"A League Of Their Own"

Overall, our movie collection does not include a great amount of sports themed movies...except when it comes to Baseball.  This film starts off what will later be a number of baseball movies that Bethany and I will get to write about.  All of them are good films, but this one really stands out from the group, not because it is exceptionally good, (although it is) but because it touches on a little piece of Baseball history that not many know about. 

This story about the All American Girls Baseball League is exciting, tear jerking, funny, corny, and a little 'scrummtulesient.'  I found myself most struck however by the chemistry between Dotty and her little sister Kit.  The little sister quite simply drives me crazy!  Through most of the film, she blames her older sister for all of her problems, and seems to be so convinced that she is not in control of her own life, that no amount of success on the ball field can convince her that her sister is really not holding her back.  This feuding and the constant awkwardness of Kit drives the story foreword, but I cannot help but be angry at her for her lack of self control.

I love baseball, it truly is the all American sport, and this film captures that spirit, and paints it in a light that we do not often associate with such a game.

And remember...THERE IS NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!

-David

"You're gonna lose, you're gonna lose!" Oh Stillwell, how you're childlike antics make me smile. For those of you who have not seen this movie, Stillwell is the young boy of one of the woman baseball players, who accompanies them, on the bus to the games, on the field...and he's quite a challenge. Such as when he covers the bus driver's eyes, who promptly quits in the middle of nowhere. Or my favorite part, when he's taunting Tom Hanks, the coach, by putting his thumbs in his ears, moving his head back and forth saying, "You're gonna lose..." To which Tom Hanks grabs a baseball glove, throws it at the kid, and hits him square in the face, and poor little Stillwell gets a stunned look and falls over. It's a pretty hilarious scene.

I love this movie. It reminds us of an important time in our history, when women were called upon to take on roles that were typically reserved for men, due to our country's involvement in WWII. It's fun, it's entertaining, and it tugs on the heart strings, as many of the women in the league have husbands away at war. The acting is pretty incredible too, what with Gina Davis, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, whoever plays 'Marla' and of course Tom Hanks.

I'm also struck by the sibling rivalry in this film, as I myself grew up with two younger sisters. Growing up, we all loved each other very much, and got along pretty well, most of the time. But of course there were those moments...and I can relate somewhat to the older sister/younger sister conflicts that arise, as it's typically those who are closest to us that can push our buttons the hardest. But that sister love wins out, in the film, and in my own life, and among other themes, cherishing one's family, cherishing those we love, is a very strong message that I get from this film. Beautifully done.

-Bethany