This weekend I got tricked into watching a movie that I thought was a baseball movie, but actually was more of a faith movie with a side of baseball. Which ultimately turned out to be a pleasant surprise!
I blame Dennis Quaid.
Had his name not appeared in the short movie description nugget on Netflix, I might have blown on by to watch something else. But combine the words "baseball" (my favorite sport) with "Dennis Quaid" (an actor I really like to watch) and Netflix snared me.
I guess those algorithms are pretty smart!
"The Hill" is a Hollywood drama that is based on the real life story of Rickey Hill, a young phenom baseball player who battles a degenerative spine disease, poverty and a stubborn Baptist preacher father to eventually realize the dream of playing professional baseball.
But if you're worried about there being too much baseball in the movie for your tastes, you'll be happy to know, there's actually very little baseball in the movie. However, unbeknownst to me before I hit the play button on the flick, there is a lot about faith in the movie. In fact, several engaging faith themes intertwine in the plot actually, and it's done so in a compelling and thought-provoking manner.
Actor Colin Ford plays the teenage "Rickey Hill" in the movie and does a passable job. But what truly stood out to me was Dennis Quaid's portrayal of his dad, "Pastor Hill." More on that in a moment.
Set in the 1960s and 70s, the general plot of the movie is about Hill, who as a child required mechanical leg braces to help him walk. However, even though the braces kept him from running, Hill develops an uncanny ability to hit a baseball. For baseball aficionados, the mechanics of it all defy logic. But there it is, a young kid who could smack a baseball a country mile without even being able to rotate his entire body through.
Ricky is the youngest of the Hills' three children. He is joined by older siblings "Robert Hill"(played by Ryan Dinning) and "Connie Hill" (played by Carina Worm). Rounding out the family are Joella Carter playing "Hellen Hill" (Ricky's mom) and Bonnie Bedlia as "Gram," Hellen's mother who lives with the family.
Much of the first half of the movie centers on the family's plight, as they constantly are trying to outrun poverty and hunger as Pastor Hill struggles to stay on from one congregation to another throughout Texas. Some of this is the result of trying to pastor in an impoverished rural area, and some of this is brought on by Pastor Hill's stubbornness and exacting standards for the people of his flock.
Part of the joy of this movie, is the strong-willed "Gram" who continually speaks her mind to Pastor Hill, being the one family member with a backbone willing to take on the obstinate patriarch of the family. This isn't to say that Pastor Hilll was a bad man, a bad father or even a bad spiritual leader, but he was so confident in his knowing of what was "moral" and "right," that it often leaves you wondering whether there's room enough in him to also be a husband and father.
Two central faith plots play out throughout "The Hill," to deliver a really good story.
The first story arc is, of course, Rickey's story of growing up in leg braces, but through dogged determination and an unstoppable faith, he becomes a minor celebrity around town for his high school baseball prowess.
The second story arc -- which is maybe even more compelling -- is watching Pastor Hill, who outright objects to Rickey's ever-growing baseball obsession, grow through the years to realize that maybe what it was that he wanted for his son was more driven by his ego than it was divinely inspired. Eventually, Pastor Hill relents and allows Rickey to begin playing baseball as a youngster, but in his obstinance he never once attends even one of Rickey's games throughout the years.
And while, this movie is supposed to be about Rickey's unbendable faith that helped him achieve the impossible dream of playing professional baseball, I found the storyline about Pastor Hill far more intriguing. In fact, while Rickey's faith story is inspiring, I actually think that Pastor Hill's story is one that far more of us can relate to.
Spoiler alert! ... Pastor Hill does eventually come around, but not before his family endures a lot of indignities because of his life's choices. And this movie serves as a good morality tale to remind us that much done in the name of God is actually a disguise for things being done in the name of one's ego.
Second spoiler alert! ... Rickey Hill does eventually defy the odds and signs a contract with Major League Baseball's Montreal Expos in 1975. He would play in their minor league organization for four years before his back finally did give out, and he had to retire from baseball. Today, Hill is a golf instructor and Little League baseball coach in Fort Worth, Texas, where he grew up.
Released in 2023, "The Hill" grossed less than $8 million in movie theaters, but since being released in January on Netflix, it has become one of the platform's current most popular movies. Given the double storylines of baseball and faith, I'm not sure how this movie flew under the radar on me, but the best compliment I could give it is that I'd watch it again. ... And mostly to see Quaid's outstanding performance a second time.
Oh, and here's a fun little nugget for hardcore country music fans: Randy Houser whose had a handful of minor hits on the country charts, but who's probably better known for co-writing Trace Adkin's hit "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," plays a small but integral role in the movie too!
Oh, and a second little trivia nugget! ... Before you Google Bonnie Bedlia because you know you know that face from somewhere, try waiting to see if it comes to you first. My recognition in the opening scenes nagged me throughout the movie, but when I finally did search why I recognized her, it warranted an ol'-fashioned palm to the forehead "aha!" moment. Let's see if you feel the same way!
Bottom line: A big budget Hollywood production this movie is not. But if you're looking for a feel good movie that is appropriate for the entire family, and is undergirded by stories of ardent faith, "The Hill" is worth your two hours. Give it a go! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised too!
Komentar