Tuesday, October 20, 2009
PLAYING THE GAME
Today's Richard Linklater film was the documentary
on the career and philosophy of Augie Garrido, the winner of a bunch of national college world series. First at UC at Fullerton and then at University of Texas.
Coach Garrido has an inspiring life story and a philosophy of teaching which is very good to see. I felt quite at home in his world. He teaches young men and brings out their characters rather than trying to form them into his image of what a ball player should be.
He is a great guy to watch and Linklater, in his first full length documentary, uses all his technical brilliance to tell a story with a strong narrative. That is as a director. As a former ball player at UT, he has an insiders view of the game. Very nice.
You do not have to know or even appreciate baseball to like this film. It is about life and living.
If you do rent it be sure to watch the uncensored version. Coach Garrido's use of the full venacular is quite inspiring and, sometimes, even spectacular.
Here is another guy who is almost as old as I am living a full and happy professional life.
I have seen this a few times in the last days. Maybe I should get a job. But I already had one.
I will rate this a 3 out of Netflix5.
