The Hill
Director Jeff Celentano’s baseball biopic hits an emotional home run.
Root, root, root for the whole team: Jesse Berry, Joelle Carter and Dennis Quaid
Image courtesy of Briarcliff Entertainment
For a remarkable 17 years, director Jeff Celentano has been up to bat, attempting to bring his passion project across home plate. In the tradition of underdog sports sagas such as Rudy and Hoosiers, The Hill tells the ‘based on a true story’ background of hard-hitting baseball player Rickey Hill. Among the roster of talent is Dennis Quaid as Pastor James Hill. Audiences returning to the genre are likely to have fond memories of his beloved role in The Rookie, which adds another layer to his casting here. Written by sports scribe Angelo Pizzo and the late Scott Marshall Smith, the film is dedicated to the real Pastor James Hill and executive produced by Rickey himself—that’s him in the role of the tryout coach.
The roar of teenager Rickey Hill’s (Colin Ford) beat up Mustang seems to echo his frustration as he peels away from a stadium. He soon finds himself remembering his youth, growing up impoverished in small town Texas during the 60s. The son of country church pastor James Hill (Dennis Quaid), young Rickey Hill (now Jesse Berry) can hit a rock better than most people can hit a ball. His extraordinary ability is lost on his father, who discourages his interest in sports, in part because of the leg braces Rickey is burdened with. As Rickey continues to demonstrate his powers at the bat, his desire to pursue a baseball career divides his tight-knit family, threatening his dreams of becoming a heavy hitter.
Director Celentano’s passion for the project is felt in each frame and his persistence is mirrored in Rickey’s uphill battle. This well-intentioned effort is both warm-hearted and welcome. There’s a place in the market for stories in the sports film tradition that Disney once championed in the 90s and early aughts. Lately Briarcliff Entertainment seems to be filling the gap (Sweetwater). Clocking in at over two hours, there’s a little too much time spent in Rickey’s formative years, but the investment pays off in the third act. It’s refreshing to see a family that can laugh when they’re down and The Hill plays all the right heartstrings throughout. Composer Geoff Zanelli elevates the events by delivering the kind of iconic theme that will surely stand the test of time. There might not be crying in baseball, but a few tears of joy in the audience are assured.
CHAD KENNERK
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Colin Ford, Joelle Carter, Randy Houser, Jesse Berry, Bonnie Bedelia, Scott Glenn, Siena Bjornerud, Ryan Dinning, Carina Worm, John Smoltz.
Dir Jeff Celentano, Pro Jeff Celentano and Warren Ostergard, Screenplay Angelo Pizzo and Scott Marshall Smith, Ph Kristopher Kimlin, Pro Des Geoffrey Kirkland, Ed Douglas Crise, Music Geoff Zanelli, Costumes Lahly Poore-Erickson, Sound Lawrence He.
Vitamin A Films/Rescue Dog Productions/Piney Pictures-Briarcliff Entertainment.
126 mins. USA. 2023. US Rel: 25 August 2023. Cert. PG.
