Trouble with the Curve (2012)

Baseball-themed drama starring Clint Eastwood as Gus, an elderly talent scout with failing eyesight and a bad temper. Amy Adams plays Mickey, his daughter – a successful lawyer who puts her career on hold to accompany her dad on a scouting trip to North Carolina to look after him. She also tries to find out why he has always rejected her. Justin Timberlake is a younger scout who seeks Mickey’s affections. 

It’s quite unusual in tone and pace, being a slow-burner that’s gently funny. Eastwood looks incredibly old and his voice is sometimes a barely audible croak. That all works with his character, though, even if it can make for uncomfortable viewing. Adams steals the show by exuding charm. Timberlake is less convincing, and I found his performance a little generic. My heart sank when John Goodman walked on as Eastwood’s boss, but he exercises more restraint than usual. 

All in all it’s a pleasing film that won’t change the world but which achieves what it sets out to.