-Bang the Drum Slowly

Based on Mark Harris’ novel of the same name, Bang the Drum Slowly tells the story of the friendship between Henry Wiggins, star pitcher for the fictional New York Mammoths, and catcher Bruce Pearson. Pearson is not as talented as Henry and has intellectual limitations. Early in the film, the Mammoths are not enjoying much success. Pearson is not playing as well as he has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The film follows Pearson and Wiggins’s journey to come to terms with Bruce’s impending death. The journey inspires the team to start playing better, and by the time Pearson dies, the Mammoths have won the World Series. Bang the Drum Slowly won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.