life to the rear speakers. The movie features many songs from the era which sound great within the mix. The dialogue holds up quite nicely, coming though clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely and given a dynamic placement throughout the speakers. The film features a few stray sequences that allow the low end to show off, but it is not a standout in that regard. This is a track that was way more dynamic than you might expect a mid-budget drama to be. You could not ask for better.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Brian Robbins and Writer John Gatins deliver a decent but unenthusiastic commentary track which delivers basic production details but never goes anywhere too interesting.
- The Making Of Hardball: A 12-minute vintage featurette in which the cast and crew discuss the story, the characters, the young performers, the themes and more. This is very standard EPK type stuff, but it is fun to see the kids in their natural state.
- Deleted Scenes: Three unused scenes totaling seven minutes are provided here in rough standard definition. These scenes involve Conor trying to reckon with a loss at a bar, the kids playing off one another in the dugout and more.
- Music Video – “Hardball” by Lil’ Bow Wow, Lil’ Wayne, Lil’ Zane and Sammie: The four-minute video is provided for the title track.
- Interstitials: Three brief snippets of the characters talking about the fame and fortune they want from playing baseball. All three add up to just over a minute, but it is fun to view as a marketing tool that does not get used much anymore.
- Theatrical Trailer: The three-minute theatrical trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Hardball is a perfectly satisfying, heartwarming crowd pleaser that transcends a lot of the standard white savior tropes to deliver something a bit more interesting. There are still plenty of tropes in the film, but the way they are executed feels natural. It is possible this film just holds a soft spot in our hearts, but it still brings joy after twenty years. Paramount Home Entertainment has released this one at long last on Blu-Ray with a pleasing A/V presentation and some legacy special features. If you are as much of a fan of this film as we are, you will not be disappointed. Recommended
Hardball is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
