Chasing 3000 (2010) – Two boys raised on Pittsburgh Pirate baseball, find themselves transplanted to California as their hero, Roberto Clemente, heads toward his historic 3,000th hit. So they do they only reasonable thing they can. They steal a car and start the drive back home.
Directed by Gregory Lanesey Starring – Ray Liotta, Lauren Holly, Rory Culkin, Trevor Morgan,
This movie will hold special memories for all Pirate fans. Clemente is one of the greatest players to ever wear a Pittsburgh uniform, and one of the greatest of all time. There is a particular poignancy because we know that his life would end in just a few months after the end of this season.
This is a movie about baseball and brothers. It’s about dreams and reality.
Made on a shoestring budget, the story is inspired by the producer, Ohio attorney Bill Makita. Like the brothers in the film, Makita was an athlete while his younger brother suffered from a serious lifelong illness (Muscular Dystrophy in the movie, his brother Steven suffered from spinal muscular atrophy). It shows many of the mistakes of newbie filmmakers working under financial constraints. At the same time, it creates a warm story centered on two brothers who are still working out their feelings for each other and their abiding love of the game. The narrative stutters at times, and the pacing drags. In the end, you watch to see what happens to the brothers. It’s predictable but worth the time.
Why You Will Like It – Makita creates a deep and truthful relationship between the two boys.
Rating – *** Worth A Look
Stories Are My Life 
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