Director – Arthur Miller (Nightwing, The Hospital)
Starring – John Goodman (Arachnophobia, Revenge of the Nerds), Kelly McGillis (Top Gun, The Accused), and Trini Alvarado (The Frighteners, Fringe)
Release Date – 1992
Rating – 4/5
Blu Release – 2.5/5
A couple weeks ago I was going through Amazon to order the action comedy Blind Fury. It was released a few months prior on blu from Mill Creek Entertainment but I really wanted to see it. When I tossed it in my cart I noticed that Mill Creek had just released a few other movies on blu that I really wanted to add to my collection.
One of the films I snagged was the 1992 biographical drama The Babe starring John Goodman. Goodman is one of my favorite actors and The Babe is one I remember watching as a kid. I couldn’t wait to give this one a revisit.
**spoiler Alert** The films follows the life of Babe Ruth (Goodman) who is dropped off at an orphanage at a young age. It was here that he learned that he had a knack for hitting balls. As he gets older he starts to get noticed by the big leagues and is eventually “adopted” to play for them. As his fame grows so does his pocket. He starts giving back to the kids in the community but realizes he is still missing something. He falls in love with a waitress but, over time, realizes that her lifestyle and his are too different and eventually divorce where he remarries a woman he had met some years back. Now an aging star, the sets his sites on managing a team but is unable to land the gig before he passes. **Spoiler Alert**
The Babe isn’t going to be for everyone. Especially for my typical reader base but I revisited it and felt the need to write about it. It’s an insanely entertaining film that a lot of people seem to overlook. I really enjoyed the acting in this one. Goodman, as I stated earlier, delivers as the great Bambino. He’s one of my favorite actors and I loved seeing him as the charismatic Babe Ruth. Watching Goodman as the character of Ruth grow was really fantastic to see. The supporting cast is just as entertaining with some delivering more memorable performances than others.
The story for this one is not historically accurate but it does give us the memorable moments of his life. It was great to see these iconic moments unfold in the film. However, the movie jumps from different points in his life like a typical biographical film so a lot of stuff gets left out. Finally, the film is not a bloody flick. It’s a period piece that has gorgeous wardrobes and sets. I really loved the look and tone of the film. Overall, The Babe is a very entertaining period piece from the early 90s. I enjoyed the cast and it was amazing seeing these iconic Babe Ruth moments unfold on the screen. The blu from Mill Creek looks great but the lack of bonus features is a bit of a let down.
Special Features:
None
