BAD NEWS BEARS

US, 2005, 105 minutes, Colour.
Billy Bob Thornton, Greg Kinnear, Marcia Gaye Hardin, Sammi Kane Kraft.
Directed by Richard Linklater.

While there is always a place for a re-make (always hoping that the remake will do something different or special with the original material), Bad News Bears is not an immediately obvious candidate for re-doing. After all, there have been so many variations on the theme over the last thirty years (from Mighty Ducks to Kicking and Screaming), that it runs the danger these years of being too well-worn.

Anyway, here it is again (after the original, with Walter Matthau had two sequels of its own). The plot is still the same. The range of awkward kids is the same (well, they come from a greater racial mix this time). The obnoxious coach is the same (Greg Kinnear). There are the practices, the rivalries, the tensions within the group, the increasing victories and the final match – which actually supports the theme that playing the game is more important than winning. As with Walter Matthau in the past, one reason for seeing the film is Billy Bob Thornton as the alcoholic coach. This is a far less flamboyant performance as an obnoxious and crass-mouthed interacter with kids than Thornton’s Bad Santa. His timing is good. His remarks sardonic. But, at heart, this is a nice and sentimental story of making good.

Director Richard Linklater usually makes talkative relationship films (Before Sunrise, Tape, Before Sunset) but is taking time off to relax with a studio production – he must love baseball too.

1. The popularity of the original film? Baseball theme? Hopeless players? Grumpy coach? The sequels of the 70s? The reason for a remake in 2005?

2. Southern California, families, homes? The rich and the poor? The cultural mix? The place of baseball? The baseball field? Restaurants? Authentic feel?

3. The work of the director, his Slacker films, his discussion films? Taking time out for love of comedy and baseball?

4. The title, the team, the fact that when they were firing they wanted to be bad news to the opposition?

5. Baseball, the Little League, the importance for children playing? The role of the coaches? Parents and their support? The baseball spirit, competitiveness? Skills? The comedy on these themes?

6. The focus on Morris Buttermaker, Billy Bob Thornton’s presence and style, deadpan, low key? Alcoholic? His remarks, jokes? His passing out? The soft-hearted coach? His work as a pest exterminator, with the rats, the family? His job giving him financial support? His lonely life?

7. Liz, the approach, taking on the team? Her legal background, wealth? Her son Toby? Her being impressed by their success? Taking Morris to dinner, coming on to him? The sexual encounter? Toby finding him in his home? The break with Liz?

8. The players, the Saturday team? Not having any skills, no hope? Their presenting themselves to Morris, their names, their backgrounds? Their practice sessions, ineptness? The beginning of play, the match, Morris forfeiting? Continued play, Morris and his decision to go to find Amanda, going to the market, her mother and the past relationship? Her age, her selling things? Her being persuaded to come and play? Her skill at pitching? The attraction of Kelly Leek, his joining the squad? The continued improvement, training, spirit? The season and their wins?

9. Roy Bullock, coach, Morris’s taunts, fun about his tight shorts? His own son and pressure? The alienation from his wife? His comments, insulting Morris? The build-up to the games, the irony of the final match? His humiliation of his son, sending him off, his wife taking the son away from him? Defeat?

10. The various members of the team, Hooper and his being in a wheelchair, sorry for himself, finally going on and catching? Toby and his not being skilled, given the opportunity, proving himself? Lupus and his complete inefficiency? Tanner and his cheekiness, anger? The twins? Their Hispanic background? The Asian – and his computer? The Muslim and his running away from his father, his being advised to be injured and not running, his changing his mind, his father’s pride? Kelly Leek, the rough type, Roy Bullock’s antagonism? The attraction towards Amanda, his skills with the bat?

11. The matches, the way they were filmed, the excitement, the Bears moving up the ladder? The final game, Morris and his change of heart, not so competitive, Hooper on the field, Amanda resting her arm? The defeat – and the celebration and his saying that winning wasn't everything?

12. The humour associated with the sport? The spirit of the sport? Not wanting to win at any cost – and the critique of the American gung-ho spirit?