Review of The Natural (1984) by Mark M — 07 Nov 2012

This is the quintessential story of the phnom. The magic of a magnificently gifted athlete who's dreams of glory are finally realized once he becomes the long shot for all of us to cheer to a legendary status. This movie captures the dreams of young girls & boys, to score the overtime winning goal in game seven of the Stanley cup playoffs. Or to dunk a buzzer beater for the NBA championship or with the bases loaded to knock it outta of the park to win the world series.

This movie encapsulates those dreams & realizes them in it's main character Roy Hobbs. An athlete that only comes along once every hundred years or so. His road however to legendary status is side tracked along the way but is finally realized as he enters the big leagues at a time when many would be hanging it up. He was once a young phnom but now is a man of mystery who is a long shot to realize any of those dreams of youth he once had. To be the "greatest that ever was" as he put it.

This film finds it's spirit in those dreams of glory and for me is one of the best films ever made. This is one of my favourite movies as I was once one of those kids dreaming of knocking it outta the park and this film captures that magical feeling like no other.

Robert Redford is brilliant as Roy Hobbs, Robert Duvall delivers a memorable performance as newspaper man Max Mercy and Wilford Brimley is perfect as Pop Fisher.

This is an extremely great film and one to sit back, remember those days of dreams of glory and to let these film makers knock this one outta the park.