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Off the Black

R Released Dec 8, 2006 1h 30m Comedy Drama List
65% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
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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Off the Black

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Georgan G A very touching drama about life's difficulities from the standpoint of several excellently played characters. Nolte is the alcoholic, dying, bitter man who befriends a high schooler basically without parents. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review 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 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 Read all reviews
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Movie Info

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
Producer
Scott Macaulay, Robin O'Hara
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
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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