neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Hardball
	Brian Robbins Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane 2001 Special edition — widescreen; closed caption; audio commentary by director Brian Robbins and writer John Gatins; making-of featurette; three deleted scenes; interstitials; music video "Hardball" by Lil' Bow Wow, Lil' Wayne, Lil' Zane and Sammie; theatrical trailer.		Keanu Reeves is cast against type as total loser Conor O'Neill, a hard-drinking ticket scalper and compulsive gambler so deep in debt to mobsters that his, um, "health" is at risk. The only way he can raise enough money to save his skin is to accept a wealthy friend's offer to coach a Little League baseball team in the middle of the hazardous Chicago projects. Uh-huh. At first glance, the players appear to be a pack of foul-mouthed troublemakers and insecure innocents trying to survive in the midst of ghetto poverty and crime. But they're also sweet and talented children who just need someone to give them a chance to shine. And damned if Conor's unwilling participation in the lives of these poor, alienated kids doesn't effect a change of character in our self-centered protagonist, too. Diane Lane is the concerned, attractive school teacher/love interest who wants nothing but the best for the team members — and Conor. Clichés are rampant, yet the film has an undeniable, humane appeal.