100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 16: Trouble with the Curve

Director: Robert Lorenz
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Robert Patrick, Matthew Lillard, Bob Gunton

Description: Gus (Clint Eastwood) is a baseball scout. The team he works for thinks he should retire. He asks them to let him do one more scouting job to prove himself. His friend, Pete (John Goodman), asks Gus’ estranged daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), if she could go with him to make sure he's okay as his eyes are failing.

Review: A good curveball is one of the best weapons a pitcher can have and it’s a real challenge for the batter. “Trouble With the Curve” centers this learning process. We follow Gus, whose life is all about baseball. As the Atlanta Braves scout he travels through the country to find new talent. Because he’s aging, Gus gets one last chance to prove himself as an old-fashioned scout. His daughter Mickey joins him, she wants to look after him because his sight isn’t that good anymore.
Clint Eastwood plays a role that he has done before: a grumpy, stubborn old man. That worked for him in “Gran Torino” and “Million Dollar Baby”, but it’s gotten a little old. I do like these Eastwood characters though and his sarcastic humor. Amy Adams’ character is just loveable, I always like it when a strong woman enters a man’s world. The chemistry between Eastwood and Adams is great, you believe them as a father and daughter. Justin Timberlake on the other hand doesn’t really add anything to the story but predictability. And John Goodman wasn’t given enough screen time, because the scenes he had with Eastwood were really good.
Although baseball isn’t really my sport, the movie did interest me. It’s not one of the best and it’s certainly not very special, but it was enjoyable to watch.

Rating: 3/ 5