soccerman1960 If you like baseball, you'll like this movie. If you like small films, you'll like this movie. If you like likable people, you'll like this movie. Knuckleball is a wonderful little film.The drama of Wakefield's triumph in game 5 of the 2004 American League Championship Series is the only thing I'd wish were more prominently treated here. (Enduring through THREE passed balls in the 13th inning, with no runs allowed? Epic!) But what stands is a warmly entertaining homage to the best of baseball, the best of baseball players, and the best benefit of simple human faith.Most rewarding are the extended conversations with Phil Niekro and Charlie Hough throughout, and the additional conversations with Jim Bouton, Wilbur Wood, and other past practitioners of baseball's "freak pitch". Interspersing the intimate and heartfelt conversations with R. A. Dickey and Tim Wakefield with game highlights and historical footage puts things in even better emotional perspective.If only the filmmakers had opportunity to highlight Dickey's transcendent 2012 season, and not just Wakefield's retirement press conference from this year. The torch hasn't just been passed, it's shining brighter than anyone could have predicted. Wake's 1992 Rookie of the Year pitching performance was great--but Dickey's most recent has been phenomenal. All because this tight-knit and loyal fraternity of pitchers has selflessly shared everything they know so that someone else might continue on ahead and do the same for those who come after. The movie does a wonderful job of capturing the joy of it, and the wonder.A thoroughly enjoyable film.

fenwaynation When I first heard that a documentary film was coming out about the knuckleball, it seemed a little odd. How would you fill a feature-length movie with an examination of a non-rotating baseball pitch? Well, producers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg have done it—and in the process created one of the most entertaining sports documentaries in years. The reason is that it's not just about the knuckleball—it's about the struggles of the very few men who have tried to master it in the big leagues. Just as the pitch itself is unpredictable, so were the careers of Tim Wakefield, R.A. Dickey, Phil Niekro, Charlie Hough and Belmont's own Wilbur Wood. The film focuses on Wakefield and Dickey, but it also tells the tale of the camaraderie among all the knucklers—and the responsibility they all feel to the legacy of the pitch that made their dreams come true. This is more than a baseball movie, it's a movie about not giving up. As Phil Niekro told Tim Wakefield early in his career, "Accept your losses, but never accept defeat." We recommend this movie highly—four stars!

garypaterson Was lucky enough to catch this at the world premier free screening at the Tribeca Film Festival last Saturday.Really enjoyed its interesting and heart warming story telling about the rare baseball bread of the knuckleball pitcher. Both looking back and looking forward the film brought the story of this select band of pitchers beautifully to the screen.R.A Dickey... such a class guy and there is something quite touching that he is the only knuckleballer left in the MLB. And you couldn't wish for a better champion of the 'freak' pitch.Would happily watch it again. Congrats to all those involved.

michael-palmer-nyc Knuckleball tells the story of baseball pitchers Tim Wakefield of the Red Sox and R.A. Dickey of the Mets as they go through the travails of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. In the process, viewers gain insight into the mechanics, the lore, and the history of the fluxiest of baseball pitches.Wakefield in particular comes across as a likable straight-shooter who developed this pitch to salvage his hopes of making it to and staying in the Bigs. Dickey follows in the footsteps of Wake, and seems poised to carry the torch for knucklers into the 21st century. With great interviews and insights from Charlie Hough, Phil Niekro, and Jim Bouton, we learn that knuckleball pitchers are a small, proud fraternity who pass their wisdom down the line to keep the art of the knuckleball alive in an age of flamethrowers and the need for speed.The art and chaos of the pitch itself lends itself well to the big screen, and for baseball fans and for anyone who loves to root for the underdog, Knuckleball definitely delivers.