5. Bottom of the 9th
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'Bottom of the 9th' is a 2019 film starring Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara. Its title in the UK is 'A Second Chance'. Here's the Wikipedia page.
Joe Manganiello plays Sonny Stano, a former baseball prospect who's just been released from prison after a long sentence after he killed somebody. It turns out the killing was an accident but he was still responsible. Several times in the film Sonny regrets being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Sonny finds himself living in his old neighbourhood in the Bronx in his recently deceased mother's apartment. He needs to find work, and starts off in a fish packing business. Before too long he reconnects with his former coach (played by Michael Rispoli). He also reconnects with his former girlfriend Angela (Sofia Vergara), who is a single mother. Angela's police officer cousin isn't too pleased about this, because Sonny is an ex-con.
As he gets back into baseball, helping out with coaching, it turns out against all odds that Sonny still has 'the goods'. In this case that means he is a good batter, with an ability to read the different kinds of balls a pitcher is going to throw. The coach decides to sign Sonny for the team, and at the age of 38 he is back playing pro ball against all odds (albeit in a minor league).
The team and the community are against him at first because he is an ex-con and he killed somebody. The brother of the young man Sonny killed hounds him throughout the film. Sonny's parole officer (played by Denis O'Hare) is the cynical type but helps keep Sonny on the straight and narrow. Sonny tries really hard to stay on the straight and narrow.
At the end of the film just before a big game Sonny gets beaten up by the brother of the young man he killed and a couple of goons. Against all odds he makes it to the stadium just in time and manages to hit a winning ball against all odds despite being in really bad shape. Then the credits roll.
This film has a small feel, almost like a TV movie. In real life Joe Manganiello is the same age as me. He's playing a slightly younger man, and the bits about him being washed up at 38 stung a bit, but who am I kidding I'm not going to be a pro ball player. Also Joe Manganiello is in considerably better shape than I am.
Joe Manganiello isn't the best actor in the world and I hope he doesn't mind me saying that but he does a really good job portraying a man who has come to terms with what he did, regrets it, and wants to try hard to make his life better in an honest way. Despite being a big and very fit man, he plays Sonny as really, scrupulously gentle.
Sofia Vergara is a really good actor. She is probably the best part of the film. Sonny and Angela's relationship feels authentic.
The baseball bits are fine. Again, fairly small, but well observed. In inspirational sports film terms this is the story focused on an ageing athlete who comes good against all odds (like Bull Durham, or The Natural) more than it's focused on the team. Several satisfying genre bits are there. Sonny helps the impetuous rookie out with his wisdom and expertise. The team and local community warm to Sonny because he is good at baseball. The racist opposition pitcher gets his comeuppance. There's the pivotal scene in the empty stadium where the coach persuades Sonny to come back to playing against all odds.
Ultimately it's a minor film and a familiar story. It's well realised within its parameters, and Sofia Vergara is really good in it.
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