Product Details

• Actors: Edward James Olmos, Lorraine Bracco, John E. Coleman, Jeff Corbett, Jamey Sheridan
• Directors: Robert M. Young
• Writers: David Himmelstein, Larry Ferguson, Thomas Michael Donnelly
• Producers: David Wisnievitz, Martin Elfand
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 91 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302182654
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #338,099 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Edward James Olmos, his face as weathered as the glove he packs in his suitcase, hits it out of the park as Virgil Sweet, a California Angels scout--"the last of a dying breed"--who travels from coal mines to cornfields in search of a phenom. His newest discovery is pitching prospect Sammy Bodeen, an Idaho farm boy around whom the team's hateful pony-tailed billionaire new owner orchestrates a massive marketing campaign. It's up to Virgil to ensure that the kid lives up to the hype. This 1991 drama struck out in its bid for a wide theatrical release, but until its credulity-straining Big Game climax and disappointingly cynical conclusion, it qualifies as the kind of "hold on to your dreams" sleeper that always connects with baseball movie fans. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Its not heaven, just idaho..., November 12, 2000

By 

Erren Geraud Kelly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talent for the Game [VHS] (VHS Tape)

a very good, very underrated movie about a pitching scout, who help a young pitching ace realize his dream of making the big leagues.the casting is wonderful.a loving ode to baseball. get it !

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Talent for the Game is a movie about overcoming the odds, January 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Talent for the Game [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Although the story is light on originality, this is a great family movie about a small town boy getting his break in the big city. The movie boasts big acting talent with Edward James Olmos ("Stand and Deliver") and Lorraine Bracco (nominated for an Oscar for her role in "Goodfellas"). The first half of the film is filled with wonderful cinematography of the beautiful landscapes of northern Idaho where Virgil Sweet (Olmos), a major league scout, finds the next pitching phenom, Sammy Bodeen (Jeff Corbett). Sweet just has to convince the town's stubborn preacher to let his son, Bodeen, go fulfill his dream of becoming a baseball star. Things unfortunately do not go as planned when the team owner tries to exploit Bodeen. Almost overcome by the high expectations placed on him, Bodeen finds success through the help (and trickery) of Sweet. "A Talent for the Game" is a movie about overcoming the odds, and leaves you feeling great!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Boring and predictable, March 29, 2008

By 

Hanford Rose (Hanford, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Talent for the Game (DVD)

Edward James Olmos is a great actor. He is the only reason that I gave this movie even a '2 rating'.

This was a very disappointing, far from memorable movie. I will probably pass it on to one of my grandsons who likes baseball.

I found this movie to be boring and predictable.