Skip to main content

Bad News Bears


Billy Bob Thornton is the best weapon against cute that a kid baseball movie ever had. Like Bill Murray, Thornton is allergic to uplift. As Morris Buttermaker, the boozing pussy-hound coach of the Bears a losing team of California misfits Thornton cuts the brats no slack. You look like the last shit I took, he drawls. elcome to Bad Santa baseball with Santas writing elves Glenn Ficarra and John Requa reteaming with Thornton to rock the PG-13 rating. In terms of drugs, the film tones down the 1976 original. Unlike Walter Matthau, who created the role of the badass coach, Thornton doesnt tell kids to grab a toke. But the mischief he does make adds up to wild, rowdy fun.

Baseball is a dictatorship, and Im Hitler, says the coach, who spikes his beer with hard stuff, passes out on the field and hustles the Bo-Peep strip club to supply the teams jerseys. Its a business, they pay taxes, he tells the lawyer (Marcia Gay Harden) who stuck him, a man who once pitched an inning in the majors, with coaching kids (one in a wheelchair) whom he calls bronze medalists in the Special Olympics.

The child actors run the gamut, from the Indian nerd who checks stats on his laptop to the black rebel who idolizes Mark McGwire. As he did in The School of Rock, director Richard Linklater lets his indie roots show by keeping the kids decidedly unslick. Hiring non-actors Jeffrey Davies as the hitter and Sammi Kane Kraft as the pitcher originally played by Tatum ONeal is a risk that pays off. They play ball like pros. Whenever the script lets cliches bleed in, like the rival teams asshole coach dad (Greg Kinnear), the day is saved by the authenticity and love that Linklater brings to the game.

America may bitch to hear Buttermaker spread his potty-mouth philosophy. Nonalcoholic beer? asks a baby Bear when the coach offers a swig. Whats the point? There is none. And there would be no point to a muzzled Thornton. Even when the movie swings and misses like Helen Keller at a pinata party (the coachs words), Thornton whacks the laughs out of the park without breaking a sweat. In this game, hes the undisputed MVP.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Power of Appreciation

Is there anything more mysterious in theworld than the formula to having a successful romantic relationship? Asa divorced woman, I now marvel at those who are able to createpassionate, loving, long-term relationships. From my studies with booksand the school of hard knocks, I believe that one of the most importantingredients in relationships, of all kinds, is appreciation. What is Appreciation? Appreciation is likea much-needed rainfall to a farmer's crops that have been withering ina drought. Just as the crops start to shrivel and die without water,human relationships also start to feel brittle without a steadyapplication of the nourishing, even life-giving, impacts ofappreciation. The dictionary defines appreciation as "a favorablecritical estimate," "sensitive awareness" and "an expression ofadmiration, approval or gratitude." When you appreciate someone, youare tuned into a positive quality of another human being and expressyour gratitude for it. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Corporate ERP on Dynamics AX Deployment with Hub and Spokes Architecture

In certain business development scenarios you, as IT director of mid-market company have to respect existing structure and plan the evolution. This is especially true when your company expands in the way of acquisitions. Additional complication might be attributed to international business model, where you are acquiring established enterprise in the foreign country. In this small paper we would like to come through some popular theories and recommendations, where we suppose that you have Dynamics AX or formerly known as Axapta in your headquarters. If you are in Corporate ERP selection mode, we recommend you to consider AX in the case, when your policy is leaning toward Microsoft Dynamics products and technologies: 1.Why AX? First of all this ERP and MRP platform is recommended by Microsoft for the implementations in such industries as meat, fish and sea products, poultry, mining and oil drilling, distribution and logistics and with new version 2012 in public sector (GL fund managemen...
Post a Comment
Read more

Attic Fans

Attic and roof ventilation allows excess heat and moisture to escape at home to reduce summer cooling costs, pre-mature deterioration of roofing materials and condensation can lead to costly repairs. Effective attic ventilation relies on natural convection to pull air from the top to the bottom position, often in the open in Sofia, and the exhaust hot air from the ceiling vent in a higher position, such as through a gable, or open. Many new and existing homes are not ceilings, and its architecture can not afford soffits perforations for ventilation. While most households are conscious on the convenience brought by nicely ventilated homes, many tend to overlook the attic as one of the areas to be considered. No one finds it comfortable staying for long hours in the closed attic because of the overwhelming heat that builds up in it. For this reason, it is necessary for everyone to consider installing attic ventilation fans in order to cool down the attic's heat. This can have amazin...
Post a Comment
Read more