Eight Men Out (1988)

86% of critics liked it
(37 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(11,742 ratings)

Writer/director John Sayles' dramatization of the most infamous episode in professional sports -- the fix of the 1919 World Series -- is considered by many to be among his best films and arguably the best baseball movie ever made. This adaptation of Eliot Asinof's definitive study of the scandal… More Writer/director John Sayles' dramatization of the most infamous episode in professional sports -- the fix of the 1919 World Series -- is considered by many to be among his best films and arguably the best baseball movie ever made. This adaptation of Eliot Asinof's definitive study of the scandal shows how athletes of another era were a different breed from the well-paid stars of later years. The Chicago White Sox owner, Charlie Comiskey (Clifton James), is portrayed as a skinflint with little inclination to reward his team for their spectacular season. When a gambling syndicate led by Arnold Rothstein (Michael Lerner) gets wind of the players' discontent, it offers a select group of stars -- including pitcher Eddie Cicotte (Sayles regular David Strathairn), infielder Buck Weaver (John Cusack), and outfielder "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (D.B. Sweeney) -- more money to play badly than they would have earned to try to win the Series against the Cincinnati Reds. Sayles cast the story with actors who look and perform like real jocks, and added a colorful supporting cast that includes Studs Terkel as reporter Hugh Fullerton and Sayles himself as Ring Lardner. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 1 min.
Directed By: John Sayles
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 2, 1988 Wide
On DVD: May 8, 2001
Studio: Orion Pictures

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Sayles often seems like a man who, trying to stretch a single, gets caught between bases and is desperately trying to evade the rundown.
, Variety
Perhaps the saddest chapter in the annals of professional American sports is recounted in absorbing fashion in Eight Men Out.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Baseball fans might find this marginally absorbing; for anyone else it's as conscientious and stylistically pedestrian as Sayles's other films, and a mite overlong to boot.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
For Mr. Sayles, whose idealism has never been more affecting or apparent than it is in this story of boyish enthusiam gone bad in an all too grown-up world, Eight Men Out represents a home run.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It's an insider's movie, a baseball expert's film that is hard for the untutored to follow.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
If John Sayles were a ballplayer, they'd call him Lefty -- not for his pitching arm but for his politics. The devoutly liberal filmmaker's political point of view is certain. It's his dramatic focus that sometimes gets fuzzy.
Randy White, Common Sense Media
A treat for baseball fans but might bore others.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In 1988, writer-director John Sayles made his most ambitious film to date with this intelligent chronicle of the 1919 sports scandal, cast with some of the best actors around (Strathairn, Cusack, Sweeney, Sheen).
, Film4
Sayles' excellent film is more of a human tragedy than a sports movie -- meaning that even those with a limited knowledge of baseball should find it fascinating stuff.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
It's saturated with the period, and it advances a few theories that convincingly answer that little boy's question for Jackson, which, beneath that plea for a denial, really wanted to know one thing: why?
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Sayles gives the film an intelligent, well-researched, nostalgic tone with plenty of quiet moments to round out the excitement.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Sayles not only depicts the circumstances that led to the fix (most notably Sox owner Charles Comiskey's legendary tightfistedness), but he also re-creates the games in great detail, making the best possible use of an athletic cast.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Strong performances help -- especially from David Strathairn -- but it's not the great American sports drama it could have been.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Given the inevitably knotty plotting, the message is oddly unrevealing, although the film features more than enough intelligently, wittily scripted moments to remain a fascinating insight into a crucial episode in the souring of that old American Dream.
Douglas Pratt, Movie City News
he gist of t'The situation is probably captured accurately.
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
One of the best sports movies of all time.
Angie Errigo, Empire Magazine
For anyone who appreciates artistic integrity and is interested in genuinely independent films, the prolific and highly personal work of John Sayles is essential viewing.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

This is writer/director John Sayles's historical drama about the infamous Black Sox Scandal in which eight players from the Chicago White Sox were paid to throw the 1919 WOrld Series- an event which is one of the mot notable and darkest moments in ports history. The retelling… More
This is writer/director John Sayles's historical drama about the infamous Black Sox Scandal in which eight players from the Chicago White Sox were paid to throw the 1919 WOrld Series- an event which is one of the mot notable and darkest moments in ports history. The retelling here is pretty good, and qwuite insightful, yet not without its flaws. The story could have ued some more context and clearer motivations, and it helps to have at least a little prior knowledge of the story before seeing this, but even then, this is still an enjoyable look at just how different the sports world was way back when, as compared to the days depicted here where the players were true working class heroes not making millions of dollars, and were seen as truly being guys deserving of worship, making their screw ups all the more stinging and upsetting. I think the film also could have further detailed the labor history aspect of things, and the exact cultural impact the scandal had, but it does a decent enough job as it stands.
Ken S

