Film Review: Eight Men Out (1988)

Few things tell about Hollywood’s increased dependence on international markets like the lack of baseball films. America’s national pastime is, with few exceptions, unknown or ignored in the rest of the world. That means that baseball-related film can make money only in US market, with numbers simply not enough to make it profitable, at least for major Hollywood studios. And this is quite a pity, because baseball happens to the most film-friendly of all team sports. This includes even films where the most important action happens outside the field, like in the case of Eight Men Out, 1988 period drama written and directed by John Sayles.

The film is based on the best-selling book by Eliot Asinof, an account of the most infamous scandal in the history of American professional sports. The plot begins in 1919, when Chicago White Sox is considered the best baseball team in history and widely expected to easily win World Series. Unfortunately, its owner Charles Comiskey (played by Clifton James) finds various ways to pay the players as little as possible, making them frustrated, humiliated or, like in the case of ageing Eddie Cicotte (played by David Strathairn), concerned for their financial future. This proves to be excellent opportunity for professional gamblers, including influential gangster Al Rothstein (played by Michael Lerner). Players are approached and offered large amounts of money to throw away the games; some agree, while some, like Buck Weaver (played by John Cusack), refuse but remain silent about the whole affair. Even before World Series starts, odds suddenly start to turn against the Sox and, later, many star players begin to make conspicuously large number of errors on the field, frustrating their manager Kid Gleason (played by John Mahoney). Players not involved in the fix try to win, and even some of those involved contemplate playing well only to receive threats on their lives and their families. Chicago White Sox ultimately lose the World Series, and, later, sports journalists Hugh Fullerton (played by Studs Turkel) and Ring Lardner (played by John Sayles) publish articles revealing the conspiracy. Players are brought to trial and declared innocent, but Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis (played by John Anderson), newly appointed Major League Baseball commissioner issues controversial decision banning them for playing in major leagues for the rest of their lives.

Adaptation of Asinof’s book was passion project for John Sayles, who originally wanted Martin Sheen to star and himself in the role of the players. The years have passed and Sayles grew too old to act as player and had to settle with minor, but important role of Lardner. Behind the camera, Sayles showed great skill. He had little budget but he had put it in good use; like in his previous film Matewan he successfully recreated long gone era with proper use of period costumes and props. His work is especially good in the scenes recreating the infamous World Series games, during which carefully used dozens of extras to portray thousands of spectators at baseball stadiums. Cinematographer Robert Richardson adds a lot to film’s atmosphere by combining warm colours and dark tones to make audience both appalled by corruption and nostalgic towards the era. Mason Daring provides good music, supplemented by period hits, including jazz standard “After You’ve Gone” which serves as theme song and ironic comment on the fate of eight unfortunate players.

The audience would, on the other hand, pay much more attention on the actors, although Eight Men Out doesn’t feature stars in traditional sense. Baseball is a team sport and Sayles, trying to remain true to its spirit, turns this film into ensemble piece. There are plenty of great actors in small but memorable roles, but some of those roles are more memorable than others. Sayles gives focus to Cusack and D. B. Sweeny, who plays illiterate “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, arguably the most tragic figure among scandal participants. Charlie Sheen, who plays Happy Felsch, is almost unnoticeable. Great Chicago character actor John Mahoney, on the other hand, enjoys opportunity to be on equal terms with major stars by playing manager who desperately tries to remain straight.

Eight Men Out is very good film, but it has one major flaw. It is the subject, which is unknown for most non-Americans or even younger generations of Americans in the era when baseball lost much of its previous popularity. To properly enjoy this film, viewer should be familiar not only with the game, its rules and Major League Baseball but with the scandal itself. The event was part of American popular culture (and was, among other things, referenced in The Godfather Part II and Field of Dreams a year after this film). Those unfamiliar with it will be at odds to understand it and Sayles doesn’t help with the script that doesn’t try to explain complicated conspiracy which featured rival sets of gamblers. The ending is rushed and doesn’t try to show why banning “Black Sox” was the source of controversies that last to this day. Sayles, known for his strong left-wing views, used the plot as another opportunity to paint the dark picture of modern America, showing that even in the seemingly innocent sphere of professional sports working class gets brutally exploited and manipulated by greedy capitalists. On the other hand, those are familiar with the subject are likely to appreciate the film as good reconstruction of history.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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