Up for Grabs (2005)
91%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Up For Grabs is a documentary that delves into the absurdity of the legal battle over a baseball, and in doing so, exposes the greed, litigiousness, and obsession with fame that plagues contemporary society. Michael Wranovics’ wry storytelling keeps the audience engaged, even if they are unfamiliar with the story. The film is part mystery, part farce, and part legal nail-biter, with a bitterly ironic twist that could have been written by Billy Wilder. It’s a crackerjack documentary that illuminates the tears in the fabric of American society, and provides an excellent opportunity to examine the law and the bizarre media circus that surrounds it. Up For Grabs isn’t just about a ball, it’s about America.
Up For Grabs is a documentary that tells the story of the legal battle over a baseball that Barry Bonds hit for his season-record 73rd home run. It’s a story that’s part mystery, part farce, and part legal nail-biter, with a last-minute reversal so bitterly ironic it could have been scripted by Billy Wilder. The film touches on three bases of contemporary life: greed, litigiousness, and a fixation with fame that rises to the level of dementia. It’s a crackerjack documentary that illuminates the widening tears in the fabric of American society, and it’s a must-see for anyone who loves baseball, legal dramas, or just a good story.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Independent Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment, Detour Filmproduction
Distributor
Laemmle/Zeller Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
San Francisco, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 15, 2005 Original
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, baseball, court battle, media circus, obsessed fans, Barry Bonds, home run, San Francisco, Pac Bell Park, Patrick Hayashi, Alex Popov, Michael Wranovics, directed by Michael Wranovics, written by Michael Wranovics, produced by Michael Wranovics, box office gross, Laemmle/Zeller Films, reviewed by Michael Wilmington, Joe Morgenstern, J.R Jones, Scott Tobias, Wesley Morris, Michael Booth, Bill Gallo, Susan Tavernetti, Leonard Klady, Jeffrey M Anderson, Robert Roten, James Wegg, genre, MPAA rating, actors, producers, writers, budget, critic reviews, audience score, distributor, Josh Keppel, Michael Lindenberger, Chris Parry
Worldwide gross: $13,931
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $19,957
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,123
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,176
US/Canada gross: $13,931
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $19,957
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,800
US/Canada opening weekend: $1,881
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $2,695
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,843
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Michael Wranovics – Writer
Josh Keppel – Co-Producer
Michael Lindenberger – Co-Producer
Michael Lindenberger – Line Producer
Chris Parry – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Michael Wranovics
Writer(s)
Michael Wranovics
Producer(s)
Michael Wranovics
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (48) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (4)
Even if you didn’t follow the story then, Wranovics tells it so wryly your interest never flags — and there’s more suspense for newcomers, since the mystery and court verdict remain in doubt until the end.
June 26, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Up For Grabs, a buoyant documentary by Michael Wranovics, touches three bases of contemporary life: greed, litigiousness and a fixation with fame, however fleeting, that rises to the level of dementia.
May 1, 2007
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
It’s a terrific story — part mystery, part farce, part legal nail-biter — with a last-minute reversal so bitterly ironic it could have been scripted by Billy Wilder.
April 23, 2007
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
In the annals of baseball history, their battle will remain a curious little footnote, but sometimes footnotes are more compelling than the main text.
September 26, 2005
Scott Tobias
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
This smartly assembled comedy articulates irritation with and bewilderment at its subject: the legal battle for possession of a baseball.
August 12, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
It would be hard to find a more succinct and entertaining indictment of American popular culture and obsessive sports fans.
June 17, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Booth
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
Michael Wranovics’ well-meant documentary about the absurd legal battle over the ownership of the baseball Barry Bonds hit for his season-record 73rd home run, back in 2001, is instantly overshadowed by subsequent events.
May 12, 2014
Bill Gallo
New Times
Up for Grabs isn’t just about a ball. It’s about America.
May 1, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Susan Tavernetti
Palo Alto Weekly
Their greed provides an excellent opportunity to examine the law and a bizarre media circus.
April 23, 2007
Leonard Klady
Los Angeles CityBeat
A crackerjack documentary.
May 26, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
This well-made documentary takes a seemingly small subject and uses it to illuminate the widening tears in the fabric of American society.
March 4, 2006 | Rating: B
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope
And Justice for Ball
February 9, 2006 | Rating: 4.5/5
James Wegg
JWR…
Plot
Up for Grabs is a documentary about the court battle and media circus surrounding the disputed ownership of Barry Bonds’ historic 73rd home run ball in 2001.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Up for Grabs is a documentary directed, produced, and written by Michael Wranovics.
Michael-Wranovics.jpg
