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Hardball
Paramount Pictures


9.6

based on 25 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 49 votes
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FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for thematic elements, language and some violence

Starring Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane, Trevor Morgan, Michael B. Jordan, D.B. Sweeney, and John Hawkes

Reeves portrays Conor O'Neill -- an underachiever who is both inspired and redeemed by the unlikeliest group of people he could ever have imagined. In order to pay off a gambling debt, O'Neill is thrust into molding underprivileged kids into a cohesive unit in one of the toughest parts of Chicago. (Paramount Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Drama
WRITTEN BY:	Daniel Coyle (book Hardball: A Season in the Projects) John Gatins
DIRECTED BY:	Brian Robbins
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: February 19, 2002 Video: February 19, 2002 Theatrical: September 14, 2001
RUNNING TIME:	105 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

A surefire heart-tugger made with skill and judgment, affords Keanu Reeves a career high point.

Portland Oregonian David Germain

Blends its seemingly disparate elements into a coherent film that's entertaining, funny, sad and even a bit uplifting and inspirational.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Cynics may roll their eyes at Hardball's earnestness, but the movie proves even the most conventional stories can move and engage you, provided they're told well.

Slate Matt Feeney

Toward the end of Hardball, the story takes a jolting turn from heartwarming to tear-jerking that people might find cruelly manipulative. Perhaps under normal circumstances, I would too. But these are not normal circumstances, and instead of put off, I was completely undone.

New Times (L.A.) Bill Gallo

Hardball is not as bad as it sounds, and at its best it's charming.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Surprisingly brusque yet likable film.

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

It may follow a formula, but sometimes formula equals comforting routine. And there are times, in the movies and elsewhere, when routine is exactly what you need.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Its uplifting message about teamwork and caring wouldn't hurt a fly. You might even say, the movie is good for you.

USA Today Claudia Puig

Those who were upset by the tragic ending of last year's "Pay It Forward" should be warned away.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

It drifts above the surface of its natural subjects, content to be a genre picture. We're always aware of the formula--and in a picture based on real life, we shouldn't be.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

A by-the-numbers tearjerker notable mostly for the most adorable little sluggers this side of the "Bad News Bears."

Washington Post Megan Rosenfeld

It is only when Reeves meets up with his incredibly cute baseball team that this movie comes to life.

Chicago Tribune Mark Caro

Remains watchable when it's not hitting you like a baseball bat with poignancy. But by the time you've endured all of the shamelessly manipulative plot turns and heart-yanking speeches that close out the movie, all you can do is cry foul.

San Francisco Chronicle Bob Graham

Hardball works where it counts, on the emotional level.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

Ultimately, the kids carry this manipulative tear-jerker. They're warm, lively charmers.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

The filmmakers realize that playing baseball isn't nearly enough to fix what's wrong in these kids' lives, which might have made a more provocative ending than what follows.

Mr. Showbiz Cody Clark

The actors playing the team members have stereotypical roles, but these kids have got game.

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

When the boys are tossing balls around and bopping in time to Notorious B.I.G., they -- and the film -- are right-on.

LA Weekly Chuck Wilson

Until its dismaying final 15 minutes, this baseball redemption movie sails along on the charms of cute kids and a star who makes up in bone structure what he lacks in talent.

Variety Robert Koehler

There's no cork inside Hardball, but there's more than enough corn. Everything about the movie is geared for maximum uplifting and tear-jerking effect, and seems designed, in the end, to question the old saw that there's no crying in baseball.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

As shallow and manipulative a movie as any that come to mind.

TV Guide Steve Simels

Along the way, director Brian Robbins indulges Reeves in too many laughable inspirational speeches. He also wastes the terrific Diane Lane in the thankless role of the kids' dedicated teacher.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The movie is so littered with clichés of genre, as well as clichés of artifice in Reeves' pained performance, that any semblance of social reality goes foul.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

Wants to be an offbeat, hard-edged, inspirational sports movie, but it misses its target by a country mile.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

The film takes a true story and drags it through a swamp of hyped-up Hollywood cliches.

The average user rating for this movie is 9.6 (out of 10) based on 49 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Chad R. gave it a10:
Hardball is a very important movie to my life. i was amazed when i watched it. its the best movie ever made. I've learned a lot about myself cuz of this movie. and that part where he is talking about G-Babys loss. i don't no who could of done better then him. .. that was the only movie i ever cried in and still do when i watch it.

Destinee B. gave it a10:
This movie is fun to watch...everyday i get home i watch it ....i love g-baby in this movie he is so little but he can be hard at times...and this movie made me cry in a lot of parts...and i think that there should be a hardball 2 with the same characters.....i just lo e this movie a lot.

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
Not where you'd rather see Keanu Reeves, but he doesn't do such a bad job in this one. Occasionally, this movie brings out true drama and the hardships of living in the dark areas of the world.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
There needs to be a hardball 2; the rise of gbaby!!! I LOVE THIS MOVIE. wow so good...makes me laugh at times and cry at others. i love it.

Lomax H. gave it a0:
A pretentious, shamefully trite, paint-by-numbers joke. Giving this movie a rating over zero means you probably lack an opposable thumb.

Rozlyn gave it a 10:
I think this was a wonderful movie. I loved Koffi and Andre, they were so good.

Aiko H. gave it a 10:
I'm japanese, so i can't explain well. when i found this movie at the rental video shop, i wanted to rent this very much! because its title in japanese is so good! "hardball"s japanese title is "the baseball ground in the warming sunshine" don't you think it's very nice? and, story is also good!! i love it!!

Hardball Paramount Pictures

Hardball
Paramount Pictures