Carson Lund’s remarkable directorial debut, Eephus, is one of the best films of 2025 so far, and seeing it in art house theaters is like an opening day for indie film where cinephiles are in for a discovery. The ’90s setting conveys a simpler time when people were less distracted and focused on life’s little pleasures and what matters. The opening credits of the vintage baseball scorecards set the tone of an old-fashioned and charming movie that I found enjoyable and refreshing. Many scenes feature guys having fun and chatting while playing the game they love. The overall tone is reminiscent of Richard Linklater’s dialogue-driven body of work.
Quietly emerging out of the 2024 Directors’ Fortnight line-up at the Cannes Film Festival, Eephus went on a film festival tour last fall, where I caught it at the Denver Film Festival. I had to re-watch it for a refresher, and I am glad I did since it holds up. Carson Lund served as cinematographer on micro-budget indies like “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” and “Ham on Rye” and added delicate touches here, too. What snuck up on me the second time was the acting. The perfect use of Frederick Wiseman as the radio announcer, as well as Keith William Richards, Cliff Blake, Ray Hryb, and Bill “Spaceman” Lee as an ensemble that worked well together.
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You don’t need to love baseball to appreciate Eephus, but it would help even more. This is more than the baseball the characters play on the field; it is about their lives, their passion for the game, and each other in their lives, and a celebration of intimate friendship and a vibrant community. It is about living for the moment and not wanting the good times to end. Ultimately, the humorous and quirky indie film is about male friendship and the loss of a way of life, leading me to deep reflection.
Eephus is set over one day, beginning in the morning and heading toward evening, with night settling in toward the end of the game. They didn’t want the day to end during a touching moment. Something about this reminded me of how small towns lose communal spaces like this. I can’t help but contemplate that this symbolizes how men can feel isolated and how camaraderie and community bring them together. I saw the demise of the baseball field in Eephus as a metaphor for the end of art house movie theaters. This is a special movie worth seeking out and deserves an audience.
Eephus is now playing in limited release.
