The Story Behind Million Dollar Arm - Movie Review Example

Movie Project: Million Dollar Arm The movie project focuses on the Million Dollar Arm . The movie is based on the biographical sports concept. The movie explains a true story based on two baseball players who were discovered by JB Bernstein. The two players discovered by the named sport agent are; Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel. The title of the movie symbolizes the talent contest that was held in India to identify top baseball talent (Stark, 2014). The paper aims at analyzing aspects related to three characters of the movie. The characters chosen are; JB Bernstein, Dinesh Patel and Rinku Sign. The analysis is based on two critical areas for each character. Firstly, the Erickson psychological level of each character will be established. Secondly, the moral development level will be established as illustrated by the Kohlberg’s stages. Analysis of JB Bernstein The psychosocial development stage of Erickson has eight steps. A human being should healthily move from the infancy stage up to the late adulthood stage. In every stage, the individual encounters and addresses challenges. Each stage improves on the successful achievement of the earlier stages (Wright, 2012). Bernstein is in the love development stage that involves intimacy vs. isolation. The love stage in a normal human being occurs between the ages of 20 and 39. The main virtue associated with the stage is love. Bernstein does not a family. The family is very important in showing love. The two Indian players enquire about the whereabouts of his family, immediately after entering his flashy house. Patel and Singh finds it very strange for a grown man who is rich, to live in a luxurious house alone. I order to realize lose, Bernstein resorts to string relationship with friends, and also looking for a partner. He develops strong social bond with the boys, and this is the reason why he even invites them to live with him in his house. Bernstein realized that the key do life happiness does not depend on wealth, but of filling the void in his life. Thus, he found a love relationship with Brenda, his neighbor. He further increased the friendship bond with the two Indian players. Kohlberg’s moral development sages are broadly classified into three; pre-conventional, conventional and post conventional. The theory explains that moral reasoning has great influence over ethical behavior of individuals. The broad classifications are further divided into six levels. Bernstein is in the conventional stage of moral development. The stage three explains the interpersonal conformity to social norms and an appropriate attitude. Bernstein strives to realize the expectations of the society. The society expects that mature man should have a family. This is the reason why he identifies the void in his life, and thus starts a love relationship with Brenda. He also achieves the success benchmark illustrated in the society through acquiring adequate wealth. He lives in a superior house and also drives top of the range vehicles. The two items are wealth statements in LA, and greatly illustrates success in the context of wealth. He is also very resourceful in business, and that is the reason why he decided to organize the India contest. He, however, realizes that happiness in life does not depend on only material success, but also relationship success. This is the reason why he decided to further enhance the friendship bond that exists between him and the two Indian players and also improve the love relationship that he has with Brenda. The society expects moral individuals to show high standards of human relationships (Crain, 2010). Thus Bernstein aims at realizing the societal expectations. He also maintains a good boy attitude through allowing the Indian boys to live with him in his posh house. This is an act that the society considers as humbling, and thus is highly encouraged. The Bernstein character is very significant in the movie. He effectively illustrates the culture and concept of middle aged Americans who are wealthy. The successful Americans usually possess a fat bank balance, meaning that their bank deposits are substantial. The American society embraces individuals who accumulate their wealth in a lawful manner, just like Bernstein. The capitalism spirit enables Bernstein to acquire a dream house and also a Porsche car. He deserves his wealth and also the love life with his neighbor Daisy, as he lives his American dream. Analysis of Dinesh Patel Patel is in the fidelity stage, identity vs. role confusion, of development as illustrated by the Erickson model of development. The fidelity stage occurs between the ages of 13 and 19 (Stevens, 2013). Patel is a young Indian man, and thus he is most likely to be in the fidelity age group. He has aspirations to succeed in life, and this is the reason why he continuously dreams about the future. His dream comes true in America after successful signing by the baseball team Pittsburgh Pirates. The fidelity stage illustrates identity and also role confusion. Peter has a favorable identity because he is determined and thus strives to achieve what he wants. Despite discouragements from his father, he decides to participate in the baseball contest and thus emerged successful. He hurled at 87mph and emerged victorious as the runners up. The victory also enabled him purchase a new truck for his doubting father. However, the confusion role is illustrated in America and mainly because of the resulting culture shock. For example, he was not in a position of understanding why a mature and financially successful man stayed alone in a big and palatial home with luxury features like swimming pool. He is also confused by other American culture like the Jacuzzi and pizza diet. The developmental stage also illustrates strong social relationship. Patel is very proud of his humble Indian background, and also strongly cares about the members of his society, family and home. He also develops strong friendship bond with both Bernstein and Singh. Patel is in the conventional development level of the Kohlberg theory. The third stage illustrates adherence to the social norms and also the good boy perception. In general, Patel strives to realize the societal expectations. After winning the Million Dollar Arm contest, Patel uses the cash rewards to purchase a new truck for his father. In the Indian society, a successful child is expected to take care of his parents and this is what Patel did when he received enough cash. He also illustrates societal expectations through having ambitions and also dreaming. Patel has great ambitions to succeed in life. This is the reason why he always works hard. His hard work enabled him emerge the runners up in the baseball context. Before the contest, he used to make a living by working using his father’s truck. Patel adequately illustrates the good boy attitude by strongly caring for his family. In the Indian society, family members should take care of each other by assisting when required. People in both America and India find Patel immediately likeable, due to the good boy perception. He is very hardworking, and thus adequately capable of catering for the interest of his family. He is also very humble and shy, and this illustrates adequate abilities of adhering to societal norms and expectations (Kohlberg, 1973). The determination and