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5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Ball Game remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Look, if you’re looking for a plot, look elsewhere. This isn’t a film in the way we usually mean it. It’s a document, really. If you love film history or just want to see how far we've come from literally two guys tossing a ball around, you'll find it charming. If you need high-octane thrills, you're going to be bored to tears in about four seconds. ⚾
It’s barely a minute long. You blink and it’s over.
There’s something hypnotic about the graininess here. John Foster and George Rufle are just… there. They’re moving in this jerky, silent rhythm that feels like a glitch in the universe. It’s not like The Trail of the Lonesome Pine where you’ve got actual drama unfolding. This is just pure, unfiltered motion.
I found myself staring at the background more than the actors. The static nature of the camera makes the whole thing feel like a live painting. It’s oddly peaceful, even if it’s totally primitive.
It’s funny to think about how this compares to something like The Sign of the Cross. The jump in production value is just massive, but there’s a raw honesty here that later movies lost. It’s just two people, a ball, and a camera that didn't know what it was doing yet.
Maybe don't watch it if you're in a rush. It’s a slow-burn experience, despite the tiny runtime. It really makes you appreciate how much work goes into a modern movie. Or, you know, it just makes you want to go play catch. 🤷♂️
One of the guys looks like he’s having a great time. The other one looks like he’s trying to solve a math problem while throwing. It’s the small, unintentional details that make it stick.