Compelling Performance by Dennis Quaid Elevates an Ambitious Biopic
Dennis Quaid's performance in The Hill biopic lacks the genuine drama it strives for, resulting in a swing and miss by the film
Summary
The Hill, a new sports biopic, lacks the depth needed to truly sell the inspiring story of minor league baseball player Rickey Hill.
Rickey's character remains undeveloped and the story becomes repetitive due to the movie's overtly strong religious message. The Hill fails to properly showcase its role as a sports film by placing too much emphasis on faith, ultimately missing chances to create impactful and emotionally-charged moments.
Written amidst the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, this piece acknowledges the indispensable contribution of the striking writers and actors in bringing the movie being discussed to life.
Before experiencing The Hill, a newly released inspirational sports biopic directed by Jeff Celentano, I had no prior knowledge of Rickey Hill, a minor league baseball player whose narrative promises to be as grand and uplifting as the finest sports films. According to the story, Rickey overcomes health issues and paternal disapproval to reach the realm of professional baseball with a straightforward and likely crowd-pleasing underdog trajectory. Regrettably, The Hill lacks the necessary depth to truly convey Rickey's journey. Aside from its heavy-handed religious undertones, the movie fails to effectively portray the hurdles that obstruct his path, and its unwillingness to delve deeper into its central character renders the entire endeavor insubstantial.
Young Rickey Hill (Jesse Berry), the son of a stern pastor named James (Dennis Quaid), possesses immense talent in the art of swinging a baseball bat. With aspirations of becoming a professional baseball player, Rickey's path seems clear. However, a challenge arises. He has been diagnosed with a degenerative spinal disease, forcing him to wear leg braces that restrict his mobility and hinder the full-body rotation commonly used by baseball players. Despite his father's disapproval and desire for Rickey to abandon his athletic dreams, Rickey's unwavering faith provides him with enough hope to persevere. As Rickey grows older (with actor Colin Ford stepping into the role), he begins to exhibit signs of healing, motivating him to continue his pursuit of baseball. But just as Rickey is presented with his biggest opportunity yet, his health takes a drastic turn for the worse, plunging the determined young athlete into his most grueling battle to date.
Dennis Quaid in The Hill
The effectiveness of The Hill's faith-based narrative varies for each audience member. Personally, I found it conflicting with Rickey's journey. Other than his love for baseball and strong belief, Rickey lacks depth as a character. The initial focus of the film is on James' struggles as a pastor, overshadowing Rickey's development. Even when the story eventually shifts back to Rickey and his journey, it becomes repetitive. Rickey's strength lies in consistently hitting home runs, but The Hill only shows him batting successfully without much variation. Director Celentano portrays each of Rickey's moments at bat in the same monotonous way, diminishing the intrigue and tension.
It's evident that the movie, written by Angelo Pizzo and Scott Marshall Smith (based on a screenplay by Aric Hornig and Stephen Hintz), isn't interested in exploring Rickey's skills and growth as a player. He is portrayed as brilliant right from the start, as someone tells him early on, and that brilliance remains unchanged throughout. It lacks depth. The main conflict in The Hill arises from James' objections and Rickey's health problems, but even these issues are not presented as particularly devastating. James eventually gives in to Rickey's repeated insistence that playing baseball is his God-given destiny, and the fact that James has never attended his son's games lacks emotional weight because he appears to be decently supportive otherwise. Additionally, while Rickey's degenerative spinal disease resurfaces when he becomes a young adult, there is little indication that it seriously impedes his abilities, as people only mention his inability to play or walk. This lack of depth is further compounded by Ford's portrayal of the character, as he struggles to convey Rickey's physical disabilities convincingly.
Dennis Quaid, Joelle Carter, and Colin Ford are featured in The Hill.
The Hill falls short in capturing the most impactful events that one would expect to see. For instance, it fails to show Rickey's pivotal moment of removing his braces, opting instead for an awkwardly staged scene where James realizes it. The film also overlooks Rickey's initial baseball tryouts and early practices, spending more time on prolonged arguments with James about God's will. While faith holds significance for these characters, it seems to clash with The Hill's intention of being a sports biopic and a general character study. Consequently, Rickey remains somewhat of an enigma by the end, leaving much unknown about him. Both Ford and Berry deliver commendable performances, displaying sincere dedication to portraying Rickey. However, this dedication alone cannot compensate for the film's shortcomings. Among the remaining cast members, Quaid leaves the strongest impression with his somewhat contradictory character, closely followed by Bonnie Bedelia who portrays Rickey's outspoken grandmother.
The Hill falls short of the expected elements of a sports movie, prioritizing religious messaging over significant events. As a result, the character development and storytelling choices become confusing, diminishing the movie's emotional impact and tension. While Rickey's journey is intriguing and has some powerful moments, they are overshadowed by the majority of The Hill's runtime. The Hill will be in theaters starting Friday, August 25, with a runtime of 126 minutes. It is rated PG for thematic content, language, and smoking throughout.
