Off the Black

R

Released Dec 8, 2006

1 hr. 30 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

65%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

57%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After his baseball team loses a game due to a call by umpire Ray Cook (Nick Nolte), Dave Tibbel (Trevor Morgan) and some friends decide to vandalize Ray's house. Dave is caught and starts paying off his debt by cleaning up the mess. Then Ray unexpectedly offers to forgive the debt if the teen will accompany him to his 40th high-school reunion and pose as his son. A paternal bond forms between Ray, who is dying, and Dave, whose own father (Timothy Hutton) is emotionally distant.

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Critics Consensus

Nick Nolte shines in his role as an irascible high school umpire, imbuing this indie coming-of-age dramedy with heft and true-to-life warmth.

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Audience Member

Nick Nolte plays Ray Cook, a disillusioned baseball coach down on his luck and unhappy with how his life has turned out Trevor Morgan is Dave Tibbel, a kid that's free-spirited who's part of that same baseball team who lost a recent game One night with his friends he pulls a harmless prank on Ray but he is caught Ray expects restitution, then he gets a letter about his high school reunion coming up He hatches an idea; to impress his old classmates he asks Dave to pose as his son If all goes well then the slate is wiped clean But these two are unprepared for the unexpected bond like any father and son would share A very slow, solemn experience but Nolte and Morgan are so great They both learn a lot from their youth and elderly experiences Sure we reach our prime in life but it's never too late to still leave an impression and our mark

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

dax h

Wasn't horrible, but just too dull, too flat.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Off the Black is a simple drama about bonds and connections, image and sympathy. Its endearing and has all those classic tropes you need for a small indie drama film, but the movie is just good enough, from director/writer James Ponsoldt.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The leads are good, and Timothy Hutton is memorably off-putting as the pitcher's disengaged dad. But having created the aching umpire, Ponsoldt occupies him with some fairly shopworn situation.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

ive become a big fan of james ponsoldt after seeing his latest 2 films smashed and the spectacular now, so i def wanted to check his other films out, while i didnt have the same emotional response to this one as i did the other 2, its still very solid, hes very good at directing relationships, and the one between nolte and morgan is great, neither go overboard or over dramamtic, it felt real and i enjoyed seeing them together, dewitt is good too, but i wouldve liked to know more about her or see more scenes with her, the girl that plays the sister is good too, while the story might not be the most original, its still a good watch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I sat through this dreck for almost an hour before I decided I just did not care. None of the characters are likable, there's nothing redeeming about the story, and it's in general just incredibly boring. I wish I could get that wasted hour back.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

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James Ponsoldt

Director

Nick Nolte

Ray Cook

Trevor Morgan

Dave Tibbel

Sonia Feigelson

Ashley Tibbel

Rosemarie DeWitt

Debra Christopher

Sally Kirkland

Marianne Reynolds

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

The leads are good, and Timothy Hutton is memorably off-putting as the pitcher's disengaged dad. But having created the aching umpire, Ponsoldt occupies him with some fairly shopworn situation.

Mar 21, 2011

Full Review

Bob Longino

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A modest drama fueled by Nick Nolte's gutsy lead performance as a disheveled 57-year-old junkyard proprietor who's been as flattened by life as the rusty old cars he crushes.

Rated: B+

Feb 1, 2007

Full Review

Noel Murray

AV Club

Nolte almost makes it work.

Rated: C

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Ponsoldt's central metaphor is for a perplexing male relationship that's a lot harder to call than a ball that cuts just off the corner of the plate, and can decide a life well beyond the game.

May 19, 2020

Full Review

Nina MacLaughlin

Boston Phoenix

Nolte nails the particular tragedy of the past-his-prime ex-high-school athlete.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 19, 2013

Full Review

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

Nolte is a flawed mentor in uncertain indie drama.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 15, 2010

Full Review

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Synopsis

After his baseball team loses a game due to a call by umpire Ray Cook (Nick Nolte), Dave Tibbel (Trevor Morgan) and some friends decide to vandalize Ray's house. Dave is caught and starts paying off his debt by cleaning up the mess. Then Ray unexpectedly offers to forgive the debt if the teen will accompany him to his 40th high-school reunion and pose as his son. A paternal bond forms between Ray, who is dying, and Dave, whose own father (Timothy Hutton) is emotionally distant.

Director: James Ponsoldt
Executive Producer: Bob Hariri, Meg Mortimer, Maggie Meade, Steve Kalafer
Screenwriter: James Ponsoldt
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Production Co: Forensic Films
Rating: R (A Crude Sexual Remark)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 6, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.0K
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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