This film touched my heart and brought back memories of sharing good times with my parents. As a film patron, I look forward to the general release of this film, as the story is entertaining as well as educational. The wide release would not only raise knowledge about Parkinson Disease but would raise funds for Parkinson research. The every day trials were fun to watch, the sense of humor of both men was priceless. There is much to be learned from these fellows and the way they handled disappointment and triumphs. The public embraced them and that was heartwarming. It is America at its finest -baseball- as our national pastime. And being able to share it with someone you love is priceless. My wish for all would be for everyone to experience one day with a parent and enjoy the day. This film celebrates the America in all of us.
20 Reviews
Great baseball movie.....and much more!
duckboy-76 April 2006
I thought Boys of Summer was excellent. It's a movie that all baseball fans will enjoy, as well as anyone who appreciates a very nice father-son story. I particularly enjoyed seeing each and every park in the Major Leagues, and the close bond that Robert and Dan have with each other. You get a real feel of their personalities and the type of relationship they have with each other, one that would make many fathers & sons a little jealous. The ballparks are great....and as anyone who has been to many of them knows, each one is unique, and something to be savored. And all the while, you see the struggles that people with Parkinson's have, which gave me a much better understanding of the disease. I would highly recommend this to everyone I know.
Family Bonds Run Strong
monkletmeow4 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I had the privilege of seeing this documentary at the Phoenix Film Festival closing night, and the festival committee couldn't have picked a better movie to end with.
In this amazing tale of two grown men - father and son - traveling North America in a whirlwind adventure trying to see 30 Major League Baseball games in two months we learn of one of America's favorite past times - baseball - as tried and true as apple pie itself, family bonds, Parkinson's Disease, and how it effects our lives and loved ones.
This movie touched me to my core, and taught me you are never too old to reconnect with your family, dreams, and your child like innocence. I was amazed at the ease the Cochran's were willing to share their personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences, but through their sometimes humorous and candid sharing comes understanding. This is one film you should not bypass.
In this amazing tale of two grown men - father and son - traveling North America in a whirlwind adventure trying to see 30 Major League Baseball games in two months we learn of one of America's favorite past times - baseball - as tried and true as apple pie itself, family bonds, Parkinson's Disease, and how it effects our lives and loved ones.
This movie touched me to my core, and taught me you are never too old to reconnect with your family, dreams, and your child like innocence. I was amazed at the ease the Cochran's were willing to share their personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences, but through their sometimes humorous and candid sharing comes understanding. This is one film you should not bypass.
Baseball, Apple Pie, Fathers & Sons
jzatarski1 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Boys of Summer, a Father & his Son - Who wouldn't want the opportunity to tour all of the Major League baseball parks? Yes, as baseball fans it sounds like the ultimate road trip. But what if the reason for going is not the reason you expect.
Some of us have been to many of the big league stadiums. We may have gone to our favorite park as youngsters with our Dads, we may have gone to the ballgame while on an out-of-town business trip - or better yet on vacation.
Yet the road trip this son and his father took was unique. Unique in the way they met the challenge of the father's medical condition and the son's quest to make the trip financially feasible. The cause they were on as they skipped across the USA and into Canada one ideal summer.
While watching the Boys of Summer, I thought back to the time my father was alive and wish that something like this would have been possible for us to do. But like the song, the time is never there when you need it so that the commitment that was made was an impossible dream.
You will really find yourself involved in this journey of a son and his father. Even my non-sports wife found the opportunity to share their adventure - a dream in the making. You wondered if they would ever be able to make all the professional ball parks and not run out of money.
But those key observations made along the way - the interviews with the fans and the new friends made along the way - will make seeing this movie a perfect opportunity for all of us to share in the wonderful game, the families that enjoy it, and a father & son who know that the road traveled together is the best world to be in.
Some of us have been to many of the big league stadiums. We may have gone to our favorite park as youngsters with our Dads, we may have gone to the ballgame while on an out-of-town business trip - or better yet on vacation.
Yet the road trip this son and his father took was unique. Unique in the way they met the challenge of the father's medical condition and the son's quest to make the trip financially feasible. The cause they were on as they skipped across the USA and into Canada one ideal summer.
While watching the Boys of Summer, I thought back to the time my father was alive and wish that something like this would have been possible for us to do. But like the song, the time is never there when you need it so that the commitment that was made was an impossible dream.
You will really find yourself involved in this journey of a son and his father. Even my non-sports wife found the opportunity to share their adventure - a dream in the making. You wondered if they would ever be able to make all the professional ball parks and not run out of money.
