Trouble with the Curve

Everyone knows a grumpy old man, but does everyone know a grumpy old man going blind?

“It must be so rewarding being one of your close friends.” Mickey, played by Amy Adams, says with sarcasm to her father, Gus, played by Clint Eastwood.

I rented Trouble with the Curve after learning it featured macular degeneration. I hoped it would show a man struggling with a condition millions of Americans face, yet show him learning to deal with it and adapt his life.

Gus runs into a coffee table, hinting at a problem right away. He goes on to drive his car into his garage wall, pay with the wrong tender, and trip up some stairs. Special effects illustrate how his distorted vision would look. The scenes featuring his impaired sight pleased me, but felt too fleeting. In other scenes, he lights each cigar and pours every drink with ease. That’s a bit of a stretch.

Gus asks his doctor about his eyes. His doctor mentions glaucoma and macular degeneration. He tells Gus to see a specialist. Gus ignores this.

I believed in his stubbornness as a man later on in years, facing retirement. He lives in his comfort zone even though it’s not working for him so great anymore.

How mindful it would be to use the platform this film offers, with such stars as Eastwood, Adams, John Goodman, and Justin Timberlake, to reward asking for help instead of rewarding an individual who refuses to take care of himself.

I found the scene with Gus opening a door to be significant. One night, Gus and Mickey stand outside his motel door. He leans down, fumbling to unlock the door with his key.

Mickey: “I’ve got it. Let me help. This is why I’m here.”

Gus: “I’ve got it.”

With anger, he enters his room. He shuts the door in her face, locking out his help.

What did you think of Trouble with the Curve? Do you know about other movies that feature a character struggling with vision impairment?

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