Stano

If you are a baseball fan it's a 0, hands down no questions asked. Nothing from the baseball standpoint is believable, which ruined the movie for me. From a movie standpoint, it's not terrible. Good cliche story, all that. But the baseball parts of the movie ruined the experience.

This is a story of redemption of a man who unintentionally murdered a man and ruined his potential baseball career as a top prospect. After 19 years in the clink, he's out and trying to ease back into life. He finds a job as a minor league coach and realizes he still has game and can crank a fastball a long way. Will he be able to make a miraculous comeback while battling angry people who still have a bone to pick? This was certainly a positive feeling movie that handles topics without finesse yet is still rather palatable. Sort of like slammin' down a Big Mac in the car during a road trip. There were some genuinely good baseball scenes but some characters arcs are rather abrupt an unsurprising. Far from award-winning, it is still a decent story that leaves you upbeat. It was interesting to see Sofía Vergara not in her "Modern Family" character; a first for me.

Sonny Stano (Joe Manganiello) has been in prison 18 years. When he was young, he got into a fight and ended up killing a guy. To make matters worse, he had been a hot baseball prospect for the New York Yankees and as a result of his crime, he lost that chance. However, after being released from prison, he is given a chance to work as an assistant coach for a minor league team. Amazingly, through this, he manages to impress his bosses and they decide to offer him a contract...as a player. But at 38, does Sonny stand a chance of making the majors? And, what about his life outside of ball...can he manage to create a good life for himself or is he destined to just do what many ex-cons do....end up back in the joint?

This is an interesting film since the love interest for Sonny is played by Sofia Vergara...Joe Manganiello's real life wife. As for Manganiello, his performance is VERY subdued and his character is not exacty a talkative guy. I know this will frustrate many viewers, though for an ex-con, his behavior was not unusual. Apart from Manganiello's very restrained performance, I also think some viewers probably disliked the ending...which is very vague and anything but what you'd expect. I didn't mind this at all..and liked how the story concluded.

Overall, the film isn't perfect but it does offer something I really like....it's different. The film generally avoids the usual cliches and the story is engaging.

By the way, Sonny plays for the Staten Island Empires...which is supposed to be a farm club for the Yankees. In reality, the farm club in Staten Island is also called the Yankees...not the Empires.

Im gonna call this the Rocky of baseball. Anybody who rates this a 1 or 2 has no patience or no heart. Awesome movie and I hate baseball

Nobody's saying this movie is Spielberg level, but Bottom of the 9th is touching and it delivers in it's promises. It's a feel good hero Hollywood drama to a T. Not too heavy on the cheesiness/unrealistic circumstances until the end and even then it's ok. As expected for this kind of movie.

I don't understand the reviews about bad acting. The characters were natural and for the most part unforced. I found myself engaged all the way through and rooting for the characters. I can think of so many movies that we just have to turn off because the actors are so obviously acting. This isn't one. Joe does a nice job as a strong understated lead. Handsome to look at and quiet like one would expect a person to be in his position. Was pleased to see Sophia relax and do a decent (not great) but decent job acting like a human instead of a Latina stereotype for the most part.

Would've like to see a little more arc for both characters. Why would they value eachother now? They're different people now. Why do they want to be together?

Would've like the director/writers to show us more background as to how the fiery young hot head we saw turned into the humble man coming out of jail.

I imagine getting out of jail and finding a job and a new life is a good bit harder than portrayed in this movie but still the story sheds some light on the many challenges for people in this position. It's hard to assimilate and feel valued.

I think the baseball fans found it unrealistic. So be it. That's hollywood and I'm not in it for the sports. Perhaps if you are this movie wont work as well for you.

Overall this movie delivers as the hero's journey tale it says it is. It's what you'd expect from hollywood's version of this tale with just enough real human element and real life feeling to make it feel real. Overall satisfying movie.