It Ain't Over
CAST: Billy Crystal, Bob Costas, Yogi Berra DIRECTOR: Sean Mullin
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is one of baseball's
greatest. He amassed ten World Series rings, 3 MVP awards and 18 All-Star Game
appearances. He caught the only perfect game in World Series history. Yet for
many his deserved stature was overshadowed by his simply being himself and
being more recognized more for his unique personality, TV commercial
appearances and unforgettable "Yogi-isms," initially head-scratching
philosophical nuggets that make a lot more sense the more you think about them.
In telling the whole story, It Ain't Over gives Berra his due in following the
life of a savvy, commanding, bad-ball hitting catcher with a squat frame but
also a D-Day veteran, loving husband and father and, yes, product endorser and
originator (mostly) of his own brand of proverbs now ingrained into everyday
life. Granddaughter Lindsay Berra tells his story along with his sons, former
Yankee teammates, players he managed, writers, broadcasters, and admirers (such
as Billy Crystal), plus photos and footage on and off the diamond. Berra
famously said, "I'd be pretty dumb if I started being something I'm not," and
It Ain't Over lovingly makes clear he stayed who he was for the benefit of
baseball and everyone else.
Berra's ground-level appeal keeps the documentary from getting too full of itself.Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
The film is a spin through baseball history, but also an examination of how media-molded personas can overtake genuine accomplishments.Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic