Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

not as good as all the hype

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Ihave watched this movie many times and I am always amazed at the story and the acting ability of Keanu Reeves. This movie shows the desperation and gritty side of living in the projects. This story could take place in any city with projects. It is heart warming tin showing the ability to show up no matter your circumstances. Keanu plays a lost person with no purpose in life but gambling and drinking. When he starts coaching a kids baseball team to help pay off his gambling debts, he transforms into loving the kids and finds a purpose in life. Keanu acting is marvelous. Love this movie. Worth watching over and over. Keanu is a special and great actor. Love his movies.

An aimless young man (Keanu Reeves) who is scalping tickets, gambling and drinking, agrees to coach a Little League team from the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago as a condition of getting a loan from a friend.Keanu Reeves's performance in "Hardball" earned him a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actor (also for "Sweet November"), but he lost the award to Tom Green for "Freddy Got Fingered". Interestingly, I see "Freddy" as a misunderstood masterpiece... and hardly think Reeves is bad in "Hardball" (whereas "Sweet November" is just a bad movie).One could complain that this film has the "white savior" problem, with a white man saving the lives (figuratively) of an all-black team. I did not have that issue. There are some familiar plot devices, but all in all it is an enjoyable movie... one that maybe should be re-examined.

This film moved me the first time I watched it years ago and after watching again the same aspects got me, specifically the scene with Jefferson making the trip home alone. You can critique the message, realism and accuracy with this film all you want but it takes a cold hearted person to not get emotional watching that boy scared, struggling for breath! The timing was perfect, acting from the kids was gritty and thankfully avoided coming across as 'too scripted' with great support from Keanu, I say support as for me the kids stole the show.This film scores higher than similar titles such as 'Coach Carter' as the young actors do a great job of sucking the viewer in while you believe the down on his luck, addictive portrayal from Keanu.If you're taking the time to read this review typed up at 2.16am then you might want to check out 'Radio' and 'Remember the Titans' for similar films.

Now here's a little forgotten gem of a film that had the misfortune, or shall I say audacity, of being released on September 14th, 2001, only three days after the day the world changed forever.It is mostly this misfortune to blame for the fact that this adorable little sports film is mostly overlooked and unappreciated. It's a shame, though, as Keanu Reeves really shines as a lost soul who gets to coach a team of Little League baseball players by mere chance. Dealing with mostly African American kids from the projects of Chicago is never an easy thing to do, but through some clichés and many true moments of genius, Reeves's character manages to find himself again. Oh, and you'll really fall in love with Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Papa" after seeing this tear jerker (and yes, I know it sounds lame, but I still felt obligated to mention this).Enjoy!