Worth seeing even if you don't like baseball. Great performances all round. How can you not love Michael Rooker?
AJ V

This baseball drama is interesting, mostly because it's a true story, but also because it's got a lot of stars. The problem is, it gets really dull now and then. Overall, it's pretty good, though.
Tom E

Tis is a GREAT idealization (not always totally accurate) picture of what happened after the Black Sox scandle of 1919! Shoeless Joe belongs IN the Hall of Fame!
Wu C

Very good biopic on the famous 'black sox' scandal.
Doctor S

Probably my 2nd favorite baseball movie behind <i>The Natural.</i> Great evocation of an era when baseball players were regular working men and the greatest game faced its darkest days.
David S

A great ensemble film (if they filmed it now it would have a cast that would be the equivalant af Oceans 11!) and an engrossing true story. A young John Cusack is the standout here but David Strathairn is also brilliant as the ageing pitcher. Even if you've got no interest in… More
A great ensemble film (if they filmed it now it would have a cast that would be the equivalant af Oceans 11!) and an engrossing true story. A young John Cusack is the standout here but David Strathairn is also brilliant as the ageing pitcher. Even if you've got no interest in baseball it doesn't matter as the relationships between the characters is the main point of interest.
Moe E

One of the best sport/dramas ever produced is screenwriter/director John Sayles' interpretation of Eliot Asinof's book of the same title. A fact-based telling of the plot to throw the 1919 World Series by the Chicago White Sox, forever to be known as "The Black Sox… More
One of the best sport/dramas ever produced is screenwriter/director John Sayles' interpretation of Eliot Asinof's book of the same title. A fact-based telling of the plot to throw the 1919 World Series by the Chicago White Sox, forever to be known as "The Black Sox Scandal". John Mahoney, John Cusack, Michael Rooker and D. B. Sweeney head an all-star cast with David Straithairn turning in an outstanding performance as pitcher, Eddie Cicotte. One doesn't need to be a diehard baseball fan to appreciate this exceptionally well made film.

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

            John Cusack as Buck Weaver

            Clifton James as Charles Comiskey

            David Strathairn as Eddie Cicotte

            Christopher Lloyd as Bill Burns

            D.B. Sweeney as "Shoeless" Joe Jackson

            John Mahoney as Kid Gleason

            Michael Lerner as Arnold Rothstein

            Charlie Sheen as Hap Felsch

            Gordon Clapp as Ray Schalk

            Don Harvey as Swede Risberg

            Michael Rooker as Chick Gandil

            Perry Lang as Fred McMullin

            James Read as Lefty Williams

            Jace Alexander as Dickie Kerr

            Richard Edson as Billy Maharg

            Bill Irwin as Eddie Collins

            Michael Mantell as Abe Attell

            Kevin Tighe as Sport Sullivan

            Studs Terkel as Hugh Fullerton

            John Anderson as Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis

            John Sayles as Ring Lardner

            Wendy Makkena as Kate Jackson

            Maggie Renzi as Rose Cicotte

            Brad Armacost as Attendant

            Eliot Asinof as Heydler

            Ken Berry as Heckler

            David Carpenter
            
            John Craig as Rothstein's Lawyer

            Dick Cusack as Judge Friend

            Jim Desmond as Smitty

            Brad Garrett as PeeWee

            Barbara Garrick as Helen Weaver

            Lee Anne Harris as Singer

            Merrill Holtzman as Grabiner

            Rich Komenich as Jury Foreman

            Michael Laskin as Austrian

            Richard Lynch as Writer

            Tom Marshall as Browns Umpire

            Randle Mell as Ahearn

            Stephen Mendillo as Monk

            Danton Stone as Hired Killer

            Tay Strathairn as Bucky

            Nancy Travis as Lyria Williams

            Jesse Vincent as Scooter

            Robert Walsh
            
            B.J. Davis as Enemy Fan

            Bill Raymond as Ben Short

            Jim Stark as Reporter

            Clyde Bassett as Ban Jonson

            Max Chiddester as Nash

            Patrick Grant as Irish tenor

            Brad Griffith as Reporter

            David Hinman as Announcer

            Bill Jennings as Chicago Umpire

            Tim Laughter as Betting Man

            Jim Martindale as Cincinnati Umpire

            Robert Motz as D.A.

            Philip Murphy as Jimmy

            J. Dennis Newman as Reds Player

            Eaton Randles as Clerk

            Dana Roi as Woman in Bar

            Steve Salge as Reporter

            Charles Siebert II as Reds Catcher

            Josh Thompson as Winslow

            Julie Whitney as Woman in Bar

            Jack George
            
            Garry Williams
            
            Michael Preston as New Jersey Fans

            John E. Blazier as Newspaper Reporter

            Michael Harris as Writer
See full cast