Directed by Craig Gillespie and produced by Walt Disney Pictures, this 2014 film brings to the screen a biographical tale based on the true story of pitchers Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, who became the first Indian players in history to sign a professional contract in the major leagues of American baseball.
Million Dollar Arm tells us the story of J.B. Bernstein (played by Jon Hamm), a sports agent going through a rough patch who sees a golden opportunity in the idea of traveling to India to organize a contest named "The Million Dollar Arm". His goal? To find the country's best cricket pitchers and bring them to the United States, hoping to turn them into the next stars of Major League Baseball.
By comparing and intertwining, the movie boldly and clearly highlights the vast contrast between India and the United States, two entirely different worlds. JB's journey allows us to see, as rarely before, the most authentic, stunning, and moving India, full of life and color: the hustle and bustle of streets crowded with people and the occasional cow wandering about, cars and rickshaws honking incessantly, children running around, the strength and joy of crowds gathering in moments at new events, and their modus operandi that surprises any Westerner.
Meanwhile, when the contest winners land in Los Angeles, it unveils the great contrasts other cultures might face when confronted with the North American and Western way of life: the technological devices, the constant hurry, the high expectations, and the erosion of family ties… All of this forms a spectacle that's truly eye-opening.
The storyline, with its highs and lows inherent to tackling a risky and unprecedented proposal in the world of American baseball, maintains a good pace. And a pleasant tone is kept throughout the story, largely thanks to its fun and endearing characters: JB and his determination; the two young talents who, far from their family and homeland, find themselves fully immersed in a new environment with unfamiliar rules of conduct; the peculiar scout who helps JB find the best candidates with his unbeatable ear; the tiny Indian assistant-interpreter, enthusiastic and comically obedient… All of them, uniting forces and interests, weave a plot full of humor, expectations, and emotion in this adorable portrait of overcoming and camaraderie. Because, "sometimes, to succeed, you have to change the game."
Million Dollar Arm is currently available for rent or purchase on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Google Play and Microsoft.