Arriba

Authors: Tony
Location: Pittsburgh

“Arriba”

Directed by Marc Forster
Written by Eric Guggenheim
Produced by Tom Rosenberg
Music by Vangelis

Principal Cast:

Seu Jorge - Roberto Clemente
Don Cheadle - Willie Stargell
Tom Wilkinson - Danny Murtaugh
Noah Emmerich - Bob Robertson
Simon Baker - Richie Hebner
Djimon Hounsou - Al Oliver
Adam Rodriguez - Mike Cuellar
Isaiah Washington - Willie Mays
Vivica A. Fox - Vera Clemente
Clancy Brown - Mickey Mantle
C.J. Sanders - Young Roberto Clemente

Tagline: "He brought a championship to Pittsburgh, he brought hope to the world"

Synopsis: From the man that brought you "Monsters Ball", "Finding Neverland", and "Stay", Marc Forster is back with his highly acclaimed sports drama "Arriba", a remarkable story about the baseball legend Roberto Clemente. Born August 18,1934, Clemente was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico with 4 other children, at the time which was dealing with poverty. He exceeded in many sports but his one true love was baseball. He was nicknamed around his home "Arriba" with is latin for "on the shore". At age 18 Clemente first got the scouts attention by playing with the Santurce Crabbers (with hall of famer Willie Mays). He was ready to try the majors, but it was difficult times then when people of color werent treated fairly and considered the minority. However in 1955 he had his first break in the majors when the Pittsburgh Pirates brought him in as one of their own, and it was the only team Roberto would play for. The 18 seasons with the Pirates sealed his fate as to being one of the greatest players to ever play the game. From putting up a consistent batting average above .300 throughout his entire career (leading the National League 4 times) to climbing up ivory walls making miraculous catches in right field, Clemente was a force to be reckoned with. The city of Pittsburgh was hungry for a championship, and in 1960 the dream came true. Clemente and the Pirates defeated the high powered, Mickey Mantle led New York Yankees in an exciting 7 game series. It was then in 1971 when Clemente and fellow teammates Willie Stargell, Bob Robertson, Richie Hebner, Al Oliver, and manager Danny Murtaugh became World Series champs again, against a great Baltimore Orioles team. Again, this one went to 7 games, and it was none other than Roberto Clemente who sealed the victory with solo home run, hitting it off of highly ranked pitcher Mike Cuellar that made the score 2-1, after this he was named the World Series mvp. Roberto would rank in the top 20 for league MVP 12 times in his career, and winning league MVP once.

As usual there is always a downside towards a heroic figure. Clemente was always criticized for complaining and nagging about injuries he had, and he had quite a few in his day. The media thought he was weak and soft, but Clemente played through many injuries and still managed to carry his team along with his fellow long time teammate and good friend Willie Stargell, also a remarkable hall of famer player. Roberto was also hit with analysts claiming he was too small to play the game. Again Clemente rubbed it in their face by having a cannon for a throwing arm and by hitting home runs with one good arm, and the other being injured. If anything was underrated with Clemente, it was his power. Though more known for being a contact hitter and reaching base an abundance of times, Clemente had some bang in those arms.

Nicknamed "The Great One" at this time in his career, Roberto wasnt only known for being a great player, but outside the baseball world, Roberto helped thousands of other people around the world in different countries, using the money he made from baseball and invested that in food for charity all around the world for the poor. Unfortunately one year later from his second World Series win, in 1972 the baseball world would be victimed to one of the biggest sports tragedies of all time. On December 31 Roberto Clemente was killed in a fatal airplane crash shortly after it took off. Roberto was off to Nicaragua, chartering relief supplies for earthquake victims, which killed thousands and left many homeless. In 1973 Clemente was inducted into the baseball hall of fame, being the first hispanic inducted. Roberto Clemente fullfilled his life by being one of baseballs greatest heroes on and off the field, and marrying Vera Clemente, having four children. The end of this film shows the real footage of Roberto Clementes number, 21, being retired in front of thousands of Pittsburgh fans at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The statue of Clemente can be seen outside of the park.

What the press would say:

It's been some time since a sports biopic has caught my attention. "Ali" was a good story but highly flawed, "Cinderella Man" was well casted but wont go down as a classic. "Arriba" is an all around solid achievement that will go down as one of the greatest sports epics of all time. Truly a rollercoaster ride of emotions throughout the illustrious life of Roberto Clemente that was just meant to be a part of the big screen.

Marc Forster brings the true happiness to the film as he did with "Finding Neverland", and brings the true tragic realism to the film with the racism and death to the picture like he did in "Monsters Ball". If people didn't recognize Seu Jorge's talents in "City of God", Arriba will definitely sell his place in the acting community. From the weight loss to studying his character, Jorge put his soul into film and should definitely get his recognition. Tom Wilkinson gives a motivated, groundbreaking performance as the manager of the 1972 World Series champs Pittsburgh Pirates. If anyone has the look of a baseball player it would be Don Cheadle. Cheadle gets a good bit of time in this film as power hitting Willie Stargell, and long time friend of Clemente.

So get your popcorn, bring your date, bring your father, heck bring the whole family, because this 2 and 1/2 hour feature is one that will be remembered as one of the greatest sports stories told on screen. It truly makes you forget the difficult times the world has been through since its existence, and makes you remember the heroes and legends that did do something good for the world, and for you.

Recommendations:

Best Picture
Best Director - Marc Forster
Best Actor - Seu Jorge
Best Actor in Supporting - Tom Wilkinson
Best Actor in Supporting - Don Cheadle
Best Actor in Supporting - Clancy Brown
Best Actress in Supporting - Vivica A. Fox
Best Original Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Original Score