In Trouble with the Curve, Clint Eastwood, now 82, takes on the role of an old man – Gus, a baseball scout. He has been scouting since Abner Doubleday hired him. He knows all about baseball. The only other thing he seems to know is that the Earth is round, just like a baseball.
Amy Adams plays his 33-year-old estranged daughter and legal whiz about ready to make law firm partnership. The emotional family guilt card is dealt when she leaves her big case to help Dad for “a week or maybe for the rest of her life.” She also knows a lot about baseball. Maybe more than dad.
Justin Timberlake plays a rival scout whose career as a pitcher was cut short by an injury. He is trying to learn the business, but Clint and Amy know more than he does. So he decides to romance Amy because he will always be outsmarted in the scouting game. This is a clever move.
Clint/Gus has some health problems that creep into his scouting expertise. He wears glasses but is going blind and cannot admit it to anyone, especially his daughter. Of course, the bigger problem is that the Braves organization is hinting that his next scouting trip may be his last. His contract is up in three months or when his death occurs – whichever comes first. It’s a tossup.
There is lots of baseball talk as everyone tires to coax the number one draft choice to play for their team. There are also plenty of minor league games to watch.
Amy has some issue with Dad/Gus revolving around his lack of parenting after her mother’s death. Her law firm partnership is slipping away while she deals with the lack of warmth between herself and Dad.
Trouble with the Curve the first film since In the Line of Fire (1993) that Clint didn’t also direct. The only reason CE is in the film is because CE’s intended remake of the remake of A Star is Born had to be halted due to Beyonce’s pregnancy. I hope they name the child Clint.
TWTC is a pretty good sports film, heavily laden with soap opera and tear jerking scenes. If you see TWTC you might pick up on one scene that sets up the ending of the film. Your predictions will be correct. Still, watching Clint and Amy work on their problems is entertaining enough to be worthy of your Moneyball. Bring your own peanuts.
Rated 2.9 out of 4.0 Yogi Berra-isms. Remember when Yogi was asked, “what time is it?” And he would respond, “you mean now?”
