Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

brian_dines "They are the product to be sold", one of the coaches says during the documentary. I don't remember which coach said it about his player, from whom he planned to profit, but it was said nonetheless, and that basically sums up the tenor of this documentary. There really are no heroes or villains in this, except perhaps the Orioles "talent scout" who appears to trigger an investigations into one player's age order to artificially lower the player's value and buffalo the player and his coach into signing on the cheap. It's all just shrugged off as if to say "that's baseball." For the extreme pragmatist, baseball is entertainment and players and their amazing skills provide that entertainment. Players in this system are examined and graded like diamonds and little concern seems to be expended toward their lives beyond the commodity value they can bring to the entertainment business. It's an extremely raw, open and telling dynamic that's on display in this documentary, and it's hard not to see your own work situations in light of what's displayed here.

sbb6592 Is this a joke? Or better yet, is it an example of more MLB collusion like the kind you will see in this well made documentary. Maybe you think I am writing this review with bias as I have just made accusations of collusion and bashed the MLB but all I can say is this is a must watch for a baseball fan, or anyone interested in the business of sports. As you may have heard it follows the lives of two prospects and like a good documentary remains impartial and looks only for facts, and let the narratives play themselves out. They didn't go to the Dominican and just say hey lets shoot a movie about kids playing ball and packed up their shi* and left, they were there for over a year working hard and getting the most honest product they could. Watch this film, phenomenal work, it starts a bit slow as a point of emphasis but you can't stop watching once you get to about 15 minutes in. Please enjoy this extraordinary title and help get its absurdly low rating up to where it belongs. -B

jdesando "It's like when you go and harvest the land, you put the seed in . . . water it . . . and when it grows, you sell it." TrainerBaseball is a simple sport when compared with the complex plays of football or the manic motion of soccer. Ballplayer: Pelotero gives an inside look at the complexity of Major League Baseball's signing 16 year-old players from the Dominican Republic from the point of view of the young players.Jean Carlos Batista and Miguel Angel Sano are hot prospects turning 16 in time to qualify for the July 2 draft in the Dominican Republic. That they are gifted is certified by the number of teams looking carefully at the prospects.The documentary shifts to Angel as MLB is investigating his age, suspecting he may be older than the prime of 16. Because of the poor record keeping in the republic and some notorious faking, the accurate age is the defining issue of this suspenseful doc.While millions of dollars can be involved in the bonus for signing, to sign older than 16 means a decrease in money. Since these boys are coming from poverty, these bonuses are their hopes for elevating their families. Although both are playing pro ball now, their situation in the film as they approach July 2 concentrates on the demands of the leagues and the honesty of the boys' handlers. Ballplayer is one of the best documentaries ever about baseball at its most basic. The filmmakers allow everyone involved to voice their opinions while much of the time they're exposing their ambition or showing their ignorance. For the young recruits, no romantic thoughts about the pursuit of excellence are present—just thoughts of money.Fascinating stuff and the national anthem hasn't yet played!

jft1155 This is an extremely interesting film that is, at times, riveting. Ballplayer: Pelotero offers fascinating insight into what baseball means to children growing up in the Dominican Republic. In this incredibly poor county, there are few ways out of poverty. For the boys that enter into the Dominican baseball farms, baseball offers a way out for them and their families. Unfortunately, many do not make it. These kids are left without an education and thus little chance for a better life. Ballplayer: Pelotero is in many ways an indictment of the how the MLB association treats these poor and desperate kids. I highly recommend this excellent film!