The Royal

Amin Joseph's eyes express the emotions that simmer beneath a seemingly indifferent reaction to the depths Willie Maes Akins fell, following his winning career with the Kansas City Royals. Addiction is a tough master who accepts nothing less than total devotion and robs a person of ambition to the point of spiriitual death. Portraying such a victim challenges the actor to refrain from exaggerated emotional swings between high and low, between rage and despair. Amin Joseph manages to convey these turbulent mental states quite well. Supporting cast members fulfill their roles realistically; none of them detracts from the attention given to the Akins character. A few more recaps to World Series feats Akins accomplished might have helped the viewer's appreciation of his struggle to maintain a sense of self-worth after the stadium's lights went off, and the public's fickle attention strayed elsewhere. Otherwise, a rewarding experience.

8/10.

Started watching this film because I literally thought it was a parody/comedy of one of those "inspirational" sports movies. My jaw dropped at how every cliché in the history of bad moviemaking had it's box checked. Then there is the "acting" of Amin Joseph. Oh, my, God! Maybe the worst thing ever recorded. The most unnatural and misguided performance ever. Look, I get it, true story, at least based on one. You are supposed to be inspired. But you can't hide behind that and tell people they should be inspired when the movie is this awful. The product has to be watchable. This is only watchable from an MST3K perspective. I was angry at how this director took a story that should have inspired and turned it in to something you had to watch while constantly shaking your head in disbelief. Garbage.