Rookie of the Year

Directed by Daniel Stern and written by Sam Harper, Rookie of the Year is the story of a young boy who would pitch for the Chicago Cubs after getting his arm injured as it’s later healed with tightened tendons that gives him incredible pitching powers. It’s a film that plays into a boy wanting to be good in baseball where an injury would give his right arm something special as he would get to live his dream but also learn about the price of fame. Starring Thomas Ian Nicholas, Gary Busey, Amy Morton, Bruce Altman, Albert Hall, Dan Hedaya, Eddie Bracken, Daniel Stern, and John Candy. Rookie of the Year is a delightful film from Daniel Stern.

What happens to a boy when he gets injured during a little league game where his right arm is healed with tighten tendons that allows him to pitch at great speed where he would pitch for the Chicago Cubs? That is pretty much the premise of the film as it revolves around a 12-year old boy who just wants to be good at baseball but he’s never really had the chance to play until one day where he fills in and things go wrong when he slips on a ball and breaks his arm. Once his arm is healed, he learns that his tendons have tightened more than it should which allows him to exert great force where he would unknowingly throw a ball back from the outfield bleachers to home plate as he would get this attention from Cubs management. There, Henry Rowengartner (Thomas Ian Nicholas) would start out as a relief pitcher for the Cubs as he would be mentored by his hero in the aging starting pitcher Chet “Rocket” Steadman (Gary Busey) as he would also learn the dark side of being famous.

The film’s screenplay by Sam Harper doesn’t just showcase a boy living his dream to play in the major league but also be forced to grow up faster than he should when it comes to being used to sell things that he has no clue about. Especially when he’s being exploited by his mother’s boyfriend Jack Bradfield (Bruce Altman) as well as Cubs general manager Larry “Fish” Fisher (Dan Hedaya) as the latter is looking to take over the Cubs altogether from his uncle Bob Carson (Eddie Bracken). It is there that Henry learns about these things as it prevents him from being with his friends and just being a kid while Steadman, whose career is on the way out, tells him about not just his own bitterness about the game but also what happens when the gift that Henry is bestowed upon goes away. While there is an element of seriousness that plays into the world of baseball, Harper does at least maintain a sense of innocence as well as some humor into the world of baseball such as how Henry manages to enjoy the game.

Daniel Stern’s direction is quite simple as he shoots the film on location in Chicago and other nearby cities including Wrigley Field and Comiskey Park in Chicago as Dodger Stadium. Much of Stern’s compositions are simple as well as stylish that includes some low angle shots, close-ups, and medium shots to reveal what goes on in the field and at the dugout. Some of it is played for laughs as it involves Stern’s character Phil Brickma who is this eccentric pitching coach. Yet, Stern does maintain a balance of comedy and light-drama as it plays into a boy coming of age as a major league pitcher as he copes with not just fame but its demands where he would make a very adult decision. Stern’s approach to the story not only succeeds in making it accessible for a young audience but also in not talking them down with heavy-handed ideas about fame and money. All of which plays into the joy of playing baseball as its climax is set during a division playoff. Overall, Stern creates a very fun and engaging film about a young boy who lives the dream in pitching for the Chicago Cubs.

Cinematographer Jack N. Green does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it‘s very simple for the daytime exterior scenes while being straightforward for the interior scenes and some scenes set at night. Editors Donn Cambern and Raja Gosnell do nice work with the editing as it‘s straightforward with a few montages and some rhythmic cuts for the film‘s humor. Production designer Steven J. Jordan, with set decorator Leslie Bloom and art director William Arnold, does brilliant work with the home that Henry and his mom live in as well as the Cubs locker room.

Costume designer Jay Hurley does terrific work as most of the clothes are casual along with some design of the baseball uniforms. Visual effects supervisor Erik Henry does fine work with the minimal visual effects which often revolves around the fastball that Henry throws. Sound editor Stephen Hunter Flick does superb work with the sound from the sound of the crowd at the ball game to the sound effects of the fastball. The film’s music by Bill Conti is amazing for its orchestral score as it is filled with soaring string arrangements with elements of guitar wails to play into the thrill of sports as the soundtrack features elements of rock and pop music.

