Most Rewatchable Scene
Mickey Hart’s catch; ninth inning
In the discussion (25)
Approx. transcript time · 00:21:00Read transcript
- The first-inning sequence is nominated, from insisting on Gus as catcher through the confrontation with Sam Tuttle; the manager exchange and J.K. Simmons are praised.
- Access to Chapel's thought process makes the pitching duel compelling, contrasting the hostile Tuttle at-bat with his affection for Birch and comparing the mental approach to Bull Durham.
- Talking aloud on the mound and the dialogue itself are considered devices that should fail but work because they feel convincing.
- The apparent full crowd and grandeur of the old Yankee Stadium are praised, with preference expressed over its replacement.
- The mound dialogue supplies welcome baseball history missing from the romance flashbacks, but the brief moving-out scene leaves the bond with Birch underexplored.
- The masseuse sequence is nominated by both speakers: the suggestive massage, Jane's surprise arrival, his greeting and the masseuse appearing upstairs make the comic situation work.
- The established relationship with the masseuse and immediate response to Jane declining the invitation are considered believable behavior for a professional athlete; the massage timing inspires a happy-beginning joke.
- Chapel discovering the perfect game and Gus's reassurance are nominated; the speech is praised as Reilly's standout scene despite reservations about the rest of his performance.
- A veteran pitcher failing to recognize a perfect game is challenged, especially given teammates avoiding him; the distraction is nevertheless accepted as useful for the scene.
- The manager warming relievers and insisting he needs the game is considered less believable given the team's losing record and the perfect game in progress.
- The attempt to replace Gus before what might be Chapel's final Tigers start is criticized as an implausible prioritization of the backup catcher's at-bats.
- Mickey Hart saving the perfect game is nominated and praised for its payoff, cap acknowledgment and the manager's reaction; the actual catch is criticized as insufficiently athletic.
- Mickey's earlier ball-off-the-head error recalls Jose Canseco, but the depicted Fenway wall is challenged as nonexistent.
- Chapel discouraging Mickey from becoming a media joke is praised as valuable evidence of his generosity as a teammate and as material that should have formed more of the movie.
- Mickey's failed-prospect setup leaves open the possibility that the catch could turn his career around.
- Signing the retirement message on the baseball before the ninth is nominated; the delayed reveal, owner's reaction, manager's exclamation and Scully transition are praised.
- The ninth inning is nominated, but the increasingly spectacular defensive outs culminate in an implausible diving shortstop play against an apparently quick runner.
- A strikeout is proposed as the more fitting final out for the story's individual achievement theme.
- An alternative ending in which the runner is safe and Chapel loses the perfect game is welcomed as interesting, while the filmed achievement remains emotionally effective.
- Scully's climactic commentary is praised, with relief that Steve Lyons recedes from the broadcast late in the game.
- The first dinner is nominated for engrossing badness: the notebook and lip-gloss exchange, awkward kissing question and later yes note create unintentional comedy, while Costner's appeal partly sells the moment.
- The hand-saw accident and hospital sequence are nominated for their excessive drama, especially Jane's outburst, not joining the helicopter and visibly aggrieved reaction.
- The makeup-smashing argument is nominated for unintentional comedy, particularly Chapel's solemn promise to hire a driver.
- Mickey Hart's catch is the final scene choice, with the first inning also strongly praised.
- The ninth inning sealing the perfect game is the other final choice, chiefly for Scully's commentary on baseball history.