hardworking virtues are critical in earning the pride and respect of the societal members. His dreams and aspirations are rooted in the two significant values. Similarly, the society strongly supports the virtues of hard work and determination. The effectiveness of the film is as a direct result of the Patel character. He illustrates a determination theme and behavior in the movie. He strongly values the member of the society, and this is the main reason why he even buys a truck for his father upon receiving income from his initial baseball activity. He possesses qualities that endure him to new people and cultural environments; for instance, politeness and the sunny demeanor. The desirable behavior is what makes him adopt effectively in the American society. Analysis of Rinku Singh Rinku illustrates the Fidelity stage, identity vs. role confusion, of the Erickson theory of development. The player has adequately realized his capabilities and thus his identity. His attitude depicts an inner confidence, which ensures success in almost all activities that he is engaged in. The success as an identity attribute is what makes him the first ever Indian national to enter into a contract that is pro baseball and also pro sports in the United States. He is a star athlete despite his limitations. The star nature is shown when he won the contest by pitching at 90mph. His identity makes him confident and also outgoing, and thus he adequately overcomes challenges that are present in a foreign country like the United Sates (Stevens, 2013). Rinku is funny and adaptable and that is the reason why he effectively adopts the American culture like the pizza eating habits, hip hop music and also the American slang language. The fidelity role also leads to oriole confusion. The family of Rinka is very concerned about his outgoing attitude, especially towards embracing foreign cultures. The family fears that the outgoing attitude of their son will enable him adopt foreign lifestyles that are considered negative in India; for instance, prolonged bachelorhood like Bernstein, or negative celebrity status. But, Rinku is a role model in the society. He is a very good example of realization of the American dream. He does not consider failure as an option, and thus is continuously working towards the realization of his goals and desires. Rinku is in the third stage of the Kohlberg’s moral development theory. He has good intentions in the society and also adheres to the expected standards in the society. He expects adequate approval from the society with the intention of being considered a good boy. Rinku perfectly understands that being good in the society has numerous beneficial purposes. In the Indian society success is highly valued. This is the reason why Rinku effectively celebrates the signing of the probasebal contract in the United States, and then working towards realizing the American dream. The baseball contract was won through a concert; Rinku illustrated the winning pitch of 90mph. His desire for success is with good intentions, because it benefits the society through motivating the Indian and American young populations that dreams are valid and they should work effectively towards achieving the dreams and aspirations (Kohlberg, 1973). The inner confidence also illustrates characteristic of a good boy in both American and inner society. The inner confidence enables Rinku to emerge the best in the Indian baseball concert and also secure a baseball contract with the Pittsburg Pirates. Rinku illustrates good intentions when he illustrates the flexible and adaptable attitude and demeanor. He readily adopts the American way of life through listening to their music, adopting the American dining practices and also the acceptable mode of communication and behaviors. Despite his success levels in the baseball sport in America, he does not become arrogant and cocky. He strives to relate with people in the most convenient way possible. The Singh character is suitable for the movie that aims at illustrating the American dream. Despite coming from a humble background in India, Singh realizes success in America in the areas of sports, finance and celebrity status. He illustrates pride and inner abilities, and these are the key issues that effectively drive his successes as illustrated in the movies and also societal expectations in both India and America. Singh does not quit on his projects, he only stops when his objective has been achieved; for instance, realzing satisfaction from winning the baseball contest. Movie Teachings on Human Development The movie analysis illustrates that human development is a continuous process; that takes place progressively from birth to old age. The key reason for using the two development theories, Erickson development theory and Kohlberg theory on development, is to illustrate the development stages of human beings and the behaviors and thoughts that characterize the various development stages of the characters. Rinku and Patel are in the fidelity stage of Erickson human development. This thus illustrates that the two Indian players are in there teenage years. The movies explain that the teenage years are characterized by hope and the desire for success. The two Indian players try their best to succeed in whatever they do, and this drive is what made them show their expertise in sporting activities. Bernstein is shown in the movie as being in the love stage of the Erickson theory. He is a mature adult who is financially successful, but does not have a family love life. The movie ends when Bernstein falls in love with his neighbor, Brenda. Thus love relationship is a critical component of human development. According to the Kohlberg theory, all the movie characters are in the conventional level of development, stage three. Thus all the characters strive to adhere to the societal expectations. Hence, all human beings desire to be accepted in the society, through adherence to the rules, regulations and laws set by the society. Therefore, conformity to social norms and expectations is a critical aspect of human development (Crain, 2010). The two theories of Erickson and Kohlberg are thus very critical in explaining the actions and moral development level of characters in a movie. The eight stages of development as illustrated by Erickson are; hopes, will, purpose, competency, fidelity, love, care and wisdom. All the three characters are in diverse development stages and illustrated by the Erickson model. The Kohlberg model has three major development levels, and each level has two stages making a total of six stages. The three levels are; pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional. The objective of analyzing the developmental stages of three actors of the Million Dollar Arm has thus been achieved. The film was release on May 16, 2014 through the Walt Disney Pictures. References Crain, William. (2010). Theories of Development. London: Prentice-Hall. Kohlberg, Lawrence. (1973). "The Claim to Moral Adequacy of a Highest Stage of Moral Judgment". Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 70, No. 18) 70 (18): 630–646. Stark, Jason. (2014). "Playing a role in Million Dollar Arm". ESPN.com. Stevens, Richard. (2013). Erik Erikson: An Introduction. New York, NY: St. Martins Press. pp. 48–50. Wright, Eugene. (2012). Erikson: Identity and Religion. New York, NY: Seabury Press. p. 73. Read More