Cobb
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Sports writer Al Stump pays a visit to Detroit Tiger legend Ty Cobb in an attempt to write a biography and set the record straight about Cobb's racist and egotistical persona. However, Stump soon discovers that all of the preconceptions are true! Now Stump must decide whether or not to write about his findings or listen to Cobb who is threatening him into "lightening up" his character.
| Rating: R |
Length: 128 mins. |
Year: 1994 |
| Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Wuhl, Lolita Davidovich, Ned Bellamy |
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Reviews from our users [Review this film]
"Cobb, the movie, is a work of almost pure fiction. Very loosely based on a small section of Al Stump's book of the same name, the film concerns itself with the last several months of Ty Cobb's life, his illness, and efforts to write an autobiography, 'My Life In Baseball.'
Cobb's early days and playing career are sketchily covered, and the on-field scenes generally unconvincing, yet the movie still works well in spite of these flaws. Credit for this must be given to Tommy Lee Jones, who turns in a tour-de-force performance as the self-proclaimed 'Georgia Peach,' and Robert Wuhl (HBO's 'Arliss'), whose portrayal of Cobb's hard-pressed co-author is finely crafted. Al Stump, as depicted by Wuhl, is likeably human and sympathetic, while Jones' Ty Cobb is a tyrannical, almost-psychotic bully. From Nevada to Cooperstown to Georgia, in all his encounters with strangers and acquaintances, Cobb leaves them terrified and/or repulsed, yet seems oblivious to the chaos he causes. Even facing an imminent demise, he remains an unrepentant reprobate. It is impossible to care about the Ty Cobb in this film- his unparalleled baseball career and later charitable acts are not enough in the end to redeem him.
Ironically, the greatest ballplayer of all time turns out to also be the biggest monster." -- Annie V.
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