My favorite film from childhood was definitely The Bad News Bears. Tatum O’Neal and all the scruffy outsider kids on that little league team made me feel like anything was possible, even if I didn’t have a life that fit the mold or looked “normal” to other people. It was so life-changing for me to see a story where the girl could do something better than the boys (pitch baseball).
The dialogue was incredible – if you see the movie today, Walter Matthau and Tatum’s performances completely hold up. The director, Michael Ritchie, was an innovator. There is a very organic, unaffected quality to the comedy that influenced me creatively, as well. Hard to find a film that inspires you personally and professionally, but the original Bad News Bears certainly fits the bill.