Friday Five: Million Dollar Arm Edition
I recently had the opportunity to attend a movie screening of Disney’s Million Dollar Arm. It’s been a while since I did a 5Q Friday post but I figured I would try something different and work on a new feature on my blog at the same time. I really enjoyed the movie and all you really need is one reason to go see it and that reason is that it’s a fantastic movie. Ig that’s not enough I will give you five more reasons why you should check it out this weekend or sometime in the near future. Here’ s my Friday Five Million Dollar Arm Edition.
Cricket & Baseball – if you’re a fan of either sport then you will enjoy this movie. I loved it because of the cricket in the movie. I know very little of baseball except that the players make home runs and they have to get on base. I was born in Trinidad and grew up watching Cricket with my father. Although they didn’t focus much on cricket it was nice seeing the sport again and watching all the participants in the Million Dollar Arm contest pitch for a chance to travel to America.
Aasif Mandvi – really did an amazing job in this movie. His character was very funny and relatable. He is the family man in the movie while Jon Hamm (JB Bernstein) is the playboy. He’s the one who takes care of the business matters while JB is in India scouting pitchers. He makes sure they stay on budget and he makes sure their business stays afloat. You’ll enjoy him in this role because it’s not other roles you’ve seen him in before. You can see him in a clip below:
Million Dollar Arm – Film Clip “A Billion New Fans”
Bill Paxton & Alan Arkin both play characters that bring a lot to the movie. Paxton’s character helps coach the boys once they arrive in the U.S. He’s a baseball coach at USC and the boys practice with him and his team daily. Arkin character is the baseball scout that helps find the boys in India as well as help them when things started to look grim with their baseball careers. You can see clips of them below:
Million Dollar Arm – Film Clip “We Might Have to Tweak That”
Million Dollar Arm – Film Clip “Lefty With Juice”
It’s inspiring and really shows what hard work, determination and the willingness to step out on faith can do for someone. The movie did a great job showing how these two young men from rural India who had never left their villages achieved goals they never dreamed up in their life. Lake Bell who plays Brenda, was spectacular as the nurturer of the young men in the movie and she also helps JB realize that he need to grow up seriously. Check her out in some clips below:
Million Dollar Arm – Clip “Your Porche Looks Like a Mini Van”
Million Dollar Arm – Clip “They Need To See You Care”
There’s a love story and it blossoms right before our eyes in the movie. We see the couple grow and become family in more ways than one. It’s a lovely story of how love and family can come from different sources and for anyone who thinks they won’t or can’t find love you see that sometimes what you need it right in your face. I really loved the ending of this movie and I have to say that it was a pleasant surprise to watch it all unfold. It’s even better to know it’s based on a true story. Make sure you stay during the credit to see real photos of the real people. Here’s a few more clips including the “Dreams” featurette that includes an interview with Jon Hamm and some official information about the film. Million Dollar Arm opens nationally today – May 16th.
Million Dollar Arm – Featurette
Million Dollar Arm – Film Clip “Taj Mahal”
Million Dollar Arm – Film Clip “Equipment”
About Million Dollar Arm:
Based on a true story, sports agent JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) finds that business has changed and things aren’t going well for his career. In a last ditch effort to save his livelihood he concocts a scheme to find baseball’s next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a major league baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called “The Million Dollar Arm.” With the help of cantankerous but eagle-eyed retired baseball scout Ray Poitevint (Alan Arkin), he discovers Dinesh (played by Madhur Mittal from “Slumdog Millionaire”) and Rinku (played by Suraj Sharma from “Life of Pi”), two 18-year-old boys who have no idea about playing baseball, yet have a knack for throwing a fastball. Hoping to sign them to major league contracts and make a quick buck, JB brings the boys home to America to train. While the Americans are definitely out of their element in India, the boys, who have never left their rural villages, are equally challenged when they come to the States. As the boys learn the finer points of baseball, JB, with the help of his charming friend Brenda (Lake Bell), learns valuable life lessons about teamwork, commitment and what it means to be a family.
Connect with Million Dollar Arm online:
Website and Mobile Site: www.Disney.com/MillionDollarArm
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MillionDollarArm
Follow us on Twitter: @DisneyPictures
Nickida
Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.
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