HARD BALL

US, 2001, 106 minutes, Colour.
Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane, John Hawkes, D.B.Sweeney, Mike Mc Glone.
Directed by Brian Robbins.

Now it's Keanu Reeves' turn to step into the line of reluctant movie coaches who have been forced to take on a team of awkward kids who can't pitch or hit a baseball for love or money and turn them into champions while being redeemed in the meantime. From Bad News Bears to Mighty Ducks, we now have the Kekambas on a housing estate in Chicago where chronic gambler Reeves (pursued by bone-breaking bookies) is forced to coach them for a local baseball competition. These Kekambas are tough cookies (and sound it) and live in dangerous apartment blocks where you have your meals on the floor to avoid stray bullets - which, of course, one of the most lovable Kekambas does not avoid.

While we know the outcome, it is watching how it happens that counts. Reeves tries to be agreeable and often is. Diane Lane is the local teacher. There is a lot of baseball, a lot of gambling, and everything turns out OK at the end.

1. The popularity of baseball coaching films, the long Hollywood tradition? The reluctant coach, the team that seems hopeless, the coach being redeemed, the team learning to win and work with each other? This film as a 21st century variation on the theme?

2. The Chicago locations, the betting shops, the offices, the schools, the Projects, the playing fields, the suburbs? Authentic? The musical score and the range of songs - as background to the team and the area of the city?

3. The title, the focus on baseball, its American popularity, the rest of the world? The baseball sequences? Losing, Miles and his pitching, winning? Boys' baseball and its preparation for adult baseball?

4. Conor O'Neill and his being in church, praying? Addicted to betting, his going to the bookies, their threatening him, his running away? Phoning in his bets? Continually losing? His friendship with Ticky Tobin and his making connections with the bookies? The later bookies, his code number, phoning in the bets, risking the money? Winning - and then going off the betting? How well did the film show betting addiction?

5. Conor and his living alone, his not depending on anyone, his chip on the shoulder? Friendship with Ticky? Going to his friend Jimmy for money?

6. Jimmy offering Conor the job, coaching, $500 a week? The pro-bono work by executives in coaching the kids from the Projects? Jimmy being away?

7. Conor and his meeting the kids, the tension between them, the Kekambas and their place in the league? The reaction to Conor? Getting to know them, their different personalities? Age, experience? The tough Project, Conor visiting the homes - and people having their meal on the floor to avoid the stray bullets?

8. The presentation of the kids and their different personalities, Miles and his capacity for pitching, his needing to be listening to his headset, banned, according to the rules, from listening? The boys whose mothers forbade them to play, their being reinstated, the promise that they would do their schoolwork? Baby G and his being a negotiator, his being the wise commentator on the situations? Doing deals about his brother Kofi and negotiating with Conor? His playing, his contribution to the game - the sadness of his being shot by the bullet?

9. The matches, the coaches and the head of the league, their looking down on Conor and the Kekambas, their invoking strict rules? Conor's reaction? Their jealousy of Miles and his skills?

10. Conor meeting Elizabeth Wilkes, going to the school, her lessons, his having to read the book, the discussions in the classroom about reading? His visiting the parents, his promising to coach the children in their reading? Her knowing the truth about him? Inviting her out, the gambling, her leaving? Her later giving him the job, his succeeding as physical education instructor?

11. The ups and downs of the team, Connor and his own personal worries, reaction to Elizabeth, to Jimmy, to the boys? His paying off his debts? His speaking at Baby G's funeral, his inspiring the boys with the spirit of winning?

12. The Kekambas and their wanting Conor to continue with them, to play, the championship, their victory? The fulfilment of the American Dream?