The casting by Linda Lowy is incredible as it features notable small roles from Colombe Jacobsen as Henry’s crush Becky, W. Earl Brown as the Cubs catcher Frick, Ross Lehman as Henry’s doctor, Tom Milanovich as the notorious Mets hitter Heddo, and cameo appearances from Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and Pedro Guerrero as themselves. Patrick LaBrecque and Robert Hy Gorman are terrific in their respective roles as Henry’s friends George and Clark who try to cope with Henry’s sudden fame which George gets jealous of. Daniel Stern is hilarious as the pitching coach Phil Brickma as he often causes some trouble to others or to himself. Albert Hall is excellent as the Cubs manager Sal Martinella who always mispronounces Henry’s surname while Dan Hedaya is superb as the Cubs general manager Fisher who would exploit Henry in the hopes of making money and become the Cubs’ new owner.  Bruce Altman is fantastic as Mary’s boyfriend Jack who would become Henry’s manager and later try to get him all sorts of things to make money much to Henry’s disgust. 

John Candy is great in one of his final performances as Cubs announcer Cliff Murdoch as Candy brings a lot of funny comments throughout the film.  Amy Morton is amazing as Henry’s mom Mary as someone who makes sure that Henry doesn’t lose himself to the trappings of fame as she becomes suspicious of Jack’s work as she becomes close with Steadman. Gary Busey is brilliant as Chet Steadman as an aging pitcher who is asked to mentor Henry as he copes with not just his fading career but also the fact that he’s not as good as he once was as he tells Henry about what to expect when that gift is gone. Finally, there’s Thomas Ian Nicholas in a marvelous performance as Henry Rowengartner as a 12-year old kid who just wants to be good at baseball where an injury to his arm gives him unlikely throwing power as he copes with being in the major leagues and its demands as Nicholas adds a maturity to his role that makes the character very likeable.

Rookie of the Year is a remarkable film from Daniel Stern. Armed with a great cast and an engaging story about the idea of being in the major leagues, it’s a film that is very accessible for families as well as offer something compelling for baseball fans. In the end, Rookie of the Year is a fantastic film from Daniel Stern.

© thevoid99 2015

Up in the Air

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 12/25/09 w/ Additional Edits.

Based on the novel by Walter Kirn, Up in the Air tells the story of a corporate downsizer whose job is to fly around the world to fire people from their jobs while hoping to reach his goal of a large frequent flyer numbers. During his journey, the man accompanies a young woman doing the same but with new technology while he falls for a traveling woman who also shares his philosophies about traveling. Directed by Jason Reitman with an adapted screenplay by Reitman and Sheldon Turner. The film is an exploration of a man's empty life and the world he surrounds himself in during a tumultuous time where the recession is hitting hard in the world. Starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Danny McBride, Melanie Lynskey, Amy Morton, Sam Elliot, Zach Galifianakis, and appearances from J.K. Simmons and Jason Bateman. Up in the Air is a witty yet harrowing drama about isolation and the world that revolves around a single man.

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a man whose job is to fly from city to city where he tells people that they're fired. The reaction to those who are fired is shocking yet Bingham isn't really concerned with people's feelings as he's just there to do a job. Bingham flies millions of miles throughout the year hoping to reach the goal of 10 million frequent flyer miles to be part of a rare, prestigious club. When he's not flying or working, he lives in an apartment that he is rarely at in Omaha. On his spare time, Bingham also gives seminars on how to live a life without attachments where during those travels, he meets with another traveler named Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga) where the two share an attraction towards each other.

When Bingham is called back to Omaha by his boss Craig Gregory (Jason Bateman), Bingham learns of a new strategy that could impact his job and lifestyle. A new young employee named Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) has just introduced the idea of firing people through the Internet and on video screen. Upon the realization that Natalie has little experience in interacting face-to-face with the people she's to fire, Gregory decides to have Natalie accompany Bingham so she can have experience. Bingham reluctantly takes her in while showing her the ropes on how to travel and how to do things properly. Natalie becomes unaware of the emotional implications of what to do when firing people as she angers a fired employee (J.K. Simmons) where Bingham would calm the man down.

