Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige

In the bad old days, white baseball players demanded and got a ban on African-Americans which lasted till the 1940s. Hence, many black players were denied the rewards justly due to them. Satchel Paige was one of these unfortunates. But he was no victim; he enjoyed life and lived it well. He found ways to play baseball in the Dominican Republic, a Third World country which, ironically, was more tolerant than the United States. He also played in the Negro League.

Louis Gossett, Jr., is one of the world's great actors, as anyone who saw him in "An Officer and a Gentleman" would testify. Few similar opportunities have come his way since then. Probably, because he is black. Shades (no pun intended) of Satchel Paige! Louis Gossett, Jr., is wonderful as Satchel Paige. Hence, this poignant movie is worth watching.

(Reviewed by Sundar Narayar)

Satchel Paige is a true American folk hero. The reason I gave this movie such a low rating is simply, how can you tell the story of this man in a standard length movie? It cannot be done anymore than it could have been done for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. There is to much to Paige and no short movie can do justice to what many believe could have been the greatest pitcher in major league baseball. If, he would only have been given the chance. All this movie does is give one a taste for more. It is nothing more than a cheap, quickie which should have been at least a mini series.

This was one of the most poorly constructed biographical pictures I've ever seen. There seemed to be almost no attempt to tell Satchel Paige's true-life story but was instead a predictably sentimental and overwrought depiction of a man who was far more interesting in real life. I could barely force myself to view the second hour. My husband got up and left the room after the first half-hour. Paige deserves more. Gossett did little research into what Paige was like, the director set up the shots poorly, the pitching looked like it was in slow motion, considering Paige pitches were around 100 mph. All in all a real disappointment for us who are respectful fans of the real Satchel Paige.

Boy, here's a classic case of a book being far better than the ensuing movie. Paige's autobiography was entertaining and both informative and humorous.

This film, thanks to a few things like actors who have no clue how to throw or hit a baseball, make the story lose credibility. Lou Gossett, playing Paige, can't throw which kind of hurts since Paige was a pitcher! Duh!! All-time great Negro League hitter Josh Gibson (Ernie Barnes), the "Babe Ruth" of his league, looks like a Little Leaguer with his horrible swing.

Meanwhile, the romance and the prejudice angles are all way out of proportion to Paige's book. Skip this film; read the book. It's far, far better.