The Final Season (2007)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

David M. Evans

Writers:

Art D'Alessandro (story) &
James Grayford (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

Plot:

Kent Stock disrupts his life to become coach of the Norway High School baseball team and try to lead them to victory.

Plot Keywords:

Coach | Team | Baseball | Baseball Coach | Rural Life

Cast

Sean Astin	...	Kent Stock
Jesse Henecke	...	Principal Halbestrom
Powers Boothe	...	Jim Van Scoyoc
Owen Patchen Evans	...	Owen - The Batboy
Brett Claywell	...	Patrick Iverson
Nick Livingston	...	Kevin Stewart
Roscoe Myrick	...	Sammy Wilson
Alexander Roos	...	Steve Myers (as Alexander 'Sandy' Roos)
Jonathon Stoner	...	Jason Steffen
Christopher Cyronek	...	Brett Griffin
Rob Schemmel	...	Gerry Spitz
Chris Olsen	...	Eddie Fitz
Ric Swann	...	KZIA Radio Announcer
Preston Boothe	...	Brent Fitz
Marshall Bell	...	Harvey Makepeace

MPAA:

Rated PG for language, thematic elements and some teen smoking.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

Company:

Final Season, The

Trivia:

A helicopter used to film a parade scene crashed during production on 30 June 2006. Witnesses said the helicopter was carrying the pilot, a producer and a photographer when it hit power lines and crashed into a field about 10 miles southwest of Cedar Rapids. The cinematographer, Roland Schlotzhauer, was killed in the crash.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first inning of the final game Kevin Stewart # 20 was batting 3rd after # 29 strike out. He came up to the plate. But # 30 Mitch Akers took the swings for him. In the 7th after #29 got hit by the pitch # 20 did bat and tied the game with a hit.

Quotes:

Polly Hudson: Baseball is not just for boys.

Movie Connections:

References First Blood (1982)

Soundtrack:

Big League

It's Not Over Until The Last Bat Swings

There are a lot of harsh reviews on this film, and it is puzzling. Sure the film has a formula feel to it, but considering how it is based on a true story, how could it not follow the standard underdog formula? The film caught the flavor of the David and Goliath aspect from many points. Small town school wins consistently against larger schools at the state champ level, second choice coach filling shoes of veteran favorite coach, town versus state politics, and the list goes on. The movie is entertaining and inspiring--look for those moments. Iowa and baseball go together and the movie captures the importance of baseball to a small town like Norway, Iowa. Sean Astin gives a likable performance as coach Kent Scott. Form your opinion and don't be swayed by the negative reviews. The baseball scenes are worth the watch all in their own.