The Scout 2501824 215411404 2008-05-28T01:51:49Z 192.234.2.70 link fix {{Infobox_Film | name=The Scout | image= The scout movie poster (1994).jpg| caption = The movie poster for ''The Scout''.| imdb_id=0111094 | writer=[[Roger Angell]]<br>[[Andrew Bergman]]<br>[[Albert Brooks]]<br>[[Monica Mcgowan Johnson]] | starring= [[Albert Brooks]]<br>[[Brendan Fraser]]<br>[[Anne Twomey]] | director=[[Michael Ritchie (film director)|Michael Ritchie]] | music=[[Bill Conti]]| distributor=[[20th Century Fox]] | released=[[September 30]] [[1994]] | runtime=101 min. | language=English | movie_series=| awards=| producer=[[Andre Morgan]]<br>[[Albert S. Ruddy]] | budget= |}} '''''The Scout''''' ([[1994]]) is a motion picture starring [[Brendan Fraser]] and [[Albert Brooks]] and directed by [[Michael Ritchie (film director)|Michael Ritchie]], the director of ''[[The Bad News Bears]]''. Al Percolo ([[Albert Brooks]]) is a [[major league baseball]] scout with the [[New York Yankees]] who is banished to the [[Mexico | Mexican]] countryside after his latest discovery suffers an extreme case of stage fright that leads him to [[vomit]] on the pitcher's mound. While attending a game in Mexico, the very desperate Percolo finds Steve Nebraska ([[Brendan Fraser]]), a young American with a perfectly consistent 100 mph fastball and who hits [[Home run|home runs]] on seemingly each at bat. When Percolo notifies the Yankee brass of his find, he is unceremoniously fired, and told not to bring anyone back. Percolo, undaunted, takes Nebraska back to the States with him, becoming his unofficial agent in the process. He arranges an open showcase for Nebraska at [[Yankee Stadium]] in front of representatives from each team in the league. Although Nebraska initially meets with a good deal of [[skepticism]], a massive bidding war ensues after he effortlessly strikes out [[Keith Hernández]] and homers off [[Bret Saberhagen]] (both athletes play themselves in the film). Nebraska soon signs a 4 year, $55 million contract- which, in 1994, would have been the highest-paying contract in baseball history- with the Yankees. Soon after signing with the Yankees, difficulties arise as Yankee management demands that Nebraska be [[Psychiatry|psychiatrically]] evaluated in order to ensure he will not turn out to be as unstable as Percolo's earlier finds. Percolo picks a [[psychiatrist]] out of the [[yellow pages]], hoping for a quick and easy evaluation, and a massive payday for both Nebraska and himself. However, the doctor (played by [[Dianne Wiest]]) finds that Nebraska is a deeply troubled young man, so severely abused as a child that he's blocked just about every memory of his early life. This effort to divorce himself from his troubled life is the possible reason for his uncanny baseball skills. Percolo begs the doctor to grant Nebraska a positive evaluation, promising her that he would undergo therapy before beginning his professional career. When the Yankees reach the [[World Series]], Nebraska is contractually obligated to play, despite not being mentally prepared to do so. This leads to the film's [[climax]], with Nebraska atop Yankee Stadium, refusing to come down to pitch the first game of the series, and Percolo's career and livelihood on the line. Percolo meets him on the roof, and pleads with him. Forced to choose between his growing friendship with Nebraska, and the money he stands to make if he plays, Percolo initially tries to talk Nebraska into playing. However, he soon repents and offers Nebraska the chance to walk away from it all, no strings attached. Percolo's loyalty convinces Nebraska to face reality (as well as realizing that the worst that can happen if he pitches is that he'll lose, which he says is not so bad since half the players lose every day), and he returns to the field. Nebraska goes on to pitch a [[perfect game]], striking out all 27 [[St. Louis Cardinals]] batters on 81 consecutive pitches. Facing [[Ozzie Smith]] (playing himself) with two outs in the ninth inning, Nebraska's 81st and final pitch of the game is so fast that it knocks down his catcher and the home plate umpire. Nebraska also hits 2 home runs to account for the only scoring in the 2-0 victory. [[George Steinbrenner]], [[Bob Costas]], and [[Tony Bennett]] also play themselves in the film, among others. ==External links== *{{imdb title|id=0111094|title=The Scout}} [[Category:1994 films|Scout, The]] [[Category:Baseball films|Scout, The]] [[Category:Sports comedy films|Scout]] [[Category:Films directed by Michael Ritchie|Scout, The]] [[ru:Разведчик (фильм)]]