Off The Black

Writer-director James Ponsoldt's first feature is a small, modest movie structured around a fairly simple situation that leaves plenty of room for some fine performances. Alcoholic, 57-year-old Ray Cook (Nick Nolte) makes his living at a suburban junkyard, but he lives for the time he spends as an umpire for local high-school teams. After making a controversial call in the final inning of a local game — Roy thought high-school pitcher Dave Tibbel's (Trevor Morgan) throw was just enough "off the black" to count as a third strike — Ray returns home to a beer-swilling bulldog and a house plastered with Post-It notes reminding him to watch less TV and stick to a three-br...