SNMR 6.4: "Eight Men Out"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Eight Men Out" (1988, PG, 120 minutes), starring John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, Clifton James, Michael Lerner, Christopher Lloyd, David Straithairn, D.B. Sweeney and John Mahoney. The film was directed by John Sayles.

PLOT SUMMARY: This film tells the alleged story of why and how the 1919 Chicago White Sox threw the world Series to the Cincinnati Reds and the aftermath, including eight members of that team being banned for life by newly appointed Commissioner Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis for conspiring with gamblers and betting on baseball, even though they were acquitted in the civil trial.

MY OPINION: This is, arguably, the best baseball movie ever made. At the very least, it's in the top five best baseball movies ever. The screenplay is pretty straightforward and is based on Eliot Asinof's book. The ensemble cast is superb - full of top name stars. The 20^th anniversary edition that I watched has some excellent supplementary material.

Even if sports is not your thing, you can still take something away from this part baseball, part court room drama. Highly recommended.

***** out of *****