Trouble with the Curve (2012)

Best movie of this year hands down!

A different way of telling a story

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I had previously read that Clint Eastwood had retired from acting following his wonderful performance in Gran Torino. Many were displeased, perhaps, especially after such a great last showing for him, but I was among those who felt it was a good thing. I always liked the man's acting, but after such a long and terrific career, I felt the old man had earned the right to hang it up if he wanted to.So when I heard he was returning for this film, I thought it odd and a bit troubling even. Had they tricked a senile old man into doing something he didn't really want to do, against his better judgment? Why ruin a good career with a potentially mediocre baseball movie, especially after going out with a bang like Gran Torino. Better to just leave well enough alone.And I heard the reviews. Not great. Just okay. I felt bad. I won't watch it, I said. I'll boycott. And I didn't watch it for many years, but finally I turned it on one day when I was bored and hungover and it was drizzling and gloomy outside. And boy, I'm glad I did. It made my day so much better and it really was great to see the old man back in action, doing what he does best. I'd like to see him back for many roles to come. Even if it is just another baseball movie.

Rounding out my look back at Clint Eastwood's acting filmography, I come to his last performance to date, 2012's The Trouble With The Curve.Plot In A Paragraph: A daughter (Amy Adams) tries to remedy her dysfunctional relationship with her ailing father (Clint Eastwood) a decorated baseball scout by helping him in a recruiting trip which could be his last.Trouble With The Curve is not a great baseball movie, it's not a great sports movie either, but it is an enjoyable, better than average movie. Part of me wishes Clint hadn't made this, and he retired on Gran Torino. I was so uninterested in it, I didn't even watch it until last year, when I bought it for 50p in a second hand shop. Clint gives his usual solid performance, and Amy Adams is good too. Justin Timberlake puts in a decent performance too,, and Joe Messingill is very annoying, I really disliked his character!!Trouble With The Curve only grossed $35 million at the domestic Box Office to end the year as the 89th highest grossing movie of 2012.

After starring in the remarkable "Million Dollar Baby" in 2004, then following it up with the gritty "Gran Torino" in 2008, Clint Eastwood announced his "retirement" from acting, instead focusing on on directing/producing films. When the script for "Trouble with the Curve" came along, though, Mr. Eastwood decided that it was too good of a vehicle to pass up. Thus, in his return to leading-man status, the 82-year old thespian proves that his filmmaking (or film-choosing) instincts are as solid as ever.For a basic plot summary, "Trouble with the Curve" focuses on Gus (Eastwood), an aged baseball scout who relies on his eyes, senses, and gut feelings to scout the top prospects. The trouble is, his eyes are failing and his job is on the line. As such, Gus's friend Pete (John Goodman) is concerned about him and gives a call to Mickey (Amy Adams), Gus's daughter. Predictably, the father-daughter duo do not share a strong relationship with each, and that is tested on a road trip together to scout the newest "can't miss" prospect. Along the way, rival scout Johnny (Justin Timberlake) teaches both parts of the duo a little something about each other and their lives.When evaluating "Trouble with the Curve", there is one thing that you must do: Absolutely DO NOT try to compare it to "Million Dollar Baby" or "Gran Torino". It's not even so much that it doesn't measure up to those movies (although it doesn't), but rather that it takes a bit of a different tone. It is a bit more light-hearted and not nearly as "life-or-death serious" as those other flicks.When looked at under its own merits, then, "Curve" is an excellent film that does everything it sets out to do. The plot is interesting enough to keep you invested, the emotion runs high throughout, and the acting is superb. Eastwood is his typical self, while Adams and Timberlake provide the much-needed camaraderie that a movie like this needs from time to time. The characters aren't quite as fleshed-out as a normal Eastwood movie (in this case, there is more "telling" of emotions than "showing", generally speaking), but they are still engaging.Basically, "Trouble with the Curve" is a conglomeration of a number of different themes (aging, fatherhood, baseball scouting, etc.) that work not in isolation but blended together. All those themes have been done better in other movies, but having them all play off each other still manages to produce a cinematic treat. I hope Eastwood still continues to shine ON the camera as well as BEHIND it, but if this does turn out to be his final acting role, there is no reason to look back with any regret.

A nice feel good film. Nothing too special, but entertaining enough for a couple of hours. I'm not much for Sports films, but this had a lighthearted feeling and a reconnecting with your family story at its core. So, surprisingly enough for me, it held my interest.Clint Eastwood is known for being the image of the though Western Cowboy, but here is less though than you might expect. He does a nice job of showing something I've rarely see from him in films, a vulnerability and some great emotional moments. It was a touching aspect to this film and it reminded me of what good of an actor Eastwood can be. Maybe he has been typecast as the cowboy too often? I think he is great in Westerns, but it was very nice to see him do something different.The setting of the film is cozy and it feels very much warmhearted in some way. But, of course, it has a fair share of clichéd moments. You can pretty much guess what's going to happen while watching it. There are some comedic moments that fell a little flat and a few subplots that could have been skipped. Towards the end it felt convenient and I thought the filmmakers could have dared to make some twist to make it stand out more.What made the movie work was the warmhearted feeling throughout and it has some good intentions, I can tell. I wish it would have avoided some convenient story beats. There's a scene were Eastwood tells an emotional story and it was delivered in such a touching way that it will stick with me. So, I'm not gonna forget this movie.If you don't feel like watching something too exciting or hard hitting, then this movie is harmless enough to be enjoyed during a cozy afternoon.