March 1, 2006 -- “Up for Grabs” is a documentary about a seemingly minor incident which somehow seems to illuminate a lot of things that are wrong with society. The minor incident starts when a tall man (Alex Popov) in a crowd at a baseball game grabs a home run ball, then quickly is pushed down and disappears under a swarm of people grabbing for the ball. Later, another man, Patrick Hayashi, emerges from the pile with the ball.

Ordinarily, there would not have been such a scramble for the ball, but this ball just happens to be Barry Bonds' record-breaking 73rd home run ball. It is worth a lot of money to collectors. A court battle ensues over who owns the record-breaking home run ball.

The film is a documentary about greed, fame and the news business. It is one of the few films where the cameraman (who also directed, wrote and produced the film) steps out from behind the camera and explains what he did and how he did it. The news cameraman, Michael Wranovics, who got the film of Popov catching the ball ended up making this documentary. It tells the inner workings of the television news business better than most films, and there are interviews with working print journalists of the type who are seldom seen on film.

Ordinary baseball fans are also interviewed about their thoughts about the disputed baseball. Baseball players, including Barry Bonds, comment on the disputed ball. Various people who actually witnessed the incident are also interviewed for the film. Their various versions of the incident differ significantly. This is why eye-witness testimony isn't as reliable as it should be. The much-maligned Bonds makes a surprisingly cogent observation, by the way. Filmmakers interview the man who caught Roger Maris' 61st home run, the one that broke Babe Ruth's record. It is an interesting illustration of how times have changed in the last 40 years.

Several people are interviewed who put sports, and sports collectors, in perspective with real news about events that really matter. Legal scholars, lawyers and the judge who presided in the case, are interviewed and seminars regarding property law are covered in the film. Every angle seems to have been covered thoroughly. This well-made documentary takes a seemingly small subject and uses it to illuminate the widening tears in the fabric of American society. This film rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2006 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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