Sein letztes Spiel

"Pastime" is a baseball movie, pure and simple, and if you don't like baseball, you'll probably find it dull, cliche, or both. Made with a low budget, no big names (though the list of cameos will impress any baseball fan) and an avowed distaste for Hollywood baseball movies of the day, it's emphatically a movie for fans, and nonfans will find it as dreary as a pitching duel that slops into extra innings. But baseball lovers will appreciate the attention to detail and love of the game that's evident in every scene.

The detail is rich but abstract, and comes through not in recognizable pieces, but in familiar warm feelings. The main plot sets the movie in baseball's postwar era, and bits like an ancient team bus and vaguely recognizable songs seem to plant the movie in the 1950s, the places are deliberately generic all-American--it's hard to tell if this is California or the Midwest or Anytown, USA, but it doesn't matter. This abstraction keeps "Pastime" focused on its story, but never makes it seem fake--we *think* we recognize these places, because they're so familar, but they're never quite placeable.

The characters are similarly familiar, almost to the point of cliche (well, ok, naming a black player Tyrone *is* cliche) but thanks to a strong, heartfelt performances by the lead actor William Russ, they become archetypes, rather than cliches. You'll instantly recognize Russ's Roy Dean, but won't confuse him with any player you've ever seen on any field.

None of this matters if you don't like baseball, though. If the baseball that's woven through the movie doesn't grab you, you'll be left with a story that's predictable and a little dull. But if the baseball does grab you, it will be like watching a dream matchup in the World Series with someone who loves the game as much as you do.

I saw a movie about Christ when I was 17 that led me to faith in Christ. Though Pastime did not lead to my eternal salvation, it had a tremendous impact on my life.

I came from a highly abusive family and that caused me to really relate to Tyrone's character; I had trouble looking my father in the eye. I remember the day this movie inspired me to do just that. On that day, unfortunately my father ripped into me, saying everything foul he could. I looked him in the eye, just like Debray looked at his oppressor, and I said to my dad, "You haven't listed even half my faults." I celebrated that "Liberation Day" for me by climbing "Grizzly Rock" and drinking a root beer from the top of the world! I have seen this movie 50 -100 times(?). Each time, I tell myself I won't cry at the end - but I always have. When Debray stands tall on the mound, I am standing there too.

Those who think this movie is depressing have missed the point. When Bream is pitching "alone" in the stadium, those are the angels cheering. No one gave him recognition on this earth, but, as the movies says, his reward is in heaven.

I actually had the opportunity to communicate online with Glenn Plummer (Debray). Though Russ did a phenomenal job as Bream, it is Plummer who really stands out for me in my favorite acting performance of all time (and I love and have seen many, many movies!), especially the character's transformation after Inez's kiss.

That said, the first shot of Bream's character is worth getting the movie for! This movie is a character study on Bream. Whether you like baseball or not, do you want to be successful in this life? Watch Bream and Debray!

The gems of wisdom in this movie are too numerous to tell here. Today, I am a master teacher, but when I first saw this movie I was a struggling rookie reminding myself of the wisdom of Bream, "There's the box score and there's my name. Spelled it wrong, but even (when) old Stan parked it on me was still a fine day. Just being in the game is what counts - and doing your best. And if your best ain't good enough for the bigs, that's the name of the game. That's ball!"

Here are some other favorites:

"It's what a man does with his God-given."

"Keever, it doesn't matter how good someone else is. It doesn't make you any better; it doesn't make you any worse. Now let's play ball, son."

"Maybe if I ..." (You have to see the scene to understand the greatness of this quote)

"Hold it! Hold it! Skip? We forgot the Bangle!"

"Zero babes. I got to get out of the minors" (said by a ballplayer, while Bream is intensely watching the game from the bullpen)

I now stand tall, like Debray, and no one can shame me. "Ain't no reason to look at the ground for nobody, huh?"

Yes, you could say I recommend this movie! I give it a rating of 11 out of 10.

I saw this little gem back in 1991. What a terrific picture! It's a crime that William Russ was not oscar-nominated for his priceless performance. This film says more about the game of baseball than any other that I've seen. Just terrific!

The best sports movie of all time -- and perhaps the best movie of any kind of all time, period -- is "Pastime" (1991), both a slice-of-life and larger-than-life view of minor-league baseball in the late 1950s and a portrait of a protagonist worthy of anyone's admiration. The casting and acting (particularly of William Russ in the main role and Noble Willingham as the manager) are superb. It's a character study and morality play set against a baseball backdrop. The only reason I can see why it has not received more notice is a lack of marketing and big-name stars. It puts to shame such garbage as "Major League" and would-be mythic silliness as "The Natural."

One of the unheralded baseball movies of the early 90's , Pastime explores the elements of a 41 yr old pitcher named Roy. The strength of this movie is in the casting. Huss is awesome as Roy and really does an exemplary effort in making the viewing feel his love for the game. The actor that plays Tyrone (Glenn Plummer?) Also does a fine job in his role as a young, black upstart pitcher who is struggling with his career in baseball, fitting into society, and his friendship with Roy.

Surely, a fine baseball movie to watch, although not quite on the level with Soul of the Game or Bang the Drum Slowly, Pastime is worth your $1.. 7.8 out of 10