The Hill (2023) Drama Movie Review
The sports drama "The Hill" aims to inspire with the story of Rickey Marshall, a preacher's son from Fort Worth, Texas, who defies the odds by becoming a professional baseball player despite a degenerative spinal disease. Unfortunately, the film's length feels disproportionate to its substance due to weak characterizations and a predictable storyline. The movie lacks the spark needed to elevate it beyond a well-meaning but unremarkable narrative.
Directed by Jeff Celentano and written by Scott Marshall Smith and Angelo Pizzo, known for classics like "Rudy" and "Hoosiers," "The Hill" mirrors the spirit of "Rocky," where modest achievements and relatable obstacles create a compelling story. Rickey, growing up poor and disabled, overcomes his circumstances, teaching himself to play baseball with makeshift equipment. Despite facing a degenerative spinal disease and financial hardships, he manages to play for the Montreal Expos and endure four seasons in the minor leagues.
However, the film falls short not because it's faith-based, but due to its lackluster vision. Even genuine conflicts between characters with valid but conflicting agendas feel formulaic, robbing the narrative of authenticity. The main characters, including the protagonist and his love interest, lack depth, making it challenging to relate to or sympathize with their struggles. The film's problems stem from its predictable plot and underdeveloped characters, preventing it from reaching its full potential.
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The screenplay shines when it lets Rickey and James engage in verbal clashes over their differing beliefs. The film captures the struggle between opposing forces without providing easy resolutions, revealing how people's backgrounds and issues influence their choices. Young Rickey eloquently argues that he can represent God on the baseball field just as effectively as in a church, bridging the gap between faith and sports with creative imagination. However, despite such heartfelt moments, the film maintains tension in the central relationship, with James remaining stubborn and emotionally closed-off.
Outside these spiritual debates, "The Hill" loses momentum, becoming a well-intentioned but slow journey towards a predictable outcome. Scenes linger without clear purpose, and the film fails to delve into Rickey's emotional depth, portraying him as a polite, talented kid restrained by well-meaning individuals. The central relationship's potential is diluted, as James, despite his stubbornness, is portrayed more as an emotionally constipated scold than a fully complex character.
The characters, aside from a few exceptions, fall into stereotypical roles. Rickey's girlfriend, Grace, stands out with confidence and maturity, delivering snappy dialogue reminiscent of characters from popular TV shows. Scott Glenn, appearing later as a baseball scout, brings depth to his role, showcasing the alchemy of experienced actors contributing more to a film than the story itself. Despite these moments, "The Hill" struggles to break free from clichés and fails to fully explore the complexity of its characters and their relationships.
Joelle Carter, known for her fiery role in "Justified," delivers a strong and sustained performance in "The Hill," particularly in a powerful scene as James' wife, Helen. Despite her fiery presence, she's mostly sidelined and at times relegated to a passive observer, as if watching the other characters on TV. Bonnie Bedelia, a name that deserves top billing, plays the hero's grandmother and brings a touch of authenticity with her down-to-earth character, sporting a silver hairstyle reminiscent of Ma Joad heading to the Oscars. However, there's an age discrepancy in the casting that's worth noting - Carter is nearly 20 years younger than Quaid, and Bedelia is only eight years older.
Rickey Hill, whose life story is portrayed in the film, now follows in his father's footsteps by spreading the Good Word while also delving into the business of selling hemp-based wellness kits. Despite facing physical limitations and a challenging upbringing, Hill doesn't seem to harbor any regrets or feelings of being deprived of greater opportunities. His perspective differs from the common notion that a brief taste of success can be more debilitating than never experiencing it at all. However, the article suggests that a documentary covering Hill's entire life journey might be more compelling than the recreation of his early years in the film. Such a documentary could potentially present Hill and other key figures in his story as fully fleshed-out individuals, offering a more realistic portrayal of life's complexities that often deviate from Hollywood's preferred perfect dramatic structure with a neatly tied-up happy ending.