Movie spotlight
American Pastime
American Pastime tells a poignant story set against the Japanese-American internment camps during World War II. Rounded up and uprooted from their everyday lives, they remained loyal to the United States and ironically turned to that most American of sports - baseball - as a way to deal with their plight.
Insights
Plot Summary
In 1950s Arizona, a high school baseball team is forced to integrate Black players onto their roster. Coach Billy DESANTIS struggles with the changing times and the prejudices of his players and the community. The team must overcome their biases and learn to play together to achieve success on the field.
Critical Reception
American Pastime received a mixed to positive reception from critics and audiences. While some praised its themes of overcoming prejudice and its performances, others found the narrative to be somewhat predictable and conventional for a sports drama.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its message of racial harmony and sportsmanship.
Some viewers found the storyline to be somewhat formulaic.
Performances, particularly from the younger cast, were often highlighted.
Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's positive message about integration and teamwork, finding it to be an inspiring story. However, a segment of reviewers felt the plot was not particularly original.
Fun Fact
The film was shot on location in St. George, Utah, with the baseball stadium built specifically for the movie.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources