Anthony Michael Hall, Barry Pepper, Christopher McDonald

61* is an endearing ode to the baseball days of yore when the press was the enemy, salaries were in check, and breaking records with bat and glove took on Ruthian proportions. In 1961 baseball ...( read more  read more... )expanded its season from 154 games to 162, allowing weaker pitching into the major leagues and two New York Yankees teammates--the colorless Roger Maris and golden boy Mickey Mantle--to make an assault on the sport's ultimate record: Babe Ruth's 60 home runs. To add to the stew, baseball commissioner Ford Frick announced any record set in the last eight games of the season wouldn't count toward the official record; records had to be achieved in 154 games.

Director Billy Crystal guarantees success for his movie in the perfect casting of the leads. Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan's religious sniper) is deft as Maris, and Thomas Jane is a perfect Mantle, a superman in a Yankee uniform. Despite the differences between family man Maris and hard-living Mantle, they form a rewarding friendship amid the media and fan frenzy. The shy Maris took the brunt of the storm, even facing boo-birds in his home stadium. Crystal and first-time writer Hank Steinberg keep the pace moving quickly between the field, the locker room, the press box, and the home front. The film never tries to dazzle with more than the facts (and it softens Mantle up a bit), yet it belongs on the short list of grand baseball movies. --Doug Thomas

Flixster Users

87% liked it

12,051 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

15 critics

Unrated, 128 min.

Directed by: Billy Crystal

Release Date: April 28, 2001

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DVD Release Date: September 11, 2001

Stats: 755 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (755)


  • June 24, 2007
    An interesting lesson in baseball history. Also a lesson in how the paparazzi harassed people even way back in the 60's and manipulated their stories.
  • March 2, 2007
    Great movie, , its a film with a very emotive momentum, its funny when it needs to be, and the best of all is that its a true story. Maybe one of greatest sports movies ever. No matter if tour're a baseball fan or not, this film will entertain you till the end of it. Barry Pepper...( read more) and Thomas Jane give us a very solid and convinceable performance as Maris and Mantle. Billy Crystal's way of directing makes you feel life if you were livng each moment of the movie, good for him.
  • October 28, 2006
    Billy Crystal did an astonishing job with this movie. 61* really gets the viewer into Maris' shoes during that summer.
  • December 10, 2007
    A great film!
  • July 20, 2007
    One of my favorite baseball movies. Roger Maris still holds the record in my heart... F Bonds and McGwire! Cheaters!
  • September 18, 2009
    Nice sport film. Enjoyable production.

    57/100
  • August 21, 2009
    Oh oh no baseball! But wait, A.M. Hall is in it! Damn, Im way screwed. *sigh* I will have to see it now.
  • August 5, 2009
    A very interesting look at the home run title race and the idiotic Yankees fans who wanted to have their cake and eat it too. Well acted and Crystal keeps things moving. A Maris biopic, really.
  • June 14, 2009
    Love baseball movies, and this one was pretty damn good, especialy with a true story and an ELUSIVE record
  • June 8, 2009
    A really good baseball movie. Great movie for baseball fans. Thomas Jane and Barry Pepper are both excellent in this film. Billy Crystal does a great job in his direction of the film. He shows us the good and rough times for baseball legends Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. You can...( read more) tell Billy Crystal is a fan in the way he directs and pays respect to the people in the film. Even if your not a baseball fan you should enjoy this film for the great acting and story. Well worth the watch.

Critic Reviews


Comments


  • kennagurl4
    April 9, 2007
    My cousin is in this movie!! When I think Mickey...hits the homerun at the end of the movie, my cousin is the catcher, he takes his facemask off...yup thats him!! haha Great Movie!!

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61* Trivia


  • what barry pepper movie does he portray a famous baseball player?  Answer »
  • what 2 famous baseball players were portraded in the movie 61?  Answer »
  • Who are the two featured characters in "61*"?  Answer »
  • *61 is about what 1961 MLB team?  Answer »

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