Stealing Home

This is one of my all time favorite movies. I'm amazed how so few people have heard of it. It's certainly a hidden treasure and I encourage people to give it a good look. It's very romantic, tragic and funny all at once. I particularly love Katy's character (played by Jody Foster). She is every girl and woman rolled into one...

More movies should be pure enjoyment. They don't have to be great to be enjoyable and this movie with it's nostalgia and adolescent discovery of the wonder of girls is a fun movie. The best part of the movie is the steady friendship between Appleby and Billy Boy. It begins with them and ends with them having matured and yet having not lost their youth. Don't watch this movie as a critique. Watch it as if you are enjoying the popcorn.

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