Film Review of The Hill 

Movies that carry a sports theme will always attract a loyal audience. Baseball is one of America’s favorite sports, so The Hill also had a head start and was expected to do well at the box office upon its release.

But the movie-going public are hard to please. If the Hill lacks quality and substance, they will not be fooled. So, what do we know about the film, and how has it been received in the weeks following its release?

The Hill: The Background

The official release of The Hill was August 25. It’s been well attended in those opening few weeks, and the film was highly anticipated.

The Hill is backed by an impressive cast, including Colin Ford, who takes on the lead role of Rickey Hill. The biggest name in this movie is Dennis Quaid, who plays the role of Pastor Hill – Rickey’s father.

Rickey’s mother is played by Joelle Carter, while other notable cast members include Scott Glenn, Randy Houser and Bonnie Bedelia. 

The Hill taps into the nation’s love of baseball. When the MLB season is underway, fans travel miles to watch their favorite teams. TV viewing figures are high, while associated sectors, such as the sports betting industry, are busy listing World Series odds for customers to consider.

In fact, there are reports that many filmgoers have worn baseball caps while attending The Hill, which underlines just how important the sport is.

The Plot

This movie tells the story of Rickey Hill, a baseball-mad youngster who has designs on playing the game despite a serious physical disability. It is based on a true story, and we follow Hill, who has to battle those physical problems, along with a number of other external obstacles.

Hill has a degenerative spinal disease, which means that the condition is only going to get worse as he ages. As a result of his health problems, he has to wear leg braces. All of this would suggest that a professional baseball career is out of the question, but Hill has other ideas.

His father, pastor Hill, is reluctant to see his son follow a sporting path. This is probably because of a protective nature, but that’s not how his attitude is perceived. 

Rickey ignores the advice, and his refusal to give up divides his family. Without wanting to give too much away, Hill achieves his dreams and plays in MLB, but not everything goes to plan.

The Verdict

This is a classic tale of a determined individual who follows his dreams despite all the odds being stacked against him. However, it’s not like other sports movies that follow the same path and finish with a happy ending that unites the family.

The Hill is an emotional rollercoaster, and it’s likely to be a tearjerker for many. The struggle against adversity is also underlined by the fact that the film is set among a religious family in the Depression era. It’s very atmospheric, and the producers have done well to convey that grim backdrop.

The casting and acting in The Hill is superb. The young Rickey Hill is convincing as he battles with his disability, while Dennis Quaid brings all of his quality and experience to the production. The supporting cast also does a great job, while special mention should go to Randy Houser, who plays the role of Ray Clemons, the only positive voice in a sea of negatives for young RIcky.

In short, the plot is true to life, the cast is brilliant and the story is made compelling by the producers. It’s not your average sports movie, and The Hill deserves to be a big hit.

The Critics’ View

We’ve given our verdict, but do the established film critics agree, or have they been underwhelmed by the release of The Hill? The review given by the respected website at Rotten Tomatoes is an interesting one, and it hints at a division between the public and those who are paid to review those movies.

The public perception of The Hill is that the film is heartwarming and that it will lead to a range of different emotions. Rotten Tomatoes themselves suggest that the movie is solid but only ‘intermittently inspirational.’ As a result, The Hill only scores a modest 41% on the Tomatometer.

Rotten Tomatoes may just be missing the point here. This isn’t meant to be a feel-good film, and there is a mixed ending to The Hill.

While the reviews are largely positive, there’s only one way for moviegoers to make up their minds. Whether you are looking forward to the film, skeptical, or even if you’re not interested in baseball, we would urge you to watch The Hill to see what you think.

It follows one of the most interesting and inspirational stories in the history of sport, and we feel that The Hill is a must-watch.