THE MILLION DOLLAR ARM

US, 2014, 124 minutes, Colour.
Jon Hamm, Pitobash, Suraj Sharma, Madhur Mittal, Aasif Mandvi, Darhsan Jariwala, Lake Bell, Alan Arkin, Bill Paxton, Gregory Alan Williams, Tzi Ma.
Directed by Craig Gillespie.

The Million Dollar Arm is based on a true story. It is an Indian story – one of the few films made by an American company going on location in India.

It is a baseball story, focusing on two entrepreneurs who have fallen on bad times financially with their companies. The idea is to go to India, have a competition to find young men who can pitch very fast, bringing them to the United States, so that they could be employed by the Major League. The idea that Indians can pitch very fast comes from their capacity to bowl at cricket – with some derogatory remarks about this sport.

Jon Hamm, best known for Mad Men, goes to India, exasperated by the noise, the honking of horns ends, the lack of instant efficiency, while his partner, Aasif Mandvi, married with children, stays at home.

The idea of the competition with its million dollar pricetag captures the imagination of the Indian media which promotes it extensively. The group tours India, holding local sessions which are generally failures. However, two young men stand out and off they go to the United States. They are played by Suraj Sharma (Umrika) and Madhur Mittal (Slumdog Millionaire). Indian comedian, Pitobash, plays a would be coach. Alan Arkin has a role as a seemingly always-asleep talent scout and Bill Paxton is the coach in America.

Jon Hamm’s next door neighbour is played by Lake Bell, a welcome presence, someone who can relate well to the Indian men – and bring John Ham out of his compulsive business approach.

It is a great surprise to find that the screenplay was written by Tom Mc Carthy, the actor, writer and director, best known for such films as the Station Agent, The Visitor, Win Win and Spotlight.

1. The sports story, the success story?

2. Disney backing and distribution, the Disney style film – but stronger?

3. A baseball film, American baseball, extending the popularity, to India?

4. Sports, competitiveness, underdogs, training, basic, success?

5. The true story, the actual photos at the end?

6. The title, the promotion idea, the competition in India, the pitch, the television coverage, the popularity, the payment of $1 million?

7. Audience knowledge of baseball, pitching, catching? The touch of the derogatory about cricket?

8. JB and Ash, the company, on their own, financially failing, getting star basketballers, the plan, the interview, the demand for a $1 million, the player going to the rivals, his success, advertisements, change of heart, wanting to go back to JB, at the party, talking, JB called away for the Indians – and losing the contract?

9. The idea about India, commercial, cultural, the Indian public, the response to sport, television coverage, the leaflets and distribution?

10. JB’s character, Jon Hamm and his television reputation for Mad Men, a loner, models as girlfriends, hard at business, very American in approach, the collaboration with Ash, Ash, his ambitions but contrasting with JB? Ash, married, the twins, at home, the sick babies, his wife, yet his ambition?

11. JB going to Tom House, the discussing of the possibilities about training? Mr Chang, discussions, the deal, the time limit?

12. Employing Ray, his expertise, availability, forever going to sleep, yet hearing the speed of the pitch, the choices, his not seeming interested, his contribution to the choices and then leaving? Later contact, the coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates, his help? Success?

13. JB arriving, the images of India, Mumbai, the chaos, the crowds, the rush, the taxi and honking? Arriving at the office, the wrong day? Issues of promises? Going to the factory, the deals, in the streets rather than the factories, getting the T-shirts, distributing leaflets?

14. Amit offering to help out, small, interested in baseball, the comic touches, this contribution all the way through, coming to America, with the boys, wanting to be a coach – and his final opportunity at the second try with JB trusting him to succeed?

15. JB, very American, rather intolerant and uncomprehending, the US way as the only way, exasperated? The need for him to learn?

16. The local assistant, helping with the travel, the auditions, with Ray and the transport, contact with the locals, the sports clubs?

17. The two boys and their lives, Dinesh and his father, the truck, wanting to play, his father’s disapproval? The religious background? Rinku, his friends, the club, his skills?

18. The competition, the locals, the poor performances, slow pitching, Ray listening, giving up? Dinesh and Rinku, their speeds? Their being chosen, the celebrity status? The finals, the plan, Dinesh and his giving of the truck to his father?

19. Travelling to the US, the immediate differences, different culture, the luxury house, the going to the hotel, pushing the wrong buttons, their being ousted?

20. Brenda, the tenant living next door, medical practice? The machinery, breaking down, her skyping JB, their talking, her work, her boyfriend, the effect on JB, the breakup? The friendship through communication, her support? JB’s return, her advice to him to be with the boys, helping them, communication and advice, sharing this with JB, the relationship and its effect?

21. Dinesh and Rinku, the prospects, everything different, the new liking for pizza, depending on Brenda, their needs?

22. Being taken to Tom House, the speed, the timing, the poor efforts in training, the need for sympathy? House as a character, his attitude towards JB and his commercialism?

23. The need for JB to be present, his being absent, doing business, having to adapt, – and his help? The crisis with the basketball player, the party, JB called away, losing the contract? The advice to JB to be there with the boys?

24. Mr Chang, the setup, the elaborate proposal for the media, Indians watching on television, the boys and failure?

25. Mr Chang, pleased with the time limit, happy to extend it?

26. Dinesh and Rinku, imagining that they would go home, Ray and his help, the coach of the the Pittsburgh Pirates, the second demonstration, success, hired to play in the major league?

27. The final photos and information and the subsequent careers?