 |
|||
 |
 |
||
 | |||
 | |||||||||||
|
|
Starring Tom Selleck. As I screened Mr. Baseball, I was supposed to laugh uncontrollably at Tom Selleck's character, an American ballplayer languishing in the Japanese League, the proverbial fish out of water, or what the Japanese normally call dinner. I was suppose to laugh until I cried upon seeing Selleck using the whirlpool before he showered, having to ask others how to use the toilets, and at how much trouble he was having communicating with his manager because of the language barrier. Supposed to, but didn't.To me, a films humor should come from quirky characters, comical situations, or well-written lines of dialogue; a films humor should not, under any circumstances, come entirely from the notion that one country's culture is different than America's self-proclaimed bastardized culture. Initially Mr. Baseball seemed different. Having never seen a well-funded look at another culture not shown on PBS, I wasn't quite sure what I was seeing with the first reel, and thought it was possible I was watching just that. However, just as I began to respect what director Fred Shepisi was trying to accomplish, Mr. Baseball's characters started falling right into line with the stereotypical American look at Japanese people I had expected in the first place. Mr. Baseball is the story of Selleck, an aging American baseball player (think Cal Ripken minus the streak), who is traded to Japan. Ignoring the fact that this could never happen, Selleck travels to Japan and begins to play baseball. However, as any sports fan could tell you, the American pastime is played slightly differently on that side of the Pacific. Since the principle of 'saving face' is a cultural pillar in Japan, baseball games are played to be tied, not won, or lost. This is an intriguing notion, and by intriguing I mean idiotic, to any competitive American athlete--nobody plays to tie, that was precisely why extra innings and overtime were created in the first place. So, like a spoiled NBA point guard, Selleck, upset that he agreed to play in Japan in the first place, yells at his manager, pouts around the clubhouse, and generally is looked at as a gaijin, roughly translated to mean: loud, uncultured American who doesn't like to eat raw fish or drink tea nine times a day. Finally, Selleck and his manager come to an understanding, everybody makes up with everybody, Selleck's team wins the big game, and I drop to my knees with something resembling the dry heaves. What aggravated me the most about Gary Ross, Kevin Wade, and Monte Merrick's script, was the way in which Selleck, while in America playing for the Yankees, was the consummate professional: respectful of others, and respected throughout the organization. As he journeys eastward though, these qualities are completely lost. Miserable about the fact that he accepted an opportunity to play in Japan, Selleck becomes a player so misguided and unprofessional that he begins to remind you of a rookie running back named Enis, but I digress. Mr. Baseball's cast, which can also be seen in Rising Sun and Black Rain, is passable, with Major League's Dennis Haysbert turning in a fairly solid performance as another American ball player in Japan, but the overall quality of this production is weak. The script does not delve into the story of Selleck living abroad, as did The Year of Living Dangerously, or even Anthony Edwards' college farce, Gotcha. I wasn't given many new insights into Japanese culture, and still got the feeling that when Japanese characters were talking to Selleck about their country's history, the screenwriting trio also intended for them to be lecturing the viewer. The only comfort I received from screening Mr. Baseball was now knowing that if the Chunichi Dragons ever call me, looking for a second baseman, I will be sure in my decision to turn them down.
|
| |||||
