Million Dollar Arm. Review on Million Dollar Arm

Million dollar arm is the fourth directorial venture of Craig Gillespie, is an American biographical sports drama film written by Tom McCarthy. The film casts Jon Hamm as Bernstein, Bill Paxton as pitching coach Tom House, Suraj Sharma as Singh, Madhur Mittal as Patel, and Alan Arkin. This time hollywood is trying a new pitch altogether – India its love for cricket and tying with what they know – Baseball.

The film is based on the true story of baseball pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel who were discovered by sports agent J.B. Bernstein after winning a reality show competition. It showcases how the Bernstein went through the phases of life and just when he was about to give up for his business, he discovers something which not only changes his life but also three people from India living an ordinary life.

In order to search for new talent who can pitch the ball to the expectation of the game(baseball), JB movies to India along with scout(Alan Arkin). Here he meets an Indian Translator(Pitobash – Remember, from Shor in the City) who guides him in the entire journey of India. After going through various auditions on various states of India he selects two super talented Rinku Singh(Suraj Sharma – Life of Pi) and Dinesh Patel(Madhur Mittal – Slumdog Millionare) who knows nothing about cricket and more less about baseball, a fact which JB realizes after coming back to America.

USC coach Tom House(Bill Paxton) is responsible for training the duo. However, the film is as much about the training as alienation and loneliness the duo feels in a foreign land. The first half of the movie runs very fast as if the director has so many things to tell. The 2 hour 5 mins movie, shares 40 mins in India is purely a dramatic turn in the second half which is way to slower. Gillespie added more heart in the script by adding an emotional pitch in his sports drama.

Music, by AR Rehman is way above the mark. Gillespie takes his cues from Slumdog director Danny boyle. It perfectly syncs with the screenplay & with such story which is hybrid in nature.

Based on a true story, it's a film about hope, determination, believing in oneself and the importance of the journey as compared to the destination. My ratings 3.5 outta 5!