JOIN USMillion Dollar Arm
English (U) ¬¬¬
Director: Craig Gillespie
Cast: Jon Hamm, Bill Paxton, Alan Arkin, Suraj Sharma, Madhur Mittal, Lake Bell, Aasif Mandvi
The entirety of the crux of Million Dollar Arm can be viewed as a purpose placed on a tripod of proverbial paradigms – How the US of A looks at its sports, what sports mean to Indians and the universality of the language of sports.
All modern movies focusing on the theme of sports have always leaned on the robust pillar of the power of human spirit. Glory Road, Remember the Titans and Friday Night Lights – they have all shown that will power is mightier than talent, money or scepticism.
Based on true life events, the movie traces the journey of J B Bernstein (Jon Hamm), who runs Seven Figures Management, an athlete representation firm in Los Angeles.
JB (as he is fondly called by everyone), as a last resort to save his firm, sets out to India to find potential pitchers who can play for a Major League Baseball Team.
Many sweaty days, predictable culture shocks, several try-outs, much of disappointment and amusement later, two exceptionally talented boys are chosen.
They come from humble backgrounds and are rewarded with one million USD. JB, along with Rinku Singh (Suraj Sharma), Dinesh Kumar Patel (Madhur Mittal) and Amit Rohan, a baseball enthusiast who believes in him, heads to LA.
What follows is a series of sporting mathematical improbabilities, psychological impossibilities and marketing strategies, which culminates in what can only be called a triumph of persistence.
Hats must doffed in the directions of veterans Bill Paxton and Alan Arkin, who have made it seem like their roles were tailor-made for them.
The presence of Paxton as Tom House, the psychologist cum pitching coach, lends a sense of comfort to the audience, as much as it evokes reverence.
Ray Poitevint, portrayed by Arkin, is dramatically humorous, albeit with a whiff of superficiality, which tends towards masking his expertise.
Barring the stereotypes and banalities, the movie is somewhat a concoction of American sentiments, ubiquitous angst, yearnings of love and achievement and the conundrum of drawing the fine line between business and humanity.
Clearly, it is the American and Indian audience who will connect most with the movie.
Sophisticated Indians might find it a tad tiresome and A R Rahman’s music might work as a double-edged sword, as this is yet another English film with an Indian setting.
But, this is no Slumdog Millionaire. It is the story of the indomitable human spirit.
A good attempt by Craig Gillespie.