Trouble with the Curve – A Warner Bros. Pictures’ Release

http://troublewiththecurve.warnerbros.com/

Release Date: September 21st, 2012

Rated PG for mature themes and language

Running time: 111 minutes

Robert Lorenz (dir.)

Randy Brown (writer)

Marco Beltrami (music)

Clint Eastwood as Gus

Amy Adams as Mickey

Justin Timberlake as Johnny

John Goodman as Pete Klein

Matthew Lillard as Phillip Sanderson

Joe Massingill as Bo Gentry

Jay Galloway as Rigo Sanchez

Tyler Silva as Carlos Sanchez

©Warner Brows. Pictures.  All Rights Reserved.

Mickey (Amy Adams) and her father Gus (Clint Eastwood) in Trouble with the Curve.

Our reviews below:

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Trouble with the Curve Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

When I say that Trouble with the Curve feels old fashioned, I mean it in the best possible way.  This is a quietly affective and beautifully acted drama about baseball and family bonds that is driven by characters and is completely charming from beginning to end.

Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) is an aging talent scout for the Atlanta Braves.  He knows baseball better than anyone, but his eyesight is starting to fail him and has started relying on sound to tell just how well the game is being played.  With three months left in his contract, Gus is at risk of losing his job to the sleazy Phillip Sanderson (Matthew Lillard) who wants to digitize the world of recruiting players.  But Gus is determined not to let his age get in the way of his job, so he hits the road with his estranged daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) to check out local teams and hopefully find the next big player.  Along the way, they meet Boston Red Sox recruiter and former baseball player Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake), who falls for Mickey and agrees to help her father.

This his first on screen role since the excellent Gran Torino back in 2008, and Clint Eastwood continues to prove why he is considered one of the greats.  The always wonderful Amy Adams is just lovely as his daughter and there is genuine chemistry between the two, as their characters come to terms with the rocky relationship they have had with each other over the years.  Justin Timberlake adds yet another solid and completely likeable performance to his genuinely impressive career as an actor.  Director Robert Lorenz and screenwriter Randy Brown keep things moving at a relaxed pace, allowing us plenty of time to get invested in the characters.

Although some critics will be cynical towards the old fashioned feel, I have always liked baseball movies and genuinely enjoyed Trouble with the Curve.  This is a nice film, with a quietly affective story that is carried effortlessly by excellent performances from Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake.

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Trouble with the Curve Review by Erin V.  

***1/2 (out of 4)

Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) is a baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves, and has been for years.  But his vision is going and the other scouts are pressuring him to retire after the season.  Sending him on a ‘one last chance’ outing to scout a local high school and university team to check out a supposed prodigy that they want called Bo Gentry (Joe Massingill), Gus struggles with his aging and how it may affect his work.  His daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) who is coming up for a possible partner position at her law firm takes time off work to try to help him despite his wishes.  Between the two of them and another scout named Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake) they just may make things work…

This is a very quiet drama and while it may not work for everyone, certain markets, in particular the older demographics and baseball fans, will quite enjoy the film.  Trouble With the Curve features excellent performances from its three leads (Eastwood, Adams, and Timberlake), and with a good script by writer Randy Brown, fitting score by Marco Beltrami, and good production values, the film is very easy to watch and listen to.

While it won’t lose much on DVD, the film is still worth relaxing in a theatre to see.  It is filmed very well and enjoyable to see on the big screen, and never drags during its close to two hour running time.  For those looking for a quiet drama and a change of pace from other films out right now, this is a perfect one to go check out.  At its heart, this is as much a father-daughter story as it is about baseball.  Trouble With the Curve is a quality film that is an all-round enjoyable experience to watch.

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Trouble with the Curve Review by Nicole

*** (out of 4)

Trouble with the Curve is a low key movie about forgiveness and broken family ties.  Gus (Clint Eastwood) is an aging baseball scout.  His failing eyesight makes his fellow scouts question his ability to discover new talent among the high school teams.  His daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams) is a lawyer who has inherited a love of the game, as well as her dad’s scouting abilities.  But she is estranged from him, due to his absence after her mother’s death.  Although over time, through their love of baseball, they begin to slowly forgive each other.  Mickey also captures the affection of baseball enthusiast and former player Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake) who, unlike her fellow lawyers, shares a love of the game.

This is a heartfelt baseball drama.  It has great acting, a believable story as well as a sweet and satisfying conclusion.  Whether or not you know much about baseball, Trouble with the Curve is a decent movie that, due to minimal content, will appeal to adults of all ages.

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Trouble with the Curve Review by Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Sometimes life throws you a curveball.  How you respond determines how well you play the game.  In Trouble with the Curve, Clint Eastwood plays a clearly aging baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves.  Gus Lobel’s eyesight is failing and his frustration with the side effects of aging have made him an even crankier old man.  With only three months left in his scouting contract, he has to let his hardworking lawyer daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams) help him out if he has any chance of keeping his job.

On one level, Trouble with the Curve is a movie about baseball.  Fans of the game will enjoy the scenes in North Carolina where Gus, Mickey and a younger scout for the Boston Red Sox, Johnny Flanagan (Justin Timberlake) watch junior teams play.  Everyone’s attention is on Bo Gentry (Joe Massingill), an arrogant but talented hitter.  It takes an experienced scout to figure out what’s his true talent and what is just show.

But on the other level is the real heart of the movie – the bond between Gus, Mickey and Johnny.  Both Clint Eastwood and Amy Adams give strong and believable performances as a father and daughter who need to forgive one another and let their mutual love of baseball heal their relationship.  Justin Timberlake is also really nice to watch as Johnny, whose admiration for Gus and interest in Mickey adds a sweet tone to the story.

Those who love a good baseball story and appreciate a well acted movie with a heart will want to give Trouble with the Curve a chance.  Clint Eastwood is always wonderful to watch and this movie is no exception.

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Trouble with the Curve Review by Tony

*** (out of 4)

Trouble With The Curve is a story about baseball and more. Gus (Clint Eastwood) is a legendary scout for the Atlanta Braves, but despite the support of his old friend Pete (John Goodman), his instincts are now being challenged by technology, and his eyes are failing him. Gus’s relationship with his daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) has been difficult since the loss of her mother when she was six years old, but she shares his love and knowledge of the game. Just as she is trying to wrap up a case that could make her the first female partner in her law firm, Pete encourages Mickey to go help Gus scout a cocky small town slugger (Joe Massingill). Meanwhile, Johnny (Justin Timberlake), a former pitcher that Gus had found, is now scouting for the Boston Red Sox.

Trouble With The Curve is a nice old fashioned film rich in MLB lore that will appeal to fans while non-fans like myself can still enjoy the story. Though somewhat predictable, the script is brought to life with great charm by the leads and the leisurely pace over almost two hours gives us time to really get to know and like them. Seniors in particular will appreciate how the film deals with the challenges of aging.

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Consensus: Directed by Robert Lorenz, Trouble with the Curve is a quiet drama about baseball and family ties that is carried by excellent performances from Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake.  *** (Out of 4)