With Bingham's own personal life having little attachment as he learned his younger sister Julie (Melanie Lynskey) is about to get married. He is asked by his sister Kara (Amy Morton) to take pictures with a cardboard picture of Julie and her fiancee Jim (Danny McBride) in various places. Bingham reluctantly does with help from Natalie and during a stop in Miami, he meets up with Alex again as she shares her own philosophies of life to Natalie as they crash a party. With Natalie still trying to get her footing on how to fire people as well as the way Bingham's life works. She and Bingham are suddenly called back to Omaha as Bingham makes some unexpected moves on his own in choosing to go to his sister's wedding. During this visit where Alex accompanies him, Bingham begins to question his own life along with his growing attraction to Alex.

The film is about a traveling man traveling all across the country doing his own thing without any kinds of attachment to anyone or anything. Yet, he would end up meeting people that would change all of these philosophies that he lives by while pondering about his own lifestyle. The film itself is an existential drama with dabbles of humor. Yet, it all centers around the character of Ryan Bingham. A man who loves his job, loves to fly, loves to live in nice hotels, and have all of the benefits. Yet, he would often be attached to a woman in Alex, who does the same as they're attracted to each other. When he takes Natalie on board as his new protegee, Bingham is suddenly faced with questions from Natalie about his lifestyle and his goals. Bingham avoids them only to realize that Natalie might have a point near the end of the film.

The screenplay that Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner is wonderfully structured from the first act of Bingham's world and the introduction of Natalie where he bring her on his travels. The second being his increased attraction to Alex and guiding Natalie into this cruel world of firing people. All of this would lead to a dramatic third act that would impact not just Bingham's own development and feelings about the world. It would also impact about the people around him where there is a harsh revelation about Alex along with Natalie's own feelings about the world. Along the way in the journey, there's moments where all three characters would learn about themselves and have fun as the lesson in life is there's no life without interaction or attachments.

The script Reitman and Turner creates definitely raises questions about existentialism and the way the world works. Even as it is told at the right place and right time when America as of late 2009 is still going through a horrible recession where people are losing their jobs. The reactions of the people who are fired are told realistically of what they could be going through or what they went through. While to Bingham, it may not affect him very much but to someone as young as Natalie. It's a cruel reminder of the way the world is as her idea to fire people through the computer without human interaction would change her in such a way. Notably in a tragic moment in the third act that would impact not just Natalie but also Bingham in relation to what Natalie is feeling.

The screenplay definitely features some amazing writing in its dialogue and moments of humor. Yet, it's Reitman's direction of the film itself that is truly stunning. From the opening credit sequence of ariel shots of various cities and landscapes to his engaging compositions of everything he's shooting at the airport, hotels, and various cities. It's as if Reitman is taking the audience onto a journey from city to city where as troubled as it is. America is still a beautiful and interesting place from the ariel shots of the cities at night to the airports they're at. Yet, Reitman's direction is filled with close-ups and zooms to emphasize what is happening to the characters. Even as they're facing the emotional upheaval of what they're doing or going through. Even if it's a funny moment where something isn't meant to be funny but can come across as something that is quite hilarious.

The sarcastic humor that Reitman creates works in its sense of rhythm that keeps the film going. The dramatic staging that Reitman does is superb as he knows where to distance himself from he and the actors as they're performing. Yet, some of those dramatic moments and compositions do create moments that are stunning. Notably in the world of Ryan Bingham as he faces the idea of isolation and trying to find some meaning in his life. The result of these intimate moments, light comical moments, and intense, heavy sequences and compositions show that Jason Reitman is becoming a director that will engage the audiences with themes and ideas as he is really just getting started.

Cinematographer Eric Steelberg does brilliant work with the film's photography from darkly-lit but colorful interior nighttime scenes at the bar where Alex and Ryan meets to the bright colors in the interiors of the airports that Ryan frequents in. Even in some shots where things are a little grey in the exterior scenes as Steelberg's work is phenomenal. Editor Dana E. Glauberman is excellent in its rhythmic pacing, straight-cuts and transitions while moving the film quite leisurely for the most part. Even in scenes where it's funny or for dramatic effect.

