One of the best films i have seen

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

When Author, played by one of my favorite actors, Michael Moriarty, finds out that Bruce (played amazingly by Robert DeNiro), his catcher on the fictitious New York Mammoths Major League Baseball treat has terminal cancer, he sets about trying to make his last year on earth as normal as possible. It is hard because Bruce is not too bright and a below average catcher. Author and Bruce decide that no one is to know about the situation. Author is a star pitcher, and negotiates a new contract with Bruce as part of the details. This is the setup. What is wonderful about this film is the incredible relationship between Moriarty and DeNiro, two disparate people. When the reality of death rears its head, all the selfishness and avarice go out the window. If one can keep his or her eyes dry as this progresses I'd be amazed. One of the best baseball (and human) films ever made. Still it is quiet and restrained.

From the eye-catching novel by Mark Harris, the narrator and protagonist Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) often used that repeated quote, "Lay it on thin boys." He takes a great caring for his ailing teammate Bruce Pearson (Robert DeNiro)with the insecure belief that his teammates of the fictional team, the New York Mammoths might overdo their sympathy after mistreating the poor man for so many years. "Bang the Drum Slowly" truly defies the "Diamond in the Rough" film that was seen by so few, but respected by those honorable few. Though more of a drama than a baseball movie, we seldom view the chronicle pain of DeNiro's Pearson. Films centered around a dying protagonist often throw it high on the melancholy. Why should we go through such excruciating pain as to sit back and weep ourselves to death during this hour and forty minute film? There's no point to it at all. We don't have to watch our dying victim suffer for the film to carry on, this film is a breath of fresh air as Pearson, though dying, decides to keep his illness as low-key as possible. That could make this tear-jerker a little less tearful.The performances were overall above average. The young DeNiro gives poise and charisma as the simple, but kindred spirited farm boy. Moriarty so talented and so underrated throughout his career is wonderful in his role as a star pitcher, wheeler and dealer and acting brother to his dying friend and teammate. Vincent Gardenia is remarkable as the straight man manager of the Mammoths who are poised with talent, though their personalities are quirky and inner problems.Bruce's intention was to keep his illness secretive, but the secret unfortunately leaks out to the club an in the end, though a bit predictable, manages to pull the team together.The glue that held this movie together is the power of friendship between Wiggen and Pearson which also usurps the illness that's victimizing poor Bruce. It's not all serious though, so tissue papers are not a necessity. In fact, there's plenty of humor to go along on the ride. And the dramatic scenes compliment which makes this film all the more memorable. And when the narrator says the final lines in to finish the movie, you'll remember it for a long time to come.

Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) *** 1/2 (out of 4) Depressing but eventually uplifting tale of a star pitcher (Michael Moriarty) who befriends a dimwitted catcher (Robert DeNiro) who is dying. The thought of watching someone dying from a terminal illness might keep some people away from this movie but that would be a real shame because the film does a beautiful job of teaching about how we should treat people. This film certainly deals with the topic of death but it also deals with the spirit of life and it also works very well as a baseball movie. I don't think the film gets enough credit for how it handles the story of a middle ground player who must work extra hard to just try and compete with the bigger guys. DeNiro's character isn't the most talented but seeing him work hard to get where he wants is something very uplifting and this is especially true considering how sick and near death his character is. DeNiro gives a wonderful performance and really nails this character's Southern accent and mentality. There's been plenty of talk about DeNiro working out with the Cincinnati Reds in order to make himself look like a baseball player and he also succeeds on this level. You can't help but watch him and see a real struggling player. His scenes dealing with the disease are also extremely well acted and incredibly touching. Moriarty never gets the credit he deserves but he too delivers a great performance. There are many scenes where he doesn't have too much to say yet we can see how he feels just by looking at his eyes. Vincent Gardenia plays the third angle of this story, the two men's manager. I've seen quite a bit of Gardenia's work but this here is certainly the best of that. He gives an extremely heartfelt performance not only during the sadder moments but also the anger moments of a manager trying to keep his team together. In the end I think a few things are a bit too heavily handled but there's still a great story here with a real message. The most interesting scenes in the film are when DeNiro's character is being picked on by his teammates yet they change after they learn he's dying. The message of treating people good because you don't know if they really are dying gives one something to think about.

This movie,"Bang The Drum Slowly", is about much more than a baseball season. Similar stories have been set in other locations, among other groups of men. The field hands in a bunkhouse in "Of Mice And Men", or the military barracks in "The Hasty Heart". These are all stories about friendships among men, at a time when those men need those friendships.When Michael Moriarty learns his friend Robert De Niro is incurably sick and will soon die, he makes a decision to give his friend a final season of friendship and support. These men talk half-bright teenager among themselves, and then try to sound like sports-interview aces in formal situations. Note Moriarty's awkwardness in refusing to have an unwritten clause about not trading De Niro away from the team: "No verbal words. Must be wrote." He is equally awkward, and must move cautiously, in persuading the other players to help, and to keep mum when symptoms of the illness appear. Eventually, everybody is in on the effort to help. De Niro is welcomed into the TEGWAR games, and into the glee club. The team doctor is in the dugout at every game. The patient is able to hold up his end as catcher when the rotation brings him up to catch a game. At bat, it seems his best play all year is to hit a good solid triple and come into third standing up. In what turns out to be his last game, his team-mates see the trouble coming. The first baseman dashes in and snags a pop fly that De Niro can no longer handle himself.In his final monologue, walking away from De Niro's graveside, Moriarty gives what could be considered a strong contender for the best curtain line ever: "From here on in, I rag nobody."