But those key observations made along the way - the interviews with the fans and the new friends made along the way - will make seeing this movie a perfect opportunity for all of us to share in the wonderful game, the families that enjoy it, and a father & son who know that the road traveled together is the best world to be in.
Elevating baseball
tvincent-morke1 April 2006
From Phoenix Film Festival viewing - elevates baseball from current morass and brings it back to wholesome status. Father and son odyssey caught merrily visiting and yukking up nations baseball and life.
Film covers the journey of a loving son and father visiting 30 ballparks, Negro League Museum, MLB Hall of Fame, and Field of Dreams Much was offered along the way.
Parkinson's disease was the cause of the timing of the baseball experience delayed by normal life until fathers' diagnosis. Audiences are very fortunate to be included in this experience from a well executed and personally entertaining perspective.
This father and son duo plus their casts of new friends kept the audience interested and entertained with apple pie humor as they criss-crossed the country sometimes with the help of fans, the baseball parks personnel, and the Parkinson's groups.
This film helps to revive and create feelings for baseball and the Field of Dreams original feeling.
This film promotes baseball and its place in America - with the realization that life is better for its existence.
Film covers the journey of a loving son and father visiting 30 ballparks, Negro League Museum, MLB Hall of Fame, and Field of Dreams Much was offered along the way.
Parkinson's disease was the cause of the timing of the baseball experience delayed by normal life until fathers' diagnosis. Audiences are very fortunate to be included in this experience from a well executed and personally entertaining perspective.
This father and son duo plus their casts of new friends kept the audience interested and entertained with apple pie humor as they criss-crossed the country sometimes with the help of fans, the baseball parks personnel, and the Parkinson's groups.
This film helps to revive and create feelings for baseball and the Field of Dreams original feeling.
This film promotes baseball and its place in America - with the realization that life is better for its existence.
An Excellent Film!
ckchris-11 April 2006
I had the pleasure of seeing this movie at the 2006 Phoenix Film Festival. It is a heart-warming, funny, touching story about the relationship between a father and a son, and their journey to baseball fields all around the country one summer. The father has Parkinson Disease and one of the purposes of the film is to raise awareness of the disease. All proceeds from the film help fund Parkinson Research. The movie depicts the love a son has for his father, and their mutual love of baseball. This movie is a must-see for anyone who loves baseball or has a loved one dealing with a chronic illness. "Boys of Summer" is one of the most touching films I have ever seen, it is not to be missed!
Now is the time to love your parents, baseball, and make the world better.
hank905043 April 2006
"The Boys of Summer" is a wonderful documentary about a father and son making a two-month and over 20,000 mile journey to visit every major league baseball park and attend a game and more. The fact that the father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease gave the son (Robert Cochrane) a sense of urgency to start this adventure. Along the way Robert and his father also go to The National Baseball Hall of Fame, The Negro Baseball Hall of Fame, and The Field of Dreams. In addition they attend a Parkinson's Disease Awareness Convention.
I was very impressed with the messages of love and hope weaved throughout the project. You see a son relate to his father is a loving and caring way that is genuine and refreshing. You experience someone learning from others how to cope with the onset of Parkinson's disease. And, you see how baseball, still our national past-time, can pull people together who are related and even those who aren't related.
Like the previous reviewer, this movie brought back fond memories of my father and younger brother attending baseball games with me and also playing baseball with me. In my case, the only times that I spent truly alone with my father involved baseball. And, attending games or doing anything related to baseball with my brother allows us to relate in a really special way.
I also found myself transported to ballparks and places I'd been before as well as places I may never have otherwise seen in a wonderful and nurturing way.
This movie brought some of my favorite sayings to the screen. You can accomplish anything that you can imagine. People are basically good. And, if you help other people you will benefit more than it costs you.
If you are looking for an emotionally uplifting and smart movie that will inspire and inform you this is it.
I know that the director is looking for a distributor so that more people can see this movie. And, when that happens the profits will go to Parkinson's research. For more information go to baseballdoc.com.
I was very impressed with the messages of love and hope weaved throughout the project. You see a son relate to his father is a loving and caring way that is genuine and refreshing. You experience someone learning from others how to cope with the onset of Parkinson's disease. And, you see how baseball, still our national past-time, can pull people together who are related and even those who aren't related.
Like the previous reviewer, this movie brought back fond memories of my father and younger brother attending baseball games with me and also playing baseball with me. In my case, the only times that I spent truly alone with my father involved baseball. And, attending games or doing anything related to baseball with my brother allows us to relate in a really special way.
I also found myself transported to ballparks and places I'd been before as well as places I may never have otherwise seen in a wonderful and nurturing way.
