American Pastime's inclusive, forgiving message could hardly be more admirable. It could have been more exciting, though.
American Pastime
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:8
Fresh:3
Rotten:5
Average Rating:5.5/10
Synopsis: AMERICAN PASTIME takes a Japanese perspective on the events of World War II, making it a cinematic cousin of Clint Eastwood's LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA. Most of the events take place after the war has... AMERICAN PASTIME takes a Japanese perspective on the events of World War II, making it a cinematic cousin of Clint Eastwood's LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA. Most of the events take place after the war has finished, and revolve around a group of Japanese-Americans who faced prejudice and scorn in the U.S. Fortunately, their love of baseball goes a long way to repairing Japanese and American relations. [More]
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Reviews for American Pastime
While everything else about Pastime is very good, it's all rooted in a mediocre screenplay.
While historically sensitive and thought-provoking, the film has serious flaws. The story line is scattered and the direction uneven.
With such rich material about dreams deferred, it’s disheartening that co-writer–director Desmond Nakano’s nobly made but patchy drama mires itself in nostalgia tropes and storytelling clichés.
Rich period detail and solid performances by [Aaron] Yoo and Gary Cole.
American Pastime asks what it truly means to be an American. What better question to ask these days?
The historical elements -- particularly those that deal with Japanese internment camps during World War II -- definitely make the movie worthwhile.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
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