Memórias Secretas

Athletes often face a rough mid-life period as their skills diminish and their careers wind down, since their sport so defines who and what they are. This topic has great potential for drama and poignancy, yet few good films have been made on the subject. This movie has a beautifully sad central love story, with aging minor league ballplayer Billy Wyatt (Mark Harmon) remembering the (then) older woman who inspired him so many years before (Jodie Foster), and trying to come to terms with the route his career and life have taken. So, he returns to his hometown, connects with his high school best friend (Harold Ramis) and starts looking into his past for answers, while much of the film plays out in flashback, recounting his bittersweet teen years, when everything was ahead of him but his own goals and motivations were elusive. What makes the film watchable is the complexity of the central relationship, as the mature Billy realizes that the most important woman in his life arrived when he was too young to appreciate her.

The movie is quite beautiful to look at with its clean-scrubbed view of small town life and high school sports, and the characters are engaging to follow. This is not a great movie by any means. Like Billy Wyatt himself, this one just misses hitting the major leagues, but it IS enjoyable in a low key way, and the lack of interesting movies on this potentially interesting subject makes it a bit special.

This is one that I have in my collection at home that is one of my favorites. Those that I have loaned it to love it also. Jodie Foster was incredible as was the rest of the cast. It was a very sweet story and only wish it had received more recognition.

Stealing Home is one of the most underrated films of recent memmory. The inherent simplicity, interesting story lines and compelling character strengths convey a sense of nostalgia while at the same time testify to a strong line of family. The proponents of the critical acclaim of this film will assert that the flashbacks are convoluted, the character development flawed and the ending cliched and predictable. However, this is a film that succeeds on all levels. Mark Harmon plays a present day (1987) ballplayer whose professional career has been characterized by a series of failures and challenges, allegedly fueled by the suicide of a babysitter and family friend, Katie Chandler. (Jodie Foster) Foster's character is capricious and carefree in her approach to her own life and encouraging to Harmon's character, Billy Wyatt. The young Wyatt emerges as a unique talent with a flair for the game which is only precipitated as he ages. The unforeseen circumstance with his father (John Shea) and the complication with his AAA-ball experience fuel his dismay and disgust with his passion. Billy remarks throughout the film that "Katie was the one who reminded him that he was a ballplayer" and this holds true until the very end when he is reunited with his true love and passion. The imagery in the frequent flashbacks is very satisfying and the story line from start to finish is convincing. Harmon, Foster and Shea are a strong ensemble and the film overall is bittersweet, nostalgic and above all, heartwarming.

Unlike what most people think, Stealing Home is not a remake or a retelling of the Summer of 42. It is in fact, something better and just as universal. A coming of age drama, besides moments of sexual matter, is a decent movie for any mature (13+) audience. In my opinion, Silverman's character takes away from the main story between Jodie Foster and Thacher Goodwin. For mere comic relief, Silverman could have had more of if not equal amount of character development. Instead, he pops in and out of the main characters life to tell a joke or two. All in all, a good movie. An like always, Jodie Foster is the forever princess of innocence

Stealing Home is a beautiful, moving, little picture, that will touch your heart. Fuelled by an amazing soundtrack and terrific performances by Mark Harmon, Jodie Foster, and esp William McNamara this is one film to definitely watch again and again.

Harmon plays the adult Billy Wyatt, who at the beginning of the film is a washed up former ballplayer, but a phone call with devastating news about the death of his former paramor cum babysitter Katie Chandler forces Billy to return home grow up and decide what to do with her ashes. Through flashbacks we learn about Katies free spirited life and her complex relationship with a young then a teenaged Billy.

This movie is one my all time favorites and after seeing it it should be yours too.