Cobb is the supposedly true account of the final days of the great ballplayer Ty Cobb as seen through the eyes of sportswriter Al Stump. Tommy Lee Jones gives an extraordinary performance as the doomed and rambunctious old man. And Robert Wuhl ends up just being along for the Ride as Stump. Though it likely plays a little hard and fast with the truth, Cobb is an engrossing film.
The film is told through the perspective of Al Stump who was one of the more prominent sports writers of his day. Early in the film he finds himself summoned to an elaborate yet secluded hunting lodge in the Sierra Mountains. Here he finds the angry old delusional ball player in a state just a few paces ahead of death from various cancers, ailments, and substance abuse. Cobb always seems to be pointing a pistol at those around him and occasionally firing rounds through nearby objects. Cobb knows he's about to die, but wants the complete story of his life to be told... his way! Cobb, as played by Jones is often cartoon-ish, and likely a great exaggeration of the true man. Though he claims to want Stump to only include Cobb's introspection of the game of baseball itself, he often readily offers up lurid details of his past. But then forcefully reminds his biographer, "that's not going in your book, though!" It's almost as if Cobb is using Stump as a man to relate his final confessions to, knowing for sure that many of these details will some day be told about him. If not in the book they are working on at the time. Or it could be that Cobb just needs someone to pour out his soul to in his final days, and lacks friends or close family to do it with. Either way, the film paints Cobb as a monster. And he likely wasn't as bad a guy as the film paints him. But still he was no prince, that is clear from basically every account of the man's life.
The film follows Cobb and Stump on several wild escapades inside casinos, seedy motels, and even the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Cobb is played as a violent, impotent, and repugnant junkie. Stump finds himself being more of a caregiver than a biographer by the film's end, and finds himself in a difficult situation. He is the only thing keeping Cobb alive, yet he cannot wait for the old man to die so he can spill all of his secrets in the book. Unfortunately, Stump ends up copping out with the manuscript, and only submitting the good things Cobb wanted the world to hear. He explanation.... he felt he needed Cobb to be a hero, and not the villain he proved to be. The film never really explains why Stump comes to this conclusion. And thus the viewer may feel a little short-changed. In the end, it looks like this film was only made for shock value is showing us what a monster Cobb was. But this makes the Stump character little more than just another audience member like us.
Overall, the film is decent enough. Jones is fun to watch, and you'll never forget his performance. Even if it was probably a great exaggeration. The film looks good, and captures the older periods quite well. The script is a foul-mouthed exercise in brutal self-degradation and poor treatment of others, however. There is some brutal violence, and even a sexual assault at gunpoint. For those looking for the cleaner side of the man, a trip to Cooperstown might be a better idea. 7 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
The film is told through the perspective of Al Stump who was one of the more prominent sports writers of his day. Early in the film he finds himself summoned to an elaborate yet secluded hunting lodge in the Sierra Mountains. Here he finds the angry old delusional ball player in a state just a few paces ahead of death from various cancers, ailments, and substance abuse. Cobb always seems to be pointing a pistol at those around him and occasionally firing rounds through nearby objects. Cobb knows he's about to die, but wants the complete story of his life to be told... his way! Cobb, as played by Jones is often cartoon-ish, and likely a great exaggeration of the true man. Though he claims to want Stump to only include Cobb's introspection of the game of baseball itself, he often readily offers up lurid details of his past. But then forcefully reminds his biographer, "that's not going in your book, though!" It's almost as if Cobb is using Stump as a man to relate his final confessions to, knowing for sure that many of these details will some day be told about him. If not in the book they are working on at the time. Or it could be that Cobb just needs someone to pour out his soul to in his final days, and lacks friends or close family to do it with. Either way, the film paints Cobb as a monster. And he likely wasn't as bad a guy as the film paints him. But still he was no prince, that is clear from basically every account of the man's life.
The film follows Cobb and Stump on several wild escapades inside casinos, seedy motels, and even the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Cobb is played as a violent, impotent, and repugnant junkie. Stump finds himself being more of a caregiver than a biographer by the film's end, and finds himself in a difficult situation. He is the only thing keeping Cobb alive, yet he cannot wait for the old man to die so he can spill all of his secrets in the book. Unfortunately, Stump ends up copping out with the manuscript, and only submitting the good things Cobb wanted the world to hear. He explanation.... he felt he needed Cobb to be a hero, and not the villain he proved to be. The film never really explains why Stump comes to this conclusion. And thus the viewer may feel a little short-changed. In the end, it looks like this film was only made for shock value is showing us what a monster Cobb was. But this makes the Stump character little more than just another audience member like us.
Overall, the film is decent enough. Jones is fun to watch, and you'll never forget his performance. Even if it was probably a great exaggeration. The film looks good, and captures the older periods quite well. The script is a foul-mouthed exercise in brutal self-degradation and poor treatment of others, however. There is some brutal violence, and even a sexual assault at gunpoint. For those looking for the cleaner side of the man, a trip to Cooperstown might be a better idea. 7 of 10 stars.
The Hound.