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This is an incredibly accurate depiction of the story of NY Yankees Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris' race to the home run title during the 1961 baseball season. It's a factual account of the anti-hero rising above all odds to place their mark in history. Billy Crystal, a prolific baseball fan, did a marvelous job of directing, producing, researching and casting the film. The resemblances of actors Thomas Jane and Barry Pepper to Mantle and Maris is spot-on. The mannerisms and demeanor of both players is also accurately captured by Jane and Pepper - Mantle, the self proclaimed womanizing boozer and Maris, the soft-spoken mid-western boy next door. The film, as far as I can tell, is seemingly more fact than fiction. For those who may be unaware, the asterisk behind 61 was intentional (and controversial) as the record was broken in a longer playing season than the 1927 season in which Babe Ruth established the single-season record at 60 home runs - much like the asterisk Mark Ecko had affixed to Barry Bonds' record home run ball. (That's a sore spot with me but another subject entirely). The special features on the DVD are as captivating as the film itself and include a pre-steroid era interview with Mark McGwire. I highly recommend it as essential in any movie collection, but especially for any baseball fan.Read full review
As a Yankees fan, it's nic eto see a tory bring to life the heroes that we idoloze daily. Part of being a great Yankees fan is appreciation of the history of the greatest pro sports franchise ever. Billy Crystal did an amazing job, I still can't believe how anyone can walk away from this film and not feel a part of the history. Authentic in appearance, very personal into the players private lives, moving, hearwarming, genuine. Strong story, great acting, Barry Pepper deserves an Oscar. An instant classic. Too bad "Pride Of the Yankees" was already taken, that would have been a great name for this one.
I was there. I attended the September series in Detroit and went to one of the games. My family stayed in the same hotel as the Yankee Team did and I have a baseball autographed by 20 of the team members. This film is MY history as well as baseball history. All the players in 1961 were gentlemen, wore coats and ties in public at all times and loved to sign autographs even in the hotel lobby. They were the real deal, not like today's primadonnas. Billy did a fabulous job with the movie and this 1 hour story about it all was incredible. I loved that almost better than the movie. When he sat next to Mickey on the Dinah Shore show that was tremendous. The way he tied the past with the present was incredible. Tiger Stadium was great for the movie. Thank you Billy. Thank you. BobRead full review
I loved this movie. This movie is the greatest baseball film of all time. I was too young to know have watched Mickey Mantle or Roger Maris. But being a Yankee fan since 1970, I remember the original Yankee Stadium. The old stadium existed until 1973 when it was refurbished ready for the 1976 season. However I remember the old stadium and it looked exactly like the one in the movie. This movie magically transforms you to the year 1961. This movie is about the great home run chase to break Babe Ruth's single season home run record of 60. This was when baseball was really fun. You didn't have the mercanary for hire players like you do today. These were steroid free true to life modest heroes who were very down to earth. Maris wasn't liked by the media because he wasn't controversial but yet a very humble family man. Mickey Mantle was a fun loving ballplayer who was also a humble man embarrassed by the press. Mantle did his carousing around because he had osteomylitis from being kicked in the shins in as a sophomore in a high school football game. He couldn't serve after being drafted to serve in Korea because of this. He also blew out his knee after stepping on a drain while trying to cover center to help Joe DiMaggio in the 1951 world series. DiMaggio didn't call in time so Mantle had to hold up and tore his knee. Despite the injuries, Mantle was the king of the long distance tape measure home run. His home runs were monumental as they traveled high and far as any jet in flight. He holds the all time home run records for world series homers. He himself is the launcher of the "Missiles of October" as he hit 18 home runs in the world series. Despite Mantle having it all, his drinking started as his fear of dying as every male relative in his family had died young. Mantle never lived up to his great potential as he could hit with power from both sides of the plate, run with lighting fast speed, hit for average, throw for great distances, and was a great fielder. If Mantle were healthy for his entire career, then steroid freak Barry Bonds would still be chasing Mantle's records. Here in 61* we see Mantle's charisma and down to earth humor. Though Maris was portrayed as cold and gray by the media, producer Billy Crystal does an excellent job showing his humble and warm family lifestyle that he so loved. We also see how the press and the baseball commissioner at the time, Ford Frick, may have been envious and jealous of Mantle and Maris. The only real injstice here is the portrayal of Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra. I personally have met both men and they are very warm and humorous. Michael Anthony Hall was a credible Ford but doesn't have the true charisma and wit that Ford does. We don't get to see the funny Berra who along with Casey Stengels made hilarious malaprops. It made being a Yankee fan fun at the time as it still holds somewhat true today. This one should be in every Yankee fan's library. Whether you're a Red Sox fan or just a baseball fan, it's a very fun movie to watch. It'll make Red Sox fans watching it hate the Yankees even less. I have to admit as I'm a Thomas Jane fan as the Punisher is one of my favorite movies of all time. If you're a comic book fanatic, you should also check out the Punisher. I actually was on the set of the Punisher as my cousin Johnny lives in Tampa. I have a few autographs of Jane that he autographed. Let's hope that he's the next big action adventure hero as he is a very nice guy.Read full review
This movie was originally shown on HBO years ago. If you grew up around the time of Maris and Mantle, this is one of the best baseball movies ever. It has a tremendous amount of baseball in it with a great story line as well. I was a Maris fan from way back and actually obtained a real autograph of Maris when I was a kid. I also lived in Dallas as a kid and actually drove past Mantle's house often. Anyway, it's a great way to relive the rivalry and remember when baseball was baseball with fewer teams, fewer players, and no steroids. This is a movie you will enjoy seeing over and over.
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