
Movie spotlight
Pitch
A Canadian documentary featuring two young filmmakers attending the Toronto Film Festival to pitch a film concept to various celebrities. Their film idea, titled "The Dawn", concerns a Mafia don who goes for a hernia operation but gets a sex change instead. During the 1996 Toronto Fest, they approach Roger Ebert, Norman Jewison (at a packed press conference), Eric Stoltz (leaving a limo), Al Pacino, and others without much success. On a roll, they leave Toronto for Hollywood, getting advice from Arthur Hiller and Neil Simon and finding an agent who expresses interest in their pitch.
Insights
Plot Summary
A talented but undisciplined young baseball player, Billy Porter, struggles to overcome his inner demons and a troubled past. With the help of a veteran coach, he attempts to harness his raw talent and make it to the major leagues. The film explores themes of redemption, perseverance, and the challenges faced by aspiring athletes from difficult backgrounds.
Critical Reception
Pitch received a mixed to negative reception from critics, with many finding its narrative predictable and its characters underdeveloped. While some appreciated its attempts to tackle serious issues within a sports drama context, the execution was often criticized for being formulaic and lacking emotional depth. Audience reception was similarly lukewarm.
What Reviewers Say
The film suffers from a predictable plot that treads familiar ground in the sports genre.
Characters are often one-dimensional, making it difficult for audiences to connect with their struggles.
Despite a potentially compelling premise, the execution fails to deliver a truly engaging or impactful story.
Google audience: There is not enough public data to provide a summary of Google user reviews for Pitch (1997).
Fun Fact
While Michael Jai White is known for his extensive martial arts background and later roles in action films, "Pitch" marked an early, non-action-oriented role for him in his career.
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