High & Outside: A Baseball Noir

This isn't really a film about baseball more than it's a film about a desperate man who happens to be a ballplayer. There's very little baseball action and there is no humor at all, it's a pretty dark film. But it's also pretty good; gritty would be too soft of a description, it's more raw and seedy showing the underside of a minor league player when he no longer has any options to stay in the game.

The acting is really good, sadly the last film of Geoffrey Lewis before he passed away. The main character who is the son of Lewis' character isn't particularly likable and has a complicated relationship with his father that's furthered by failed expectations along with a sense of loyalty. The son makes plenty of poor choices, some illegal and alienates many. The ending leaves the viewer uncertain about his future. It's neither upbeat nor is it totally depressing without resolution. But that's the point, what future is there when the game you love no longer loves you?

With another MLB season fast approaching... this is a must view for all fans of America's past time. Through excellent character development, the movie covers real-life feelings and emotions of love, loss, failure, and survival. An overall solid indie movie with strong acting from a very talented cast along with some really fantastic camerawork.