As a baseball fan since I was 7 (that's 18 years, if you'd like to know), I'm embarrassed that I just got around to this one. But maybe I wasn't ready for it until now. The more age-appropriate baseball films of my era include Angels in the Outfield, Rookie of the Year, and The Sandlot. All of these feature happy endings where the bad guys and good guys get what they deserve. None of them ask tough questions or are true stories.
Eight Men Out does. It's the big boy baseball film and, besides Ken Burns' Baseball, is the best film about the sport. John Sayles is flawless here as a writer, director, and even an actor. John Cusack has never been better and he's surrounded by an impressive group of supporting actors, including Charlie Sheen, D.B. Sweeney, and David Strathairn. Together, they bring the 1919 White Sox to vivid realization and do a remarkable job of exploring the personal and athletic sides of the sport's most notorious scandal. As with the best Ron Howard films, even knowing the outcome can't stop the action from being suspenseful and captivating. Eight Men Out can't lose, even if it's players can.