5/5 61*
  by Griz89.7 (Moab, Ut)
Pretty accurate. I witnessed some of the behavior towards Maris, saw his 50th, and saw Mantle make a ball disappear. Shows who these people were and what they had to deal with without going overboard.

5/5 A Labor of Love About a Golden Time...
  by Benjamin J Burgraff (Las Vegas)
Whether you loved baseball or not, the summer of '61 was dominated by Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, and Billy Crystal has perfectly captured the 'feel' of that unforgettable, magical season in "61*". When 'M & M' began their assault on Babe Ruth's 'unbreakable' record of 60 home runs in a single season, those who knew and loved the Babe were angered that this 'Holy Grail' was a target, and, as Crystal illustrates, Ruth's friend, Baseball Commissioiner Ford Frick, laid down restrictive rules to help keep Ruth's record intact (the dreaded asterix, if the record wasn't broken in 154 games), making the competition more than simply breaking the record, but a race against the clock, as well.

With two brilliant performances by actors Thomas Jane and Barry Pepper (who look astonishingly close to Mantle and Maris), the film transcends the sport, becoming a tale of friendship, of an insane loss of privacy and personal dignity, and of two very different, remarkable men. Mantle is universally loved (and expected to win the race), a veteran Yankee of epic talent and overwhelming charm, whose wild boozing and womanizing is 'sanitized' by an adoring press. Maris, on the other hand, is a quiet, focused professional, a family man whose only vice is cigarettes, and, in only his second year with the Yankees, is considered an outsider and usurper to Mantle's 'glory' (having won the MVP award, the year before). As he has little to say to the press, they make a spectacle of him, in a season-long vendetta that fans the flames of hatred that the city already feels towards him. For Maris, the impact is staggering, added to the pressure of the home run race. Welts appear on his body and he starts losing handfuls of hair, he receives daily hate mail, and even his family is threatened. But Maris' biggest ally is Mantle, who truly likes him, admires his devotion to his family and the game, and realizes his own failing body may not allow him the triumph his fans expect.

It is a beautiful story, riveting despite the fact that the outcome is known, before the film even begins.

I highly recommend the 'Making of' documentary, as well as the film. Did you know Thomas Jane had never played any baseball, before he made the film? And Crystal's decision to include a cameo by Mantle's tiny grandson, watching the 'grandpa' he'll never know hit a home hun, is sheer magic!

"61*" is simply a fabulous film, at a really fabulous price. Even if you don't like baseball, I think you'll love this film!





5/5 Friendship and competition
  by Claude Lambert (Savannah, USA)
Could you remain friends when you are competitors and the Press and the public put pressure on you all the time? The relationship of Maris and Mantle moved me to tears: the movie makes you understand everything that goes through their mind. There is no preaching, no important dialogue: just the attitudes and beautiful beautiful baseball.
One of my ten best movies of all times
One of my ten best historical movies
My best baseball movie
My best friendship movie

5/5 Perfect Gift For My Dad!
  by Sirvan E. Hefta (Omaha, Ne)
I got this movie for my father. He turned 61 this year and is a huge Bronx Bombers' fan and his favorite player is Roger Maris.

5/5 great movie and in great shape
  by T. Stephens (USA)
I love this movie. It is the true story of the M&M boys. I received it within a week of placing my order and it was in mint condition (it was advertized as new, so it should have been).Real cheap price too. I will be buying a lot more from this seller.