Chasing 3000

3,000 may be just a number– but to Pirate fans it stands for so much more. When the number 3,000 is spoken, there is only one thing that comes to my mind. Not the Artist Andre 3000 or the movie Mr. 3000, or even the Beatles 3000.  ”The Great one” ended his career with 3,000 hits. Roberto Clemente is not just loved here in the city of Pittsburgh, but all over the world.

“Chasing 3000″ a film –shot primarily in Pittsburgh– opened at the Harris Theatre’s Friday. The story is about two brothers who drive across country to see their hero, Roberto Clemente, get his 3000th hit.

Mickey (Trevor Morgan) is a high school boy who always imitate’s Clemente’s moves in the batters box. His younger brother, Roger (Rory Culkin) who idiolizes Roberto as well, has multiple sclerosis. Ray Liotta stars in the film as the Adult Mikey and also narrates the film. Lauren Holly is in the movie as well, playing the mother of Mickey and Roger.

You can watch the movie trailer here. You can also check out the IMDB page here.

Mickey’s story is based on a true story by Bill Mikita –who grew up in Steubenville, Ohio.

“I’m 55 years old now,” said Mikita. “If you ask men of my generation, growing up, how many loved Clemente — there was just something about him. Not only in the way he played the game — and he did play with this flair and style — but there was something about him that was sort of noble. It’s hard to put your finger on. His humanity or nobility — he projected that.”

“It really is a Pittsburgh story,” Mikita says. “Not only about our love of Clemente, but of Pittsburgh.”

A lot of Pittsburgh is in the film, including PNC Park of course.

“Chasing 3000″ will be playing at the Harris Theatre in downtown. You can watch the film through Sept. 12. Screenings: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The cost of admission is $7. For more information call (412) 681- 5449.

“It’s one of those rare films that everyone across the board seems to love, from 8 years old to 90,” Ryan Johnson, the film’s producer said. Similar to ‘The Blind Side,’ it’s really an underserved space, to have a film that appeals to families that ‘s not animated. So it’s been a real labor of love to get it out there and believe in it.”

I plan on watching the film on Monday so check back for a movie review on Tuesday.