Cobb (1994)

If this movie exaggerates the nastiness of Ty Cobb, his descendants could sue. Then again if the movie is accurate, his descendants clearly despise him as much as anyone else. The weirdly symbiotic relationship between Cobb and his hapless biographer Aaron Stump is engrossing to watch, but it is Tommy Lee Jones' performance that makes the movie. The performance borders on chewing up the scenery, but it's mesmerizing.

Fmovies: when was in a movie rental store around the age of 8 I had no idea what in the world a movie titled Cobb could possibly be about. At that time my first thought was that it was about some horror movie slasher film in a corn field due to the dark movie cover and the cold looking man on the cover. Although the cover has changed since then I was only surprised to learn that it was about a baseball player later on in my life around the age of 15. However it was about a cold looking, and not to mention cruel acting man. It was almost scary the way this man viewed life. Almost abusively portrayed through the incredible skill of Tommy Lee Jones.

No one could have possibly played this role with enough conviction and energy as the man they cast. He was vigorous, violent, and energetic and in every way fit for this part. I disagree with another commentators comment that Robert Wuhl's character was dry and lacking. In that I also say that I saw much more in that character than most people give him credit for. This film carry's you from a wretched, sick old man in the boondocks to a wild, wary, warrior of life fighting and dominating every aspect of life that he cared to pursue. Tommy lee Jones did an incredible job at playing a hated, yet respected character in that stone cold role of Tyrus Raymond Cobb. I found this film most moving, and although at times I could not believe the wake left in his trail I had to tip my hat to a man who kept fighting right up to the last minute of his life.

I later read the biography "Cobb:a biography by Al Stump" and reading of his wild nature in that book I knew that the role had been attacked with a savage ferocity. No matter who you are don't look at this film as something to criticize, but more as something to educate yourself on a man who never gave up, and lived his life without ever giving inch without fighting for it. He set records and he turned some heads in the process.

Go into this movie with an open perspective instead of the love hate attitude that most have for films. For if a film was about you loving or hating a character or a part of a movie you might miss the whole point of the film. The point of this film clearly established that he was hated, and he owed that to no one other than himself. I was moved, wowed, amazed, and shaken by this film simply from the acting alone. it's worth watching at least once. and lastly i must say comparing this to the real story that this movie was as close to the truth of any portrayal of any life as any i have seen. ***1/2 out of *****

Let's start out with a few indisputable facts. At first, Al Stump wrote a glowing book about Ty Cobb which did very well. After Cobb's death, he recanted. He started in stag men's magazines, that also talk about aliens, and Voodoo. Hardly a reputable source. This is where he invented the details of the shooting. Eventually he gave credit for the details to a neighbor of Cobb. There's only one problem, this guy was dead 4 years before Cobb ever approached Stump to write his book! They never even traveled to Royston Georgia. Where Stump claims Cobb started telling Stump about the incident.

Stump stole tons of artifacts from the Estate and eventually got caught! This is the character of the story teller here folks. He was even selling multiple copies of forged letters! Forged Autographs. Writing new stories and selling Cobb memorabilia was his meal ticket.

Somehow this aspect never gets reported. Go ask anybody in the sports memorabilia market if they're interested in stuff from Al Stump, and get ready for an earful. It's all considered fake and forged. But what he said about Cobb is gospel? So I come here and read all these reviews and as usual people just believe all these things and even stamp them as authentic and true.

By the time Stump met Cobb he was elderly and frail. None of that manic misadventures stuff happened! There's no corroboration on any of those insanely made up movie events. Nobody shot off a gun in a casino. Or any of the rest of it.

Cobb was a curmudgeon who pushed everybody away, even family. Most of the Urban legends about him are just that. I run into old miserable guys all day long. I've actually been to Royston Georgia and interviewed people.

They all have stories about Cobb being off putting and speaking his mind. But they all also have stories about his generosity. He made it possible for children charities to thrive 70 years after his death. He donated the single biggest endowment in US history at the time. As the black lady who ran his Museum said "Look around, who do you think that benefited?" She also mentioned how all of his staff received pensions. Something unheard of back then.

I'm not saying the guy wasn't racist. From all of his quotes, he didn't particularly care for people of any race! But he came from a time period where everybody was racist.

There is only one truth in this entire movie. At the time of his death, he was considered far and wide the best player ever. By the sports writers who saw him play! Day in, day out. How that has morphed into him not even making lists nowadays is the true intolerance. While Ruth is still right there on on top of many.

Cobb fmovies. Tommy Lee Jones must have been in dire need for a real fast and big pay cheque to agree to have starred as the iconic baseball legend Ty Cobb in such a stinker of a biographical film. Why Tommy? Why? Did you even read the script and/or did you know what a lousy co-star you would be opposite to in Robert Wuhl?

I can't believe how silly and ridiculous the writing was for this so-called biography of the elderly 70 plus Ty Cobb and the scenes that took place at Ty Cobb's cabin in the woods through to the ridiculous car chase in a winter storm were so poorly scripted and acted I assume they completed most of the film in record time with no second takes.

For this film to take such an iconic and legendary baseball legend as Ty Cobb and turn him into a cartoonish old man who can't get his penis to rise the past few years is such an embarassment to the man, the legend, and to the major league baseball historical society.

I have to assume that Robert Wuhl's family invested every last dime they had to have Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones star in this piece of crap that made Ty Cobb look like such a loser. Oh, but of course the film also had to portray Robert Wuhl's character writer Al Stump as the hero who puts up with the wacky Ty Cobb's violence and verbal abuse only to out survive Ty Cobb and raise a glass with his cronies in his honor. Blah...blah.blahh.blahh

I give this film version Cobb a 3 (strikes) out of 10 rating and call it OUT!!!!!

I guess one downfall of really being into history like I am, is that you do your homework after watching a supposedly true story like this movie claimed to be, and you find that the whole movie was a total lie. After watching this garbage, I did my normal thing of looking into the main character, and the real stories about them. This movie was far from the truth. The guy who came up with this had it in for Ty Cobb, and wrote a book that was all lies. The sad part about it is that now you have millions of people who watched it thinking it was all true, which in return has besmirched this person's name. I would never watch this garbage again even if you paid me. Don't waste your time or money. It's all a bunch of bull, and it's not even that great of a movie.

This little seen film has Tommy Lee Jones giving one of the best performances of his career. It is a shame that the film was given only a limited release with no advertising budget. I know of many who wanted to see this movie, but it was in and out of the theaters before they could notice.

"Cobb" gets one of my highest recommendations. No Jones fan can justify not seeing this movie.