American Pastime (2007)
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33% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
63% of users liked it
(1,544 ratings)
Gary Cole, Aaron Yoo, John Gries, and Judy Ongg star in an inspirational small town drama exploring the lingering effects of World War II on Japanese-American citizens struggling to overcome lingering hostilities and be accepted in country they now call home. The Nomuras are a typical American… More Gary Cole, Aaron Yoo, John Gries, and Judy Ongg star in an inspirational small town drama exploring the lingering effects of World War II on Japanese-American citizens struggling to overcome lingering hostilities and be accepted in country they now call home. The Nomuras are a typical American family who just happen to be of Japanese heritage. When World War II breaks out and the Nomuras are ushered into the Topaz internment camp, teenage son Lyle (Yoo) becomes the target of harassment to camp guard and frustrated minor league catcher Billy Burrell. Lyle is a star pitcher who had been accepted into college on a baseball scholarship, but was subsequently forced to abandon his dreams when his family was interned. Billy's daughter is a musical instructor at the camp, and when she and Lyle strike up a tenuous romance, tensions quickly come to a head between the two families. Hoping that the two families will be able to find a common ground due to their mutual love of baseball, Lyle's father proposes a goodwill game between Burrell's team and the internees. As the two teams take to the diamond for a game organized to unite them all, the small town's tolerance will be put to the ultimate test in a match that reveals the true spirit of American culture. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Desmond Nakano
- Genres
- Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- May 12, 2007 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A moving, heartfelt drama.
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Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Full of interesting characters and placed in a charged setting, but the preachy and obvious spin it takes is ultimately melodramatic and predictable.
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Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
American Pastime asks what it truly means to be an American. What better question to ask these days?
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Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
An Americana message film, but a much more tolerable kind that explores the other side of the fence...
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David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
While everything else about Pastime is very good, it's all rooted in a mediocre screenplay.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Gary Cole
as Billy Burrell
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Leonardo Nam
as Lane Nomura
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Aaron Yoo
as Lyle Nomura
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Masatoshi Nakamura
as Kaz Nomura
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Judy Ongg
as Emi Nomura
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Jon Gries
as Tully
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Susanna Thompson
as Shirley Burrell
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Seth Sakai
as Nori
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Sarah Drew
as Katie Burrell
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Charles Halford
as Norris
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Tod Huntington
as Mack
- Leonard Nam
