With some anticipation I watched the debut of 61* this weekend on HBO. Admittedly, the production value was quite high, especially for a cable movie. However, the plot felt like a television movie.
Maris hits a homerun, Maris gets criticized in the newspapers and the pressure gets to him. That sequence of events was played, and replayed in the film for the majority of it's running time which made the film painfully predictable and lifeless. Crystal definately knew what the feel of the ballpark should be, and visualized it very well, but where is the artistry in his direction? One example: Towards the end of the film, Maris is staying at the St. Moritz with his wife, it's the last homestand of the season for the Yankee's, and he is describing to his wife the minute difference in hitting a pop fly and hitting a homerun. To me, this was one of the most interesting passages of dialogue in the film. Wouldn't it had been nice to watch Maris at bat, as he describes in VO how it is simply a matter of inches between fouling a ball off, hitting a pop fly, and smashing a home run.
The ending of the film was the most frustrating part because there were so many holes left in the plot. For one, it is never really explained to the audience why it is such a cathartic experience for Maris's wife to watch Mark McGwire break the homerun record. Why does this make her cry? And there is no VO or text about how the Yankee's did in the postseason that year. Mantle was in the hospital, so it would have been up to Maris to lead them in the postseason. Did they make it to the World Series? Did they win? How did Maris do? Did he lead the team to victory? If you're going to spend part of the movie talking about how close the divisional race was between the Yankees and the Tigers you have to at least tell us how the Yankee's finished the season. This is never explained. It is also never said that Maris has yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame. (6 out of 10)
Maris hits a homerun, Maris gets criticized in the newspapers and the pressure gets to him. That sequence of events was played, and replayed in the film for the majority of it's running time which made the film painfully predictable and lifeless. Crystal definately knew what the feel of the ballpark should be, and visualized it very well, but where is the artistry in his direction? One example: Towards the end of the film, Maris is staying at the St. Moritz with his wife, it's the last homestand of the season for the Yankee's, and he is describing to his wife the minute difference in hitting a pop fly and hitting a homerun. To me, this was one of the most interesting passages of dialogue in the film. Wouldn't it had been nice to watch Maris at bat, as he describes in VO how it is simply a matter of inches between fouling a ball off, hitting a pop fly, and smashing a home run.
The ending of the film was the most frustrating part because there were so many holes left in the plot. For one, it is never really explained to the audience why it is such a cathartic experience for Maris's wife to watch Mark McGwire break the homerun record. Why does this make her cry? And there is no VO or text about how the Yankee's did in the postseason that year. Mantle was in the hospital, so it would have been up to Maris to lead them in the postseason. Did they make it to the World Series? Did they win? How did Maris do? Did he lead the team to victory? If you're going to spend part of the movie talking about how close the divisional race was between the Yankees and the Tigers you have to at least tell us how the Yankee's finished the season. This is never explained. It is also never said that Maris has yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame. (6 out of 10)