Review of The Natural (1984) by Kevin R — 03 Oct 2008

Ok, so it's playoff time in Oct. and everytime the playoffs roll around I think of this movie. I really loved Barry Levinson's rework of Bernard Malamud's tale. Sure, some people criticize the picture because they changed Malamud's pessimistic ending which has Roy Hobbs selling out, recanting the choice but still striking out and being unable to change anything.

This movie was made in the 80s, the Reagan era - we wanted to feel good about ourselves again. This was not made in the Realist 70s when a downbeat ending could have been maintained by a Hollywood feature, because realism was more true.

I like Levinson's direction, as well as the acting by Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Wilford Brimley and Richard Farnsworth and an uncredited Darren McGavin. Caleb Deschanel's cinematography is simply lush and gorgeous, & Randy Newman's score is fantastic and has become iconic.

This story is an homage to the Arthurian legends and the hero with a fatal flaw. Redford as Roy Hobbs, the 35 yr old rookie outfield/slugger with a mysterious past who comes to lead the lowly New York Knights to the NL pennant in 1939.

There are so many beautiful shots that stand out in my mind but my fav is the lights-shattering home run to win the game that ends the picture. The look, the music, great ending.