are you kidding me?

SPOILERS WARNING

For me, this is a small masterpiece. I can understand if someone just didn't like the movie, but some of the reasons on which one could place one's dislike might be merely a matter of how one received it.

Some people might say that the "white guy saves these kids", and while I do think he helped them, I think he was helped by them and also was not the ultimate savior of them all, for, if I'm not mistaken, one of the children gets beat up and another joins a gang, not to mention the child who dies. I think this movie gave an idea of how hard life can be in certain parts of the country.

It may have ended with a "big game," but with that game, it seems there was no emphasis on winning strategy, something which might frequently be given attention in sports-like movies (e.g. the Karate Kid movies, some Rocky movies, not that I'm saying these are bad movies). There was, I would say, some emphasis on strategy in other parts of the film, but by the time the "big game" comes, the emphasis, one could say, has been placed on teamwork and the difference people can make in the lives of those around them.

There was, one could say, a romantic element, but it can come across as slight and something possible in reality. If I'm not mistaken, the teacher doesn't seem too enthused about dating Conor (at least at first),and goes on a date for non romantic reasons, and only displays slim affection by the end of the film.

I liked some of the cinematography of the inside of the Church in the beginning of the movie, of the projects, and of some baseball scenes (including the use of shadow).

I thought there was some really good acting here. I know some might feel that Keanu Reeves was bad here, but I thought he was good and if I'm correct Roeper thought it was a fully realized performance or character.

I liked not only the emphasis on teamwork, but also on working together without being mean (e.g. when Conor said something like, "No one can say anything bad to anybody else on the team).

There is more I can say about the film, but let me just say for me I would perhaps rank it as my favorite film of 2001. But I know a lot of people might have found it only so-so or even bad. To each his own.

You're high. I just watched this movie and it's terrible throughout. Probably Keanu's worst acting in any if his movies. Nothing original or interesting about the story, even John hawkes who is usually good in everything is bad in this. I gave it a 3 being the 2nd worst baseball movie I've ever seen, slightly ahead of benchwarmers.