42
42 is one of the movies not to miss this week as the true story of Jackie Robinson is brought to the big screen.
The movie sees Brian Helgeland in the director's chair, while Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford are on the cast list.
To celebrate the release of 42 this week, we take a look at some of the best baseball films that have graced the big screen over the years.
- The Natural
The Natural hit the big screen back in 1984 and was an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Bernard Malamud.
The movie follows the story of Roy Hobbs as he rose through the baseball ranks, but also the troubles he faced along the way.
Robert Redford took on the central role of Hobbs, while Barry Levinson was in the director's chair.
The Natural is a movie about success and failure, and is widely regarded as one of the best baseball movies of all time.
Levinson is grand in is themes and he is not afraid to throw in a good measure of sentimentality.
- Field of Dreams
In 1989 Kevin Costner lead the cast in Field of Dreams; a movie that was a mix of baseball, fantasy and family.
This is one of my personal favourite baseball movies as it is like any other film in this genre.
Phil Alden Robinson was in the director's chair for the film and he delivered a movie that was engaging and moving.
Not only is this one of the best sports movies ever made, but it is also one of the best father/son movie; this central relationship really is the most touching.
Field of Dreams went on to be nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.
- Moneyball
Moneyball is the most recent baseball movies to hit the big screen as Bennett Miller made only his second feature film as director; this was the follow up to Capote.
The film saw Miller team up with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill for the biopic film that follows Billy Beane and his unconventional way of bringing together a competitive baseball team.
This is an incredibly intelligent movie that is engaging and incredibly well written
Pitt and Hill are fantastic in their central roles and their relationship really does push the film forward; not to mention it gives the film some of its best comedic moments.
Moneyball was one of the best movies of 2011 and went on to be nominated for six Oscars; including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
- A League Of Their Own
A League Of Their Own celebrated its twentieth anniversary last year - yes, it really was 1992 when this hit the big screen.
Directed by Penny Marshall, the movie followed two sisters who joined a baseball team during World War II when there was a shortage of male players.
It's fair to say that there are not many female baseball films and A League Of Their Own really is terrific.
But this is as much a film about the characters as it is about baseball, as Marshall looks at sibling rivalry, personal demons and the impact of war.
There is something incredibly old-fashioned about this film and that is what gives it a real charm.
- Bull Durham
We have already looked at one baseball movies starring Kevin Costner, but now we look at a second.
Bull Durham hit the big screen in 1989 and saw Costner team up with director Ron Shelton: who also penned the screenplay for the film.
The movie follows three lives that are brought together by baseball; Costner takes on the role of player Crash Davis.
You can see that writer and director Shelton has a real affection for this sport, while he also creating some truly fascinating characters; Susan Sarandon is just terrific.
Other movies to check out include Bang the Drum Slowly, The Pride of the Yankees and Eight Men Out.
42 is released 13the September.
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