This movie brought some of my favorite sayings to the screen. You can accomplish anything that you can imagine. People are basically good. And, if you help other people you will benefit more than it costs you.
If you are looking for an emotionally uplifting and smart movie that will inspire and inform you this is it.
I know that the director is looking for a distributor so that more people can see this movie. And, when that happens the profits will go to Parkinson's research. For more information go to baseballdoc.com.
Heart Felt yet Funny
sumsun_1031 March 2006
A fabulous film that can be enjoyed by both genders and all ages. Very touching yet filled with laughs. I loved being able to see all of the different baseball parks across the U.S.! The Director, Robert, and his Father, Dan, have a fantastic relationship with an immense amount of love for one another. Both have a great sense of humor which allows for many laughs during the movie.
Speaking from someone who does not know a lot about Parkinson's Disease, I found this movie to be very motivating and it left me wanting to learn more about Parkinson's. The movie has a contagious energy had me crying and laughing. Thank you for your hard work.
Speaking from someone who does not know a lot about Parkinson's Disease, I found this movie to be very motivating and it left me wanting to learn more about Parkinson's. The movie has a contagious energy had me crying and laughing. Thank you for your hard work.
Who would have thought it? A film about Parkinson's disease and baseball?
ego62731 March 2006
This is an extraordinary film, made on a shoestring but looking far better than that. See it if you love baseball. See it if you love road movies. See it if you have Parkinson's, or love someone who has Parkinson's...for that matter, see it if you just know someone who has it, and chances are you do. My husband has PD, and we saw the film as it was honored with closing the 2006 Phoenix Film Festival. A huge Parkinson's community attended, as did - I imagine - regular baseball fiends. It's a movie of love and laughs and tears, not afraid of frank emotion but equally unafraid of understated humor and flat-out human sweet-but-sexy openness. Take your kids if they love baseball. There's so much to learn here. Take them, especially, if someone in your family has PD. Just go. Support this little, big film.
Good movie. Very moving.
jamesah1087 September 2008
I would recommend this movie to anybody who appreciates films with depth, color, and meaning.
Watching the father-son journey make its way across the country, I actually found myself routing for them like I would my favorite baseball team.
There were moments when I wanted to cheer and there were moments I wanted to cry.
I've recommended this film to many people I know and I would recommend it to you.
It's simply a beautiful piece of work.
Watching the father-son journey make its way across the country, I actually found myself routing for them like I would my favorite baseball team.
There were moments when I wanted to cheer and there were moments I wanted to cry.
I've recommended this film to many people I know and I would recommend it to you.
It's simply a beautiful piece of work.
I loved it!
klkaminsky6 September 2008
This is film about love. And giving. One of the best docs I've seen.
If you are a parent watch this with your children. And watch it with your parents.
A wonderful, feel good film. I want to see it again with my mom and dad.
I was reminded that there is one thing more valuable than money, and that's time.
While watching this film, you realize how fragile health is. How much we take for granted every day.
If you get a chance, go see this movie.
If you are a parent watch this with your children. And watch it with your parents.
A wonderful, feel good film. I want to see it again with my mom and dad.
I was reminded that there is one thing more valuable than money, and that's time.
While watching this film, you realize how fragile health is. How much we take for granted every day.
If you get a chance, go see this movie.
What an uplifting film!
mattjacob78 September 2008
By zig-zagging across the country for two months to visit every Major League ballpark, the Cochranes live out the ultimate father-son fantasy in this documentary. Unfortunately, there's an element of tragedy that accompanies this fantasy, as Dan Cochrane's battle with Parkinson Disease serves as the impetus for this cross-country journey with his film-making son. And it is here where Robert Cochrane hits a massive home run. He artfully weaves his father's daily struggles to cope with the disease with stories of others dealing with the plight, while at the same time providing those uplifting father-son baseball moments for which our National Pastime is so revered.
I took my 10-year-old son to see this movie, and as the credits rolled, he looked to me and said "Wow!" Wow, indeed! If you like films that move you emotionally -- that make you laugh, think and cry -- you will love "Boys of Summer."
I took my 10-year-old son to see this movie, and as the credits rolled, he looked to me and said "Wow!" Wow, indeed! If you like films that move you emotionally -- that make you laugh, think and cry -- you will love "Boys of Summer."
Awesome Movie
nativelv11 September 2008
I am not a big fan of documentaries. They always try to push their point of view on you and pass it off as fact.
This is a different type of documentary. It tells story. It plays like a drama. It has a plot. You root for the characters.
Along the way, I learned about Parkinsons. Actually, the father in the movie could've had anything, a writer couldn't have written it better. I found myself rooting for these 2 gentlemen to complete their goal.
