Eight Men Out (1988)
Last Watch Date - June 9, 2026
Total Times Watched - Once
Comments
Based on the actual 1919 World Series gambling fiasco with the White Sox (the "Black Sox"). Good cast overall, but somehow felt like they weren't used to their abilities. I always like John Cusack but he was a bit meh in this.
This is sort of a baseball classic but in some bad ways obviously. I think it has a pretty good portrayal of 1919. It feels like it at least, if it's not accurate. The little newsboy was an interesting touch, but I found him annoying. They went hard on the jazz/swing soundtrack here, which was pretty solid but did start to feel a touch repetitive by the end. The baseball scenes themselves are pretty good.
My big issues with this movie are around the story itself. I know the story because I like baseball, but it's not really a very well-told story in this movie. The gang ties feel tenuous in parts, the threats feel tame, and the reasons for taking money feel unrealistic. In reality, they had the 3rd highest paid roster that season, but you don't really get that from this movie. The relationships between the players are a bit off too. I don't know, something didn't sit right with it.
Recommended?
I'd like to say yes but it's very much a baseball historian's movie and not so much a general public movie.
