Pastime

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.

This movie should be required viewing for all those that call themselves lovers of baseball movies. It is - at it's heart - a great movie about baseball. If you care about the sport, you can't help but relate to Roy. If you care about the human condition, about drama... then please see this movie. Roy's passion, his commitment - this movie does more to describe how it is that grown men can care so much about "just a game" than any baseball film I've ever seen. Pastime is it's own movie, but - if you liked Field of Dreams, or The Natural, or *61, or Bull Durham - I would be utterly and entirely amazed if you did not like this wonderful film. Watch it. Love it. And feel gratified when you pass word of this largely unwatched gem to your friends and family.

I've been trying to find this incredibly soulful movie on VHS or DVD for two decades. It left that big an impression on me when I was younger. I finally found a copy at Goodwill of all places. It wasn't at a Best Buy in the blockbuster sales category but bought second-hand in a forgotten corner of the store. Fitting for this story.

This is one of those sports movies that will stay with you long after you finish watching. It is a fabulous baseball tale of a rising young star pitcher who nobody sees coming who crosses paths with the faded star of a "never-was" pitcher in his twilight season. The low-budget quality of this movie is evident from the start. It feels like a made-for-TV venture. But the strange thing about the muddled lensing and cheap feel only adds to the flavor of this bottom-feeder squad of minor league losers in 1950s Midwest America. You feel the desperation of hanging on to a baseball dream in a dead-end town where young players are beginning their careers and older players are watching theirs fading away into oblivion. Records are set by Hall-of-Famers revered by millions. But this is the story of a bunch of bushers. As far from the major leagues as you can get. Primarily, it's a story about a regular guy whose career boils down to just being a misspelled name in a major league box score from decades ago. Yet he still dreams of making it back to The Show someday. It's a universal feeling of hope and humility.

Roy Dean Bream is a broken down 41yo pitcher who many years ago pitched to Stan Musial in the majors as his "one-and-done" special baseball moment. He never saw the majors again but it never dampened the fire inside his ever-hopeful persona. He's fighting Old Man Time and is losing the battle, no matter how hard he tries. The financially-sinking owner of the ball club wants his wise, Roy Dean-supporting manager to cut the "dead wood" to ease the financial burden. And the young spit-'n-vinegar ballplayers make fun of Roy Dean at every opportunity to show who really belongs in baseball and who really doesn't. The writing's on the wall...

Enter Tyrone Debray, a 17yo phenom who has the gas of a major leaguer but has little to no experience in pro baseball. And being black in the 1950s Southern US was none too easy for this soft-spoken, shy, homesick kid with no friends and bigotry still alive and well in his own locker room. Roy Dean, however, doesn't see competition from this young rookie. He sees the potential for this special kid. With the right stuff, Tyrone could be one of the great ones. When Roy Dean takes Tyrone under his wing and teaches him not only how to be a better human, but also his secret pitch, you can see a mutual respect and friendship between these two competitors who always say, "us pitchers always gotta stick together". It's true sportsmanship and the kind of teammate we could always wish we had when we were young and impressionable, and also the kind of teammate we wished we were when we'd learned some tricks that we could no longer use but knew a youngster coming up could get further with good mentoring.

We've all had those Roy Dean guys on our sports teams growing up. The guy who was never really good enough but always, ALWAYS had a smile on his face and gave you everything he had, even when his best was beneath everyone else's worst. Roy Dean isn't concerned with everyone on his team liking him or even laughing at him to his face. He just keeps trying. He's that rare bright spot, even when he never plays. He may be fooling himself into believing he's better than he is, but he'll never let you know he's hurting inside.

This movie's too slow for the Marvel superhero audience. It's too simple for the complex thinkers who need a mystery to solve. It's too genteel for the sex, drugs and rock-and-roll audience. It's just a beautiful, gentle, moving PG-rated story about a never-was who passes on wisdom, kindness and respect to someone of a different class, color, and background simply because it's the right thing to do.

"Pastime" had nearly zero budget, no marketing, and just a heart for the game that only the true baller would understand. Crash Davis was talented and his retirement ended in uplifting style in the classic "Bull Durham". That was a comedy, it's funny and remains a popular movie. "Pastime" is different. It is a baseball tragedy which some people don't like and probably explains why it's forgotten when mentioning the best baseball movies of all-time. Such a shame. This story conveys the sadness and emotional turmoil of watching your playing days end because someone else doesn't think you "have it" anymore when all you wanna do is play. It's cruel, subjective and powerful. It's also inevitable.

Roy Dean's private moment of pitching only for himself is what this movie aspires to. For love of the game. No crowds. No media. It isn't flashy. It isn't proud. It's just... perfect. If the end doesn't bring a tear to your eye, you couldn't have felt how passionately some athletes feel about their sports. Once your playing days are over, it's like amputating a part of your heart.

As a standard movie, this is a 7 out of 10. As a movie I would recommend to every ballplayer and coach in America to watch and learn from, this is an 11 out of 10. One of my favorite sports movies of all time and I love so many. Pass this onto an aspiring athlete - baseball players especially. I hope they feel it in their soul as much as I have. This one is a keeper.

I have become an avid follower of William Russ's film career,whether it be television or cinema. My all time favorite performance to date is, ROY DEAN BREAM in PASTIME. Mr. Russ gives a moving portrayal of a gracious, kind hearted man who deserved a lot better than life dealt him. With the exception of this film, it seems Mr. Russ generally takes a supporting role in his work. He is truly a BIG fish in a little pond! This film is worth the watch..or the buy.

The glamorous world of big league baseball is turned upside down in "Pastime". Instead of watching underachieving, overpaid, major leaguers, you are riding in a bus with the lowest minor league team, and getting a genuine appreciation for their dreams and disappointments. The acting and 50s atmosphere is perfect. William Russ is outstanding as the 40 year old pitcher, hanging on simply because of his love for the game. Noble Willingham as the wise and compassionate manager is another standout. Anyone who enjoys baseball should like the insight gained from this film. In short, "Pastime" is a baseball winner, even if the team is not. - MERK