Main Cast: William Russ, Glenn Plummer, Noble Willingham, Jeffrey Tambor, Scott Plank
Release Year: 1991
Country: US
Run Time: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This highly rated independent production was written years before Bull Durham, and though it covers much of the same territory, it is considered worth seeing in its own right. In the story, Roy Dean Bream (William Russ) is too old to be part of his minor-league baseball team's cultural mainstream. In short, he's often ignored, derided, or treated to the worst or last of everything, like any other outcast. Tyrone (Glenn Plummer) is so young that it gives the same teammates who shun Roy the willies and reminds them that they too are getting older -- so he's an outcaste, too. What could be more natural than for these two men to seek one another out. It doesn't matter that the older man is white, the younger is black. They both love the game, and Roy has been around the block a few times and has plenty to teach Tyrone. When the time comes for Roy to be sent to retirement, everyone holds their breaths to see how he will react. It's a pity they didn't get to know him better, or they would know that this kind, generous man wishes them all well. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
Review
Baseball has always had a built-in sense of wistfulness, and the washed-up veteran pitcher is a pretty archetypal representation of that. The subject matter of Pastime is not, therefore, what you would call "new"; even the title recalls the sport's American pastoral origins, and that's far from the only derivative element in the movie. But that doesn't mean Robin B. Armstrong's film doesn't contain a few surprises -- curveballs, if you will. Like the lazy pace of the game itself, Pastime lulls viewers into thinking it's a straightforward, sentimental baseball movie about an aw-shucks minor league pitcher trying to keep his plucky good humor, despite being well past his prime. Much of William Russ' performance as Roy Dean Bream -- what is it about fictitious baseball players named Roy? -- reinforces that stereotype. However, in a couple key scenes, Russ lets loose with anguish and frustration that are far more intense than the usual display for a would-be stoical hero. The choice helps underscore just how professional sports consume their athletes, who in real life are notorious for their many false retirements, a bull-headed confidence in their eroding skills, and compromised dignity. While everything about Russ' performance is likeable, there's a sly element to his character that contradicts audience sympathy -- rooting for him is essentially like rooting for someone to keep deluding himself. The rest of the cast is made up of typical character types -- the brash locker room bully, the crusty old manager, the bottom-line owner -- and as the other clubhouse outsider, Glenn Plummer doesn't make much of an impression. But by virtue of its insightfulness and a few bits of unexpected daring, Pastime is a good enough way to while away a couple hours. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Deirdre O'Connell - Inez Brice; John Achorn - Cal; Aaron Albert - Baseball Player; Darryl Allen - Baseball Player; Ernie Banks - 1st Steamer Fan; Joe Banks - Sliding Base Runner; Mark Benedetto - Bomber Manager; Darin Burton - Baseball Player; Sue Cash - Mrs. Laporte; Richard Cavazos - Baseball Player; Michael Chieffo - Pool Player; Greg Chizek - Baseball Player; Tommy Davidson - Beaned Bomber; Troy Evans - Art; Bob Feller - 1st VFW Man; Chuck Fick - 1st First Base Umpire; Meghan Geary - 1st Catty Woman at Party; Glen Gillespie - Baseball Player; Mary Pat Gleason - Woman at Bar; Ricky Paull Goldin - Hahn; John Homa - Frank; Tony Jaramillo - Baseball Player; Lonnie Kalapp - Baseball Player; Kathryn Kates - Ethel; Harman Killebrew - 2nd VFW Man; David Lyons - Baseball Player; Mike Main - Baseball Player; John Martin - Baseball Player; Bill Mazeroski - 3rd VFW Man; Vince McAllister - Baseball Player; Sy Mogel - 2nd First Base Umpire; Peter Murnik - Simmons; Mike Neil - Baseball Player; Don Newcombe - Flag Raiser; Patrick O'Bryan - Walsh; Tom Pletts - Funeral Director; Brogan Roche - Bomber Pitcher; Reed Rudy - Spicer; Rick Slagls - Baseball Player; Duke Snider - 2nd Steamer Fan; Tony Solis - Baseball Player; Larry Stalhaufer - Baseball Player; Charles Stranski - Elton; Joe Szczepanski - Baseball Player; Charles Tyner - Arnold; Paul Visone - Baseball Player; Sarah Zinsser - 2nd Catty Woman at Party; Don Perry - Drunk Old-Timer; John Jones - Colbeck; Michael Wood - Baseball Player; Chris Allen - Baseball Player; Craig Stark - Bomber Catcher
Credit
Jonathan G. Chambers - Associate Producer, Gerald R. Molen - Co-producer, Kristine Brown - Costume Designer, Robin B. Armstrong - Director, Mark Westmore - Editor, Lee Holdridge - Composer (Music Score), David W. Ford - Production Designer, Tom Richmond - Cinematographer, Robin B. Armstrong - Producer, Eric Tynan Young - Producer, Ellen Totleben - Set Designer, David M. Eyre, Jr. - Screenwriter
