Geoffrey Lewis's Final Film HIGH AND OUTSIDE: A BASEBALL NOIR to Screen at Cinequest

High and Outside, a gritty, slice of life drama about a minor league baseball player who recklessly tries to keep his dreams alive, will screen four times at Cinequest in San Jose. The film tells the story of Phil Harding (Donlon), a once promising baseball prospect trying to make it to the big leagues and escape the shadow of his domineering father Len, a baseball legend. Harding's 33 years old, broke, his marriage is falling apart, and he's just been released by the last team he thought could give him his shot. The film explores how far one man will go to keep his dream alive and the dangerous nature of living in someone else's shadow.

Director Evald Johnson is THE SON of former big-league manager and player Tim Johnson and quite literally grew up in the game and set out to make a truthful baseball film that reflected what he witnessed. In a film that The Chicago Tribune said, "will stay with you forever," High and Outside "is filled with GREAT PERFORMANCES that show us real human beings, flawed but compelling."

The film stars actor/director/writer and Chicago Theatre Veteran Phil Donlon as Phil Harding, who according to VODzilla London gives a performance that "is superb, channeling self-hate and self-denial to make for a character who's entirely unlikeable, but oddly sympathetic - a guy who swings at good intentions, but misses them and knocks bad decisions clean out the park." Prior to filming, Donlon attended professional baseball training camp in Palm Springs allowing him to spend time with players, both young and old including 11-time All-Star and two-time WORLD SERIES champion, Roger Clemens. The true definition of a method actor, Donlon also signed a one-day minor league contract to play on the Souix City explorers and the actual footage from that game appears in the film.

Legendary actor Geoffrey Lewis, who acted in movies and television for almost 50 years and appeared in several Clint Eastwood films, stars opposite Donlon as Len Harding. This powerful performance would be Geoffrey's final film; he sadly passed away before getting to see the completed version. The cast also includes Jason James Richer ("Free Willy") and veteran actor Ernie Hudson (Fox's "APB", "Grace and Frankie"), who agreed to be in the film due to his friendship with Phil Donlon. Hudson told the Chicago Tribune "Phil asked me to be in this movie and, of course, I said yes. He's the real deal and I believe that one day soon he is going to be a huge force in this industry."

Nominated at Raindance Film Festival for Best Film and Best Screenplay and Best Narrative Feature at Austin's Film Festival, High and Outside will screen four times at Cinequest and challenges audiences to ask themselves: "How far is too far when it comes to pursuing your dreams?"

Screenings:

Wednesday, February 28 9:30 PM Hammer Theatre SJ

Friday, March 2 4:40 PM Century 20 Redwood City - Screen 3

Sunday, March 4 9:20 PM Century 20 Redwood City - Screen 18

Friday, March 11 8:45 PM Century 20 Redwood City - Screen 11

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