The Curse of the Bambino

This is a wonderful documentary. It is fun to watch from beginning to end. It shows you the entire history of the Boston Red Sox up until 2003. Ben Afflec is the perfect narrator for this film. He speaks from the heart and makes watching this great film even more exciting. As far a documentaries go I would rate this a 7.9 out of 10. 10 being the best. The Ali documentary "When We Where Kings" is a ten, Curse of The Bambino isn't far behind. The only negative thing I have to say about this film is, they should have waited until 2004 to make this film, then the 2003 ALCS against the Yankees and the A-Rod mess up could have been added to the mound of failure depicted in this film. I highly recommend Curse of The Bambino. It is fun to watch from beginning to end.

The Curse of the Bambino (2003)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Funny documentary about whether or not the Boston Red Sox's troubles are really due to a curse put on the team by Babe Ruth when the owner sold him to the New York Yankees. One interesting thing is that after the trade the Yankees would go onto win twenty-six championships while the Red Sox would just have one major collapse after another (up to the time this documentary was made). Fans of the Red Sox will probably be in tears watching this documentary but at the same time there's a level of comedy that runs throughout the thing. Various Boston writers, famous fans and regular fans are interviewed about their thoughts on various slumps that has happened over eight decades including the collapses in 1978 and the legendary on in 1986 against the Mets. People like Steven Wright, Michael Chiklis, Denis Leary, Jeffrey Lyons, Leigh Montville, Robert Creamer (Babe Ruth biographer) and Peter Casey are interviewed and share their opinions on the subject. Casey even managed to see Babe Ruth play so his comments are especially interesting. Overall this is a very entertaining documentary taking a look at the various problems that have hit the Red Sox over the years and it tries to show both sides of the coin in regards to the curse. We get "proof" that it exists but we're also given several reasons that show the problem isn't a curse but the organization itself. This includes the various race problems that haunted the team including the fact that they turned down Jackie Robinson and Willie Mayes. There's also talk about other factors that could have played into the various problems. It's certainly fun hearing from the fans and especially as they recall that 1986 World Series game six.

I am a Phillies fan , but what a great documentary on the Boston Red Sox ! I followed their successful world series win in 2004, and I sat on my sofa crying watching it on the documentary today--- it has restored some of my faith in people....

I have been waiting for the Phillies to win the world series again since 1980. Now I am a grandmother and guess what ! Still waiting!! My congratulations to HBO and the producers for a great show.

My favorite part was watching people (after the end of the series) going to the cemeteries and placing BOsox caps and winning pennants on the graves of their fathers and grandfathers who had waited unsuccessfully all their lives for the Bosox to break the "curse".

Great presentation of a fascinating subject. Having seen this documentary several times on HBO, I've managed to get even non-sports fans to sit and watch.

As a fan of baseball, but not a Boston or Yankees devotee, this documentary did a wonderful job of explaining to me the true depth of the rivalry. Everyone knows the Red Sox hate the Yankees and vice versa -- but I had no idea of the extent of it, or the real histories behind the teams.

Those who say this documentary is about curses and silly superstitions, didn't pay close enough attention. It's about the two cultures, two communities clashing, exposing their strengths and weaknesses, about how competition and hope are an inherent part of the human condition and last, like baseball, unchanged across the years.

Enjoyed Affleck's narration and the organized and balanced structure of the final show. Very funny. Great editing on the game recaps, too -- well done.

As a Cubs fan, my sympathy goes out to red sox fans. The documentary is the history of eighty years of Boston teams getting within reach of the promised land only to be struck down. It tells the tale of eighty years of grief, missed chances, and chokes. From Bucky "F...ing" Dent to Bill Buckner, to their battles with the Evil Empire in Yankee pinstripes and finally how the specter of Babe Ruth's trade hovering over the team affects them to this day. God may not hate the Red Sox, but he sure as hell likes the Yankees more.

In all of the suffering and despair though, what comes through is not the misery of losing but the love and hope of people for a team who still every year gives them reason to believe.