Scott Whyte Books

The Babe is a great baseball movie with a few flaws, mostly in the embellishment of the true facts, but it's miles better than the 1948 movie with William Bendix as the Babe. John Goodman gives his all as he portrays Babe Ruth, a man who enjoyed life a little too much. Other strong performances are given by Kelly McGillis, James Cromwell & Bruce Boxleitner. I recommend this film.

John Goodman's role is so realistic that I thought I was seeing the Babe many times! He is outstanding in his role as Babe Ruth. Hollywoood liberties, sure ...... but an excellent story and a look at an Baseball hero ........... A must for baseball fans.

A highly enjoyable baseball movie. John Goodman give a good potrayal of the famous slugger.From his rookie year with the Boston Red Sox,the New York Yankees,and his retirement from the Boston Braves.Watch how he responds to a bad call from the plate umpire,saying he ought to get his eyes and ears checked.Babe Ruth was a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox,and in his last year with the Boston Braves,but played outfield with the New York Yankess.Now maybe the film exaggerates the antics of Ruth, but Goodman's potrayal makes them beliveable.

Babe Ruth was the original rock star. The man who's name became synonomis with $$$ right from the start, and the fast paced, take no B.S. lifestyle. He was one of the coolest cats around, and this movie shows it all!
Alot of people say that the story is innacurate, and to that I say "AW Banana oil!" This movie is the tops. There's only one other movie about the Babe, and that one had him stepping into a dark dingy bar and ordering a milk! Babe Ruth didn't drink no milk. John Goodmans portrayal, if not completely accurate, is at least a lot of fun, and from what I know (I never met the guy in person-did you?) is pretty spot on.
The Babe partied every night of the week, and usually strolled into the game sometime around the second inning to sock one out of the park. He'd smoke a few cigars in the dugout, and usually had a mug of beer waiting for him at home plate. Nobody told The Babe what to do, because he owned. The guy pretty much paid everybodys salary in the day, and is still pretty much the reason why those jerk off Yankees still have so much dough.
He was an animal on and off the field. Just ask the dames that hung all over him. He had two smoking wives.. one a small town waitress, and the other a sexy Zigfield follie (aint that the dream?)
Yeah he had to overcome some serious struggles in life, but don't we all? The guy exuberated a good time, for the folks, and especially the kids, for whom he had the biggest heart in the world... And he told fart jokes at fancy dinners!

Great lines...
"What do you think of Mary for a name if we have a girl?"
"I think I need a 20 ounce steak, is what I think."

This movie rules. Check it out.

Be advised that after 45 minutes of the movie my 8 year-old son and I gave up. Goodman seems to have been given the license to "go for broke" with a "larger than life" approach, that leaves little for the viewer to consider of Ruth's actual life. With the broadest of strokes, Goodman plays Ruth self-consciously; the mis-en-scenes are without any surprises and Hollywood-predictable.

Too little was shown to give us the sense of Ruth-as-athlete and the milieu of early 20th century baseball, a fascinating story that awaited telling but missed the opportunity here.