User Reviews

What a beautifully poignant film.

The movie touches on such important universal themes, through fantastic storytelling and great acting.

Can't recommend highly enough!

This movie starts out as a very realistic and engaging story. About a boy whose dream is to become a professional baseball player. He exhibits the talent which is acknowledged by his coach.The problem is that his parents are not appreciative of his interest. They would prefer that he pursuit a more realistic goal more in line with the family's Jewish traditions.

The drama includes inter-family trauma involving an older brother who is suffering from deep depression and a free spirited sister who lives in California. The first 45 minutes of this movie are really great. The young actor playing the part of the main character was superb as are the parents who interact with him. When they cut to scene where he is all grown up for me the movie just fell all apart. The story line became a real bore populated with uninteresting character actors. In short it loss its soul and that was it for me.

Filmmakers often take on a big gamble when they try to change an endearing child actor's portrayal and transform it into a continuation as an adult and guess what it does not always work.

Family oriented and won't let son to explore more for his good deed? It's selfish or what? Old time movie I can't feel anything now.

There's an axiom in entertainment always to leave the audience wanting more. When Extra Innings ended I hungered for more. After all, the characters worked through the tough stuff. The movie's ending showed me that good things were imminent so I need not see more.

Some reviewers called this a baseball move. I disagree. This is a story about one person's walk through mental illness and how he endured. Baseball was the Universe's gift to the main character so he could have an outlet in a dysfunctional environment. The skills he learned developing his talent for baseball, no doubt gave him the foundation and confidence to develop other talents later. We know this because the author, on whose life Extra Innings is based, did not become a professional baseball player, but still was successful in his chosen career paths. Plus the author opened the door for others to share their stories of loss and illness that will help bring them healing and catharsis.

You did a good job, Mr. Dabah. Keep telling your story. Keep encouraging others to tell theirs. The truth sets us all free.

The film depicts family dynamics in which the characters are not listening to each other , therefore having huge difficulties in supporting one another. This makes it more difficult for one to share their dreams, wants and aspirations. Obviously, in watching Extra Innings, one can see the pain and loneliness expressed as well as the love that David has for the game of Baseball.

It is a film that touches your heart and brings home the need we have to do all that we can to help people in pain, give support and express the love we have for one another.

Heart wrenching movie that takes you into the life of a young boy who overcomes his unimaginable family drama by pursuing his dream.

This film is one of those rare pieces that brings together so many unsung moments in life to create a movie that feels organic. The characters are realistic, the impact of the tragedy is raw and feels deeply relatable to anyone who's felt this kind of loss. A high recommend.

It is hard to describe the depth or the impact of a movie that is based on the real life tragedies that a person has endured. I found this film to be moving on so many levels. Across the board the acting was inspiring - particularly being a cast of mostly unknowns. They all found a way to tap into the heart of the story. We don't see films these days that are as personal and touching . This one deals with family issues that are difficult, complicated and tragic all at the same time. It is a worthwhile film and deals with subjects that are, sadly, close to home for far too many people.

This is one of those films that was created in the most simplest forms leaving you to feel like you're sitting right in the room with the main characters. The level of intimacy one feels as you're engaged in the film almost makes you feel like you're watching two of your friends Reach a point in their life where they're either gonna make it or they're not. Very well produced and this is one of those movies that I would definitely recommend on a date night or one of those nights where you just eat in a tub ice cream alone in the living room, the Director and crew did an amazing job with this final product.

Multiple themes. Pursuit of ones dream, being torn between family loyalty and that passion, and coping with serious mental health issues within the nuclear family. Will provoke thought long after viewing.

Through the writing,acting and directing of "Extra Innings", Al Dabah has shown each of us how courageous one need be in this life, as we all carry emotional baggage to varying degrees.

Despite the devotion to religious education and tradition, Al, "David", the youngest sibling was born into a family incapable of protecting or directing their children in emotionally healthy ways. He was then seemingly abandoned in the most important and supportive of ways toward understanding of how to cope with the severities of each of the tragedies that unfolded in his life, as portrayed.

Though the film was autobiographical the rigors of baseball are a great metaphor from which to draw many positive examples for building relationships and coping with life itself. One may have a deep attachment and love for the sport, but baseball is a demanding self-discipline replete with the responsibilities of daily practice, schedules, team loyalty, training, knowing your opponent and your own strengths and weaknesses and especially of building the kind of character that can accept defeat, as well as winning. In those respects, it is not unlike being part of a family. The dichotomy of the relationships experienced by young David growing up within his orthodox Syrian family and of those of being an active baseball team member, played the major theme of his childhood. Though deeply loved, he carries more than just the expectations of his parents' hopes and dreams for their son ... for in addition he bore those they had for both his brother and sister. And unlike where in baseball you'd eventually be thrown off the team for any lackadaisical performances, young Al had no "out", as his parents demanded he tow the line while his very passion and spirit were being suppressed, albeit denied.

The very unconditional love, bonding, acceptance, inspiration and encouragement he so desperately needed came from those very siblings, his big brother and sister, which compounded to the weight of their loss, leaving him further bereft.

It is quite admirable that Albert Dabah had the insight to know he must seek outside professional help in understanding how and why the sequence of his childhood's events evolved into such tragedies, how to deal with each and all, and how to proceed into the future when feeling so confused, afraid and alone.

Reaching into the depths of that pain and the process of writing itself is courageous. Untangling the history and psychology of each family member and the relationships they'd developed with one another, and then finding oneself and a reason and way to go on and help others, is likened to writing your own Bible. I applaud Al Dabah for a movie whose script was well written, characters and acting so genuine and believable, scenery, dress, music and lighting spot on and moreso a film debut at this very time in which individuals are so in need of the assistance of therapy and suicide prevention.

Extra Innings has a way of pulling you in. In so many scenes you feel like you're right there in the dining room having dinner or in the living room with the family. You feel like you are a part of the family. This film also pushes us to look at Depression in a way we may not have before. It makes us ask ourselves the question...Am I as strong as David? Great storytelling and great direction. The cast is awesome! Although it has its happy and sad moments, I think everyone who sees this film will take something great from it with them. Excellent family film.

Extra Innings is extraordinary. The actors played their roles in such a convincing, natural way. Great portrayal of family dynamics involving mental illness, displaying powerful emotional sequences throughout the movie. I highly recommend this movie...you will not be disappointed.