Stars: Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez, Beth Grant, Brian Cox

Director: John Lee Hancock

Summary: Based on a true story of Jim Morris, a thirty-five year high school baseball coach, who retired from baseball because of a shoulder injury, who is persuaded to try out for a major league organisation... Being able to throw a ball at 98 mph soon becomes second nature and the team, with the oldest rookie, finds itself on the way to the Championship.

Every evening, Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) is out practicing pitching. His minor league career ended with a shoulder injury twelve years ago. Now, Jim coaches a struggling high school team. When he tries to motivate them, they challenge him--if they reach the play offs, he must try out for the majors. The team starts to win, and makes the play offs. Not realizing how strong his arm has become, Jim is apprehensive as he sets off for the try outs with his son and baby daughter. The coaches recognize him, but think he has brought a young prospect. Late in the day, as he's changing a diaper, Jim is called. When he throws his first pitch, he surprises the coaches--and himself.
Director John Lee Hancock, director of photography John Schwartzman, and composer Carter Burwell have made a glowing movie based on the true story of Jim Morris, investing it with a touch of myth. Dennis Quaid is convincing as the pitcher. His scenes with Brian Cox, playing his father, bristle with unresolved anger. The great Australian actress Rachel Griffiths shows her extraordinary chameleon-like ability--as Jim's tough-minded wife, she captures perfectly a woman who has to deal with life's practicalities and with her husband's dreams.

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Jim Morris, the real-life hero of The Rookie, has an inspirational story all but guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face. Blessed with an awesome fastball, Morris nursed dreams of pitching for Major League Baseball during his 20s; injuries and bad luck, however, forced him to give up hope and become a teacher and coach. Years later, pressed by students and colleagues to try out for "the Show" one more time, Morris discovered he still had a powerful arm, and he was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Rookieis at its best throughout this first chapter in Morris's mid-life adventure, though the rest of the film finds fresh angles on more familiar baseball-movie conventions. Dennis Quaid is soulful and charismatic as Morris, perfect in his depiction of a man both thankful and startled that destiny has given one of the good guys his due. --Tom Keogh

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Audio Commentary With John Lee Hancock And Dennis Quaid, 7 Deleted Scenes
Year:	2002
Release Date:	August 18, 2003
Runtime:	123 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B E D 888821
Keywords:	General, Rookie, Drama
Genre:	Drama