BleedGopher
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The Natural is a magical movie for a sports geek like myself but Jeremiah Johnson along with Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid are two (2) of my favorite flicks of all time.
You did good, Mr. Redford...RIP.
My guess is you're on a very small island here but we like what we like.As a sports geek, I actually really dislike The Natural.
My guess is you're on a very small island here but we like what we like.
Thanks for the further explanation you provided and I understand where you're coming from. For me, it was a fictional character and plot which allows for more creative leeway and sensationalism.Apologies in advance for discussing one of my least favorite Redford roles in which should be a celebration of such a Hollywood legend.
Additionally, I edited my previous post regarding what I thought was miscasting Redford which is a significant part of why I do not view the film favorably.
While I am definitely in the minority, I do not think it's a small island. Regardless, I will have the company of Roger Ebert who ripped it.
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The Natural movie review & film summary (1984) | Roger Ebert
Why didn't they make a baseball picture? Why did "The Natural" have to be turned into idolatry on behalf of Robert Redford? Why did a perfectly good story,www.rogerebert.com
His closing critique:
As for the baseball, the movie isn’t even subtle. When a team is losing, it makes Little League errors. When it’s winning, the hits are so accurate they even smash the bad guy’s windows. There’s not a second of real baseball strategy in the whole film. The message is: Baseball is purely and simply a matter of divine intervention. At about the 130-minute mark, I got the idea that God’s only begotten son was playing right field for the New York team.
Gene Siskel was on your side though. He gave it Thumbs Up.
Then I qualify. It's been a while, but I recall at the very least liking the written version much better.I give the People who loved the natural book the right to dislike the movie. Only them!
As an 8 year old I truly believed in Luke's ability to "bullseye Womp rats" at face value. It served him well.You don't really believe that Luke Skywalker could singlehandedly destroy the Death Star, do you?![]()
One of my faves!Three Days of the Condor was a fabulous Cold War spy thriller with Redford in the lead.
Did he literally knock the cover off the baseball in this movie? For one of my friends that was way over the line, and made the movie laughable.Apologies in advance for discussing one of my least favorite Redford roles in which should be a celebration of such a Hollywood legend.
Additionally, I edited my previous post regarding what I thought was miscasting Redford which is a significant part of why I do not view the film favorably.
While I am definitely in the minority, I do not think it's a small island. Regardless, I will have the company of Roger Ebert who ripped it.
![]()
The Natural movie review & film summary (1984) | Roger Ebert
Why didn't they make a baseball picture? Why did "The Natural" have to be turned into idolatry on behalf of Robert Redford? Why did a perfectly good story,www.rogerebert.com
His closing critique:
As for the baseball, the movie isn’t even subtle. When a team is losing, it makes Little League errors. When it’s winning, the hits are so accurate they even smash the bad guy’s windows. There’s not a second of real baseball strategy in the whole film. The message is: Baseball is purely and simply a matter of divine intervention. At about the 130-minute mark, I got the idea that God’s only begotten son was playing right field for the New York team.
Gene Siskel was on your side though. He gave it Thumbs Up.