The Catcher Was a Spy

We watched this at home on DVD from our public library.

Over the years there have been many movies made regarding interesting WW2 stories. This one caught me by surprise because it could have had such a significance in the worldwide Scientific community.

German Physicist Werner Heisenberg was one of the great minds of the 20th century. He was responsible for the development of Quantum Mechanics and most science students know him for his "Uncertainty Principle." But the US intelligence worried that he might be on the verge of developing the technology to build atomic bombs.

Paul Rudd comes across really well as Moe Berg, former MLB catcher. Although he was a mediocre big league baseball player he was highly intelligent and highly educated, and spoke several languages fluently, including German, Italian, and French. And he was a patriot, willing to die for his country if it came down to that.

Berg was given the spy assignment as a scientist, to travel to Italy and meet with Heisenberg, find out what he could about their progress. Berg was armed, he was to kill Heisenberg on the spot if he determined that they were on track to develop the bomb. It would be his decision alone.

There isn't a lot of action but it is a very realistic accounting of the Moe Berg story in a very well made movie with some of the best actors in key roles.

FEB 2024 edit: I just watched it again, for me, being a Scientist acutely aware of Heisenberg's role in 20th century Physics, it is one of the better movies I have ever watched.

This started out so strong. Based on a true story, I was so interested in how this Major League Baseball player who has to hide his from most people will navigate both his life as a spy during WWII as well as his personal life.... But it didn't go as deep as it could have. Maybe the casting of Paul Rudd was a little off too, but I think much of it is attributable to the script and directing. It felt like it stayed too surface level, and then when there were scenes of spy activity that could have been suspenseful, it was directed in a way to play for the joke or the levity of the scene.

If you're into WWII stories, historical biopics, etc. I think this is worth a watch, but I think it could have been better.

I like Paul Rudd a lot. He's very likeable. I don't fault casting for why this movie wasn't as good as it could have been (as I've seen some other reviewers do). Ultimately, I think this movie falls short more because it didn't know quite what it wanted to be. Was it a serious historical drama about a spy with suspense set during war times? Kind of. In moments. But it also felt very light at times given the subject matter. It never went deep enough into it to make you care or for you to feel scared for the welfare of the characters involved.

This film tells the story of a catcher turned spy's secret mission in Europe int eh Second World War.

The story is captivating throughout. Paul Rudd's mysterious character has a charm and has complexity which draws you to him. He is magnetic and makes you emphathise with him. I enjoyed the film a lot.

It reminds me of the Steven Spielberg, Tom hanks collaboration, Bridge of Spies, but did not hit me as hard.

World war 2 was the type of war that all good Americans wanted to be a part of, so no surprise that a Major baseball player (our fav pastime) wanted to get in on the action.

Moe Berg was an over the hill baseball player who happen to have went to college and became a master of a lot of languages. Right there, he sounds like the type of spy they make TV shows out of, which is why I think this movie is so good.

Paul Rudd was good at playing this type of spy too. I felt it to be believable in the situation. Possible not that important, but I like it none the less. Not exactly James Bond but Rudd used his overall charming and humorous persona to be the leading man this movie needs.

Good Watch.