When I left the theater, I called my parents. All too often, we take them for granted. They won't always be here.
I am so glad that I saw this film and I recommend it to everyone. And call your parents..Just to tell them you love them
This is a different type of documentary. It tells story. It plays like a drama. It has a plot. You root for the characters.
Along the way, I learned about Parkinsons. Actually, the father in the movie could've had anything, a writer couldn't have written it better. I found myself rooting for these 2 gentlemen to complete their goal.
When I left the theater, I called my parents. All too often, we take them for granted. They won't always be here.
I am so glad that I saw this film and I recommend it to everyone. And call your parents..Just to tell them you love them
Fabulous Movie. I would recommend to all of my friends to see.
merylasmith8 September 2008
A fabulous film that can be enjoyed by both men and women of all ages. You will laugh and it will also touch at those heart strings. I really loved going to the different baseball parks around the states. I have only been to a few and would love to go to all of them myself. It brought back wonderful memories for me when I would go to Shea Stadium with my Dad. It is truly a feel good movie and I will recommend it to all my friends. You and your Dad have a wonderful relationship and that was so nice to see in the film.
Thank you for allowing me to see this movie. I hope that you will get the recognition that you deserve for all your hard work.
Thank you for allowing me to see this movie. I hope that you will get the recognition that you deserve for all your hard work.
A story about the love that doesn't get enough attention. The love between fathers and sons.
PhilValentine-111 September 2008
This "straight from the heart" story of Robert Cochrane's is as genuine a love story as one gets. You can pick it apart technically all you want but it's home video feel is part of the sincerity that I liked about this film. Not over produced, unrehearsed, and not trying to manipulate by tugging too hard at the heart strings of its audience in the way that so many Hollywood films do. Robert Cochrane took me on a journey and I felt the excitement, frustration and challenges that he and his dad experienced. This true life story couldn't have been written any better if it were fiction. The ups and downs and sacrifices made by all the family members played out as if they were scripted. It must have been a fate that Robert and his dad were smart enough to recognize. Everyone should buy this film and give it to their dad for Father's Day. It will do as much for him as it will for the organization it's fighting for.
I laughed and cried
dancingtulip200315 September 2008
A father and son take a journey to 30 ball parks as time ticks slowly away and a disease begins to claim the father. The son gets to know his father on a whole new level and the father gets to forget that he is ill, if just for a little while and enjoy the journey. My favorite part was when people from all around the country reached out to these two by providing a room, meals, or by holding fund raisers. The American spirit is not dead, people just have to have a true and honest cause to care for. I really enjoyed this film. I sincerely hope that everyone gets a chance to see it. I also hope that it not only brings awareness about Parkinson's but makes people realize that time is short and to value the ones they love.
Watch this film!
chrismajormapp22 June 2018
This is an extraordinary film. I strongly recommend watching with someone who loves baseball, if you have a person in your life whose experienced PD, watch with someone who is your father, or if you think documentary films are more interesting because they're real. Check it out, enjoy the journey!
Great movie a must see for all
jimmyhunsaker8 September 2008
Boys of Summer takes you along a journey not only seeing a son & Father fulfill a lifelong dream but into the reality of life's struggles, joys, and acceptance that sometimes circumstances beyond our control invade our lives.It's a story that has you smiling one minute and tearing-up the next. Dan and Robert Cochrane capture a moment in time they will always have within their hearts. Not only do you get to see all the major league ball parks but you enter into Dan and Robert's lives as they weave their way across the U.S and Canada. A wonderful movie about Parkinson's disease, baseball, and redemption. You have to see "Boys of Summer".
An excellent and heartfelt documentary.
rdmdog18 September 2017
This is a heartfelt and beautiful movie documenting a father/son trip of 2 months and 20,000 miles to visit all the major league baseball stadiums and at the same time learn how to deal with young onset Parkinson's that the father has. In the middle of the movie is a get- together with a bunch of other people suffering with PD, that I think helped the father immensely to see how many other people dealt with the disease.
Special Documentary
pnickip18 September 2008
This is a movie that makes you think. This is a movie that makes you laugh. This is a movie that makes you have hope! This is a movie that makes you cry. This is a movie that makes you cheer! This is a movie that makes you have awareness. This is a movie that brings you along on an adventure! This is a movie that reminds us that there IS good in the World. This is a movie that fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, brothers, sisters all must see. This is a movie that makes you pick up the phone and call your loved ones. This is a movie about love. This is a movie that brings baseball to you. This is a feel good movie. This is a movie that Hollywood needs to make. This is a must see documentary.
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