a a scotsman raise on football and rugby american sport have often leave me cold and be a subject of derision in my household a a child . this film and brilliantly direct by billy crystal and change all that for me . i buy this film through a region 1 dvd supplier a it be unavailable in the uk and be move to tear by it moving and heartfelt depiction of the late great roger mari who in one season become the most misunderstood and hated figure in baseball history . his crime he dare to challenge a thirty four year old record set by babe ruth for the most home run score in a single season and even bad he be in competition with teammate mickey mantle for the record . mantle at the time be the darling of ny yankee fan and be probably the great player of his day and mari be a small town boy who play the game only a a mean to an end and to provide for his family and and care little for public opinion or the press . the venom to which he be subject to by the press and fan and bring on by immoral reporter and will make any sport fan angry . this film be a work of joy for director billy crystal and his love for the project show in every shot and especially in the director commentary . barry pepper be an uncanny roger mari and his amazing performance pull u into the suffer the player must have felt . thomas jane be a brilliant mickey mantle play the role of american legend with biblical sincerity . the whole project feel classy at all time and despite be make for t. v and and be a monument to both player and the era in which they live . the film be round of by an appearance during the credit by mickey mantle son and grandson and pure class and a tribute to the boyhood idol of billy crystal all in all well do to billy crystal and cast . thank you for a wonderful 2hrs and 9mins . i be only sad it wasn not longer . but it have introduce me to the sport of baseball and have compel me to learn more of both mari and mantle . so it have place me on a journey of discovery . what high compliment can i pay .