Why pt. 2

It’s a fantastic morning to be a Red Sox fan – but beyond the game five excitement, baseball is very much on my mind.

Back in the summer, I had to beg raise the WHY?? flag when reports started swirling that a TOP GUN sequel was in the works. I recently felt a similar sensation when I read that Ron Shelton was kicking around the notion of a BULL DURHAM sequel. It’s easily the best baseball movie ever made, and becoming a true modern classic…why mess with that?

But then I read a little deeper, and became a tad intrigued. You see if a sequel was made, we would have Tim Robbins’ Ebbie Calvin “Nuke”LaLoosh as the centrepiece. This time out, the once hotshot pitcher with the million dollar arm would be the broken down veteran hanging on the the game by his fingernails. There’s even mention of a scene at an autograph show, where players like Pete Rose are getting $250 a pop, and Nuke is charging $15.

Doesn’t sound all that bad, no?

Here’s the thing though. For my money, the only way this movie works is to keep Costner out of it. BULL DURHAM did a lot to complete the story of Crash Davis, and while there were mentions of him showing up as a AAA manager, I really don’t think he has the sort of personality to make this movie work. That said, I’d be all about bringing Susan Sarandon back as Annie Savoy (who wouldn’t?)

The whole thing might never come to pass…and even if it does, I don’t think it could ever be as good as the first. But for once I think Hollywood may have found an angle to make a story something more than “just another sequel”.