Production designer Steve Saklad with set decorator Linda Lee Sutton and art director Andrew Max Cahn do great work in the art direction of the film. From the look of the party that Ryan, Alex, and Natalie crash to the hotel rooms, and even Ryan's own apartment home which looks somewhat empty all have something to say in Ryan's life. The costume design of Danny Glicker is really good from the suits that Ryan wears along with the business-woman clothes that Alex and Natalie wears where Alex has a sexier look with Natalie a more uptight look to emphasize their characters. Sound editors Barney Cabral, Perry Robertson, and Scott Sanders do fine work in the film's sound from the way airplanes sound in and out, the intimate sounds of the conferences that Ryan speaks in, and the atmosphere of Natalie talking through people in the computer in their termination as it's done quite superbly.

The music score by Rolfe Kent is lightly playful and subtle to emphasize on Ryan's continuing journey in life and the people he encounters. Yet, the soundtrack compiled by Randall Poster and Rick Clark is wonderful with songs by Sharon King and the Dap-Kings, Graham Nash, Elliot Smith, Charles Atlas, and Crosby, Stills, & Nash in playing up to the journey of Ryan Bingham.

The casting by Mindy Marin is superb with some cameo appearances from Young MC at the party Ryan, Alex, and Natalie crash in along with J.K. Simmons and Zach Galifianakis as terminated employees. Simmons as a hardened, bitter man who plays it quite straight while Galifianakis does a great job in playing up for laughs in his own fantasies about being fired. Sam Elliot also makes a funny cameo appearance as an airline pilot who sits with Ryan. Danny McBride is very good in a very understated yet restrained role as Ryan's soon-to-be brother-in-law while Melanie Lynskey is wonderful as Ryan's younger sister. Amy Morton is fine in a small but memorable role as Ryan's older sister who is not happy about his lifestyle choice while Jason Bateman is great as Ryan's smarmy boss.

Anna Kendrick is superb in a real breakthrough role as Natalie Keener. Already known for a fantastic role in Rocket Science and more recently, in the Twilight film series, Kendrick delivers in being a great foil of sorts for George Clooney while going head-to-head about the way things are. Kendrick is also funny and dramatic as she not only steals a few scenes from Clooney but makes her character to be very memorable and realistic about how young people are trying to figure out the world. Vera Farmiga is excellent as Alex, a sexy woman who likes to travel and do all sorts of fun things with Ryan Bingham. Yet, there's also someone who has seen a lot in life in a character like Alex as she helps not only guide Natalie through the world of adulthood but also help Ryan find a world other than traveling that would later be part of a very dramatic set-up. Farmiga's performance is definitely phenomenal as she definitely can go toe-to-toe with someone as big as George Clooney.

George Clooney, himself, delivers in what is definitely his best dramatic role yet. While Clooney is a movie star who can deliver the goods in a performance. He's also an actor that will provide the right notes in a performance. Maybe not in the style of a method actor like Sean Penn or as grandiose as Daniel Day-Lewis. Yet, Clooney's performance as Ryan Bingham is very realistic in its development of a man in an existential journey where he not only tries to fight in saving a lifestyle that he only knows. He would end going into a realization that living life without attachments aren't really worth living. It's a remarkable performance from Clooney who not only can dominate a scene but is willing to share it with other actors, notably Farmiga and Kendrick. What Clooney creates is a role that is shows his range as an actor while giving it a personality that only Clooney can create.

Up in the Air is an amazing film from Jason Reitman and company with great performances from George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick. Audiences who want to see witty films that is entertaining and smart will definitely enjoy this. Though at times, the tone is bleak, it's a film that really tells a story that is relevant and what is happening while telling stories about the way life works. For fans of Jason Reitman, this film will truly show a massive stepping stone into his career as it is clear that he will become a director to watch in the years to come. In the end, Up in the Air is a remarkable achievement from Jason Reitman while giving its star George Clooney one of his best roles yet.

Jason Reitman Films: Thank You for Smoking - Juno - Young Adult - Labor Day - (Men, Women, & Children) - Tully - The Front Runner - Ghostbusters: Afterlife - The Auteurs #30: Jason Reitman

© thevoid99 2011