Part of Weekend Classics: Batter Up!
Nothing was going to stop Roy Hobbs from fulfilling his boyhood dream of baseball superstardom. Robert Redford stars in this inspiring fable that begins when 14-year-old Hobbs (Redford) fashions a powerful bat from a fallen oak tree. He soon impresses major league scouts with his ability, fixing his extraordinary talent in the mind of sportswriter Max Mercy (Robert Duvall), who eventually becomes instrumental in Hobb’s career. But a meeting with a mysterious woman shatters his dream. Years pass, and an older Hobbs reappears as a rookie from the New York Knights. Overcoming physical pain and defying those who have a stake in seeing the Knights lose, Hobbs (with his boyhood bat) has his chance to lead the Knights to the pennant — finally achieving his dream. Also starring Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley and Barbara Hershey — and with an iconic score that was composed (and conducted by) Randy Newman.
“Arguably the best baseball movie ever made…. It captures the spirit of the game at a time when baseball truly was the National Pastime.” —James Bernardinelli, ReelViews “A fairy tale from start to finish, full of wildly implausible scenes that win over our emotions because, frankly, that's the way we'd like life to be. Being a baseball fan involves repeatedly experiencing exquisite pain and exquisite joy… There's a lot of both in THE NATURAL. —Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune
