Blacklist Coverage | americanyankee

Era

1980s

Locations

International

Budgets

Medium

Genre

Drama, Period Drama, Political Drama, Sports Drama

Logline:

n 1990, a failing MLB pitcher joins a Nicaraguan baseball team with the hope of getting his career back on track and inadvertently becomes a force in helping to secure the country's first free and election in decades.

A capable but flawed athlete looking to regain the magic that propelled him to the big leagues in the first place, Brooks Crawford never expected to be such an important figure in such a revolutionary time, but that's a mantle he has to accept in "American Yankee", a powerful and compelling blend of sports and political drama. Nicaragua at this turbulent time makes for an interesting setting, practically a character in its own right. The script does an excellent job of bringing the culture to life as well as keeping us informed on the ongoing political developments. There is an impressive balance between Brooks's own personal arc and the bigger picture surrounding him. Faith, who opens Brooks's wounded heart, and Osniel, who shares his tragic story of loss, help Brooks see how important all this is. With the weight of these circumstances, the baseball scenes are all the more riveting.

This script deftly crosses worlds and subgenres to tell a powerful story of one man's redemption. What appears at first to be simply a sports story quickly reveals itself as much more, using a relatable protagonist like Brooks to explore the real humanity behind and bring context to the Nicaraguan civil war -- and, as it turns out, vice versa. Audiences love a story of redemption, and Brooks Crawford is an exceptional protagonist to bring that type of story to life. His resiliency and honesty are sympathetic and incredibly admirable. The audience is on his side from the very beginning, and he's a fun character to follow. What's particularly impressive is the way the writer is able to marry Brooks' journey with Faith's, and with the journey of the Nicaraguan people in general. It just feels organic, considering how central baseball is to the culture, and the intertwining of these worlds is done skillfully. The ultimate ending here is satisfying and sweet, without being overly saccharine, which is a difficult balance to do well. All in all, it's a strong idea and a solid read.

Prospects:

"American Yankee" has a winning high concept it executes effectively. It would be easy for the audience to get engaged, in both the baseball and the themes of freedom. Interest in the true events could be a draw. Sports stories always have an interest in the feature-marketplace, especially baseball stories -- and right now, especially sports stories from diverse backgrounds. This is a unique one, as it transcends the sport, using it as a metaphor to explore the tumultuous and violent political climate that the story is set in. Though a period piece, the subject matter does make the project feel very timely, which is good. There are other concerns with period pieces that the writer should be aware of, though. Mainstream studios are often reticent about spec period scripts, as they usually grow more expensive and complicated as development proceeds. Still, there's a good, life-affirming story here, and with a little more work to address some character and script concerns, it could make a splash in the marketplace.

Pages

101