Trouble with the Curve
2012
*½
Director: Robert Lorenz
Cast: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Matthew Lillard, Jack Gilpin, Robert Patrick, Scott Eastwood, Ed Lauter, Chelcie Ross
In his late stage acting career, Clint Eastwood has specialised in playing grumpy old men who get to prove the validity of their old school ways. This time he plays an aging baseball scout whose career is about to come to an end due to his failing eye-sight and outdated methods. While he must review a top prospect, his estranged daughter reenters the picture. Randy Brown's awful script compels me to feel sorry for this curmudgeon, because he is crying on the grave of his late wife who died 28 years ago and he may now be forced into early retirement in his 80s by the Moneyball men. Robert Lorenz's directorial debut is a boring and painfully predictable crowdpleaser. While the performances are decent, the characters are all painted with broad strokes.
