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American Pastime
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10 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

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  • Summary: A powerful story about the dramatic impact WWII had in the home-front as Japanese American families were uprooted from their every day lives and placed into internment camps in Western US in the early 1940's. Faced with a country that now doubted their loyalty and struggling with their new situation, they turn to baseball as a way to handle their plight and find the strength to stand up for themselves becoming a true symbol of honor and pride. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Crust
    60
    Director Desmond Nakano, who co-wrote the script with Tony Kayden, does a fine job in evoking the events and era and in guiding his actors through emotion-filled scenes. However, much of the plot revolving around a climactic baseball game is trite and detracts from the overall drama.
  2. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Joshua Katzman
    50
    Writer-director Desmond Nakano paints some of the characters in broad strokes, but his feature is undeniably heartfelt.
  3. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    50
    With such rich material about dreams deferred, it's disheartening that co-writer–director Desmond Nakano's nobly made but patchy drama mires itself in nostalgia tropes and storytelling clichés.

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. MaciekK.
    10
    I saw “American Pastime” on Saturday, and my only disappointment with the evening, was the meager size of the audience. There were only a handful of people in the theater. This film deserves a wide audience, hence my score and this high and enthusiastic endorsement. I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about the Japanese-American internment during WWII. My father and uncle were imprisoned at Mathausen in the European side of WWII. Despite my previous exposure and direct family experience, this film was still a revelation. My previous knowledge of the Japanese-American WWII experience was based mostly on plays, documentaries, and reading. Watching documentaries, particularly with interviews of camp survivors, is always very moving and heartrending. Although a dramatic fictionalized film, seeing the daily indignities and humiliations endured by the Japanese-Americans gave me even a deeper understanding of their experience. Let anyone reading this conclude that the film is a “downer,” rest assured that despite the subject matter, it is ultimately a life-affirming, spiritually uplifting film, and ironically, entertaining. The director and screenwriter have created a compelling story, which illuminates an egregious breach of justice in US history. Yet the story is very engaging, as are the talented cast of characters. The screenplay is evenhanded and compassionate, including the point of view of the guards and townspeople near the camp. Go see it. You will learn something, while being uplifted and entertained.… Expand
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  2. KathyG.
    10
    Just saw the movie tonight, and I learned a lot about the interment camps during WWII. But this movie is so much more than that. It is a heartfelt, funny, and beautiful movie about how people deal with adversity. It shows how each of the Japanese interned dealt with their situation differently. The movie focuses in one one family. l. The write and producer explained that all historical information in this movie is true, but the characters are composites of family and friends who were in the camps. I must say this was one of the best movies I have seen this year, and I gotto a LOT of movies. It is a must see.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. SheilaD.
    10
    This movie is great! I know my family will love this movie as much as I did. Normally they do not enjoy historical films, but this movie was filmed in such a way that the viewer is learning something unawares, because the film itself is such good drama. I can even have my little ones watch and be assured they are getting a great lesson about something that we, as Americans, need to remember, and they will love the movie because they love baseball. They are appalled that something like this happened in our country, but as in all things, we need to take it in context of the times, and make certain that it does not happen again. By the way, the Fighting 442nd has a site maintained by a grandson of a veteran of that unit.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

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