You can't always do whatever you want, even if you try hard enough.

Rating: 4/10 (22 July 2001)

﻿Let's face it: it didn't really matter who was cast in this film. All of the so-called characters are basically caricatures that are so cliched, it becomes ludicrous. I must give Robert Redford points for trying to make something out of this script, and he is one of the few reasons I gave this film a higher rating than it probably deserves. He brings an unmistakable presence to his film characters, and "The Natural" is no exception. Unfortunately, I think he was being a bit to optimistic in thinking that anyone could make something of a character who's depth can be completely described with one sentence: "Aging and down-on-his-luck baseball player who believes in 'playing the game how it was meant to be played.'"
Perhaps the most ridiculous addition to the film is Robert Prosky as the sinister team owner. This is just the type of film where the good guys wear white and the bad guys wear black, so I guess it may seem fitting that his character conducts his business in an office, all the lights off and the blinds shut. He doesn't like light, we are told, but are given no valid reason as to why (although one can easily guess by studying the rest of the film). Yes, he threatens the hero with blackmail. Yes, his sinister shadow can be seen behind his office blinds overlooking the night games, although the fact that he can see the game through closed blinds and that his shadow can be seen at all without any light on in his office seem to contradict simple logic. But, by the time these things occur, the film isn't worried about small details like these anymore.
The first half an hour or so of "The Natural" are very promising, which in turn makes the rest of the film even more of a let-down. The use of slow-motion is excellent, although it is used to show us the shattering of glass a little too often. The score is perhaps one of the movie's brightest points, smartly providing the mood for each scene. But, in the end, this film falls prey to dull characters and an uninspired script. I tried to like "The Natural". I really did. I guess it just goes to show that, contrary to what this movie tells us, you can't always do whatever you want, even if you try hard enough.