Love and Baseball

To me this is what indie filmmaking looks like at its best. It's a tender story from the heart told in three parts, a journey from the innocence puppy love to the complications of reality as we age. The themes are timeless, the writing is lovely, and the actors hit it out of the park with beautifully emotional performances.

(And FYI: this film has nothing to do with Love and Basketball other than the similarity in title. There's no appropriation and in fact comes from a diverse Hispanic and white cast & crew.)

The direction is clean and clear, the cinematography is pleasing on the eyes. It's well-crafted. Really charming flick. Thank you to the filmmakers.

I'm old, male, and straight. This movie was definitely not made for me. To be completely honest, I only watched it because I found the lead actress attractive. But surprisingly, I thought it was a pretty good movie. Considering it cost about $20 to make, the leads did a great job with the back and forth dialogue.

A well shot, simple story about the reality of the Hollywood Meet Cute trope. Sometimes in life you swing for the fences and miss but that doesn't mean you don't keep trying. Max Arciniega (Krazy-8 from Breaking Bad) plays against type as Will, a nice guy that who lives his life by the rules of baseball. His chance encounter with Michelle, played adorably by Tate Hanyok has him rethinking if 3 strikes really means you're out or if maybe he should run to first on a dropped strike. Yes, this review has stretched the baseball analogy, but baseball, love, and chance encounters are the thrust of this film. It's a nice story told with a bit of heart by independent filmmakers with a limited budget, but what this movie may lack in Hollywood glitz, it makes up for with earnestness.

I don't like sports or romantic movies. Both genres are so full of tropes they predictable. This movie was neither and followed its own path and steered clear of those tired tropes. It was so refreshing and well done on a shoe string budget. It Was like a play. The relationships between the leads is touching without being too sappy. I absolutely love the neighbors! They remind me of how I grew up and how we grew apart. A gem and well worth the watch. Seems perfect for a film festival. Would watch again..

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I like a good Rom-com... and I love baseball... so yeah, this was made for me. And for you too, if you enjoy sharp dialogue, likable characters, sexual tension, and a genuinely well-crafted story about life, timing, second (and third) chances, and growing up. And oh yeah, there's baseball too. Not an overload, but used wonderfully as metaphors for living.

This is Indie film making at its best. Shot on a shoestring budget using minimal equipment and only two settings, this movie FEELS far larger than the sum of its parts. It's a heartfelt look at two people who meet at the wrong moment, yet share an obvious connection that transcends time and place... and about the paths we take to get where we need to be. Max Arciniega and Tate Hanyok are dazzling together, exchanging witty banter and perfect chemistry... and making audiences fall for them, together and separately, as they call their shot, steal home, and handle the curveballs that life throws at them. Both are wonderful here.

This is a very good movie, and not a scene is out of place. Congrats to Director and EP Steve Acevedo and all involved for this charming little gem. Two thumbs way up and highly recommended. It's a 9th inning home run off a 3-2 count... but do the good guys win? Watch it and find out.