The measured rhythms of “Eephus” offer a remedy to the turbulence of the modern world

Carson Lund’s wistful indie baseball comedy makes its Madison premiere at the Bartell Theatre on July 19.

For more than a century, baseball has been referred to as “America’s pastime,” and Carson Lund’s Eephus (2024)—making its Madison premiere at the Bartell Theatre on Saturday, July 19, at 5 p.m.—is one of the only feature films of the decade to examine and embody the longstanding nickname. (This screening, coupled with Margot Budzyna’s similarly baseball-centric narrative short film Deuce (2025), has been organized by Tone Madison‘s Film Editor Grant Phipps.)

Eephus‘ premise is simple: two Massachusetts recreational-league teams, the Riverdogs and Adler’s Paint, play one last game at their local baseball field before it’s torn down to become the site of an elementary school. The nine-inning game unfolds in the illusion of real time, with the sprawling list of actors doing the plays themselves. The players aren’t especially good, but they’re devoted, if imperfect, vessels for the spirit of the game. Yet, don’t expect any overt spiritualism à la Field Of Dreams (1989) or Angels In The Outfield (1994). If Lund’s movie exists in any religious cinematic tradition, it’s probably closer to the quiet devotion of late French auteur Robert Bresson.

This final recreational game is dutifully observed by Franny (Cliff Blake), an old-timer who sits quietly behind the field with his paper-and-pencil scoreboard, as well as a slowly fading cast of wives, girlfriends, children, local skaters, and a pizza-truck operator (played by longtime Red Sox announcer Joe Castiglione), who all exhibit varying levels of waning interest.

Some notable names emerge in the numbers on the field—chiefly, Keith William Richards of Uncut Gems (2019) fame, as Ed Mortanian, the leader of Adler’s Paint, as well as New York indie stalwart Keith Poulson on the opposing Riverdogs. Other standouts include Chris Eigeman lookalike Nate Fisher, co-host of A Closer Look podcast (who’s also co-writer of the script), as Merritt Nettles.

As the self-serious relief pitcher, Merritt delivers the speech that explains how to throw the titular pitch, which doubles as a metaphor for the feeling that the film is trying to capture: “It’s a curveball, but pitched so unnaturally slow that it confuses the batter, so they swing either too early or too late.” The players are locked into the leisurely pace of the game, determined to collectively glide across home plate. Constant reminders of real-world responsibilities are quickly forgotten once the next player enters the batter’s box. While their attention is locked in, nothing else in the world is real. They can’t leave the field until the ritual is complete.

More memorable players include Garrett (Chris Goodwin), a goofy ’90s descendent of John Sweet from A Canterbury Tale (1944), who has the most memorable entrance in the film, and Rich (Ray Hryb), a veteran who gives a squinty-eyed speech about how every aspect of the modern world is combat. This particular battle between men must be finished because it’s not important. There won’t be any plaques, and the moment seems to fade before it’s even finished.

In a world where everything seems to demand more speed and urgency, Eephus laments the loss of a reason to slow down, and indulge in an elaborately constructed ritual to socialize with other men. Through the interplay of these performances, a true sense of camaraderie allows the rivalry to stretch out into a shared humanity. Not to suggest this film isn’t a lot of fun to watch, as it features plenty of good-natured shit talking, pratfalls, and small-town oddballism to go along with all the waxing philosophical about the passage of time.

If Eephus boasts a cast of the devoted, Deuce shows the most effective recruitment into any avocation: start them young. Grade-schoolers Addie (Arabella Olivia Clark) and Michael (Lynden Miles Ley) are best friends who slowly drift apart because of the recruiting efforts of the local little league team. The film’s lush and sunny look accurately captures some of the awkwardness and competitiveness of growing up, as well as trying to conform to gender roles without fully understanding their meaning.

It should also be noted that these screenings have been timed as a sort of capstone to the All-Star Break, which includes the midsummer classic that was held on July 15, and as a lead-off to the second half of the season, which starts on July 18. Taken together, Deuce and Eephus allow you to take a minute to reflect on the more personal meanings of the game of baseball.