Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus—who can tell a pitch just by the crack of the bat—refuses to be benched for what could be the final innings of his career. He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment, especially with the country’s hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner. Mickey has never been close to her father, who was ill-equipped to be a single parent after the death of his wife. Even now, in the rare moments they share, he is too easily distracted by what Mickey assumes is his first love: the game.
Against her better judgment, and over Gus’s objections, Mickey joins him on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own career to save his. Forced to spend time together for the first time in years, each makes new discoveries—revealing long-held truths about their past and present that could change their future. The film also stars Justin Timberlake as Johnny Flanagan, a rival scout who has his sights on a career in the announcer’s booth…and has eyes for Mickey. Rounding out the main cast are John Goodman as Gus’s old friend and boss, Pete Klein; Robert Patrick as the Atlanta Braves General Manager Vince Freeman; Matthew Lillard as Phillip Snyder, the Braves’ associate director of scouting; Scott Eastwood as Billy Clark, one of Gus’s discoveries, who’s now in a slump; and newcomer Joe Massingill as young batting phenom Bo Gentry, who’s emerged as the Major League’s hottest young prospect. Rounding out the cast are Ed Lauter, Chelcie Ross, Ray Anthony Thomas, George Wyner, James Patrick Freetly, Bob Gunton and Jack Gilpin. Lorenz is directing the film from a screenplay by Randy Brown. The film is being produced by Eastwood, Lorenz and Michele Weisler, with Tim Moore serving as executive producer.
Directed by Rob Lorenz and starring Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman and Matthew Lillard. In cinemas November 2012.
