I Am Baseball (2023) by Takashi Ono Film Review

After a number of student shorts, “I Am Baseball” could perhaps prove the be the missing link in Takashi Ono’s career and a movement into bigger budget features. Following themes from his earlier work, this again has a central female in a role battling against a male dominated world, and could pitch Ono towards bigger things. Buy This Titleon Terracotta by clicking on the image below Ken (Shuto) is an amateur baseball player under the tutelage of his coach Shigeno (Takehiko Fujita). But when Ken skips training to spend more time at home with his wife Natsuko (Mitsuki Moriyama), Shigeno puts an end to Ken’s baseball career to start work on his next project: Natsuko. Trying to fuel her anger, he applies some unconventional techniques to turn her from housewife to professional ball player. Knowing that he is playing with fire, Shigeno’s new protégé could make or break him; Natsuko is now no longer the meek women she once was. Now, she is baseball! Straight from the bat, Ono makes some interesting technical choices, which serves as something of a theme throughout. Elements seem to be fighting for space, as Natsuko reads Shigeno’s ‘baseball Bible’ as the opening credits roll on screen and the soundtrack drowns out her voice. Throughout, there are sirens blaring over scenes and the soundtrack overwhelms certain moments, in what is an unusual take on sound design. But while perhaps a sign of amateurism, the repetition of the sirens with Shigeno on screen hints at some subtle and more playful filmmaking. The editing also works towards something more, though feels more in hope than effective filmmaking. Repetitive cuts and slow motion are used throughout, though while working in parts, are perhaps used too often and start to feel a little cliché. The aesthetic, to start at least, does work, with a colour palette and homemade feel that give it a Showa era charm merged with 90s V-cinema. As it progresses, however, it starts to morph into more or a live-action anime/manga as the comedy becomes more blatant and in-your-face. There is, therefore, a lot going on from start to finish, not necessarily ending where you’d expect from its opening. Picked-up by Third Window Films, this is in-line with what you’d expect from their more contemporary comedy releases, and part of a showcase for a future talent. It isn’t always a winner but is bold and not afraid to go its own way, switching from the everyday to the outrageous. Tags:I Am BaseballMitsuki MoriyamaTakashi Ono