A Long and Meandering Road for young Roy Hobbs. From Farmboy to Shining Knight with a 'Wonderboy' at his side!

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2007)

The story is most likely inspired by a true life incident that happened right here in Chicago in the period just following World World II. A poor, mentally imbalanced woman stalked a Major League Baseball Player and did Shoot and critically wound him. Fortunately, he lived.
Using flashback, the story takes us from the now 35 or so year old Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford)sits,alone, lonely and obviously being very thoughtful, sitting in a Railroad Station, waiting for his Train. We look at his serious, weary face and are instantly that this is a man who has been through an ordeal. Life has not been easy. His countenance retains a permanent sadness, as if it were etched into a stone sculpture.
The story takes us back some 20 years or so to see this same Roy Hobbs as a young Farm Boy, playing catch and shagging fly balls with his Father (Alan Fudge). Roy excels in every phase of the game. While practicing his pitching, his Father praising him, but cautioning him that he should never take it for granted. "You've got a gift,Roy. But that's not enough!", Father admonishes him. The neighbor Farm Girl, Iris, watches them practice.
Time moves on and we see Roy witness his Father's fatal heart attack, right under the huge sycamore tree next to their farm house. Young Roy continues to cling to his dream to be a Ballplayer, his walls decorated with pennants of various National League Teams including the mythical New York Knights.
A violent thunderstorm brings torrential rain fall and a heavy bombardment of lightening strikes the old, huge sycamore causing it to split open, shattered down to a stump. Roy chops out a large section of timber, and finely hones it down to a custom made Baseball Bat.
Fast forward and we find Roy, now newly graduated from high school, running through the farm fields to meet the now also teen-aged Iris(Glenn Close). Having a great announcement about his having been called up by the Chicago Cubs for a look see at his Baseball talents. They go in such a jubilant, hurried manner to the barn that we know that they've been there before. Roy announces the good news, they hug and kiss. He would be leaving town, bound for Chicago. "I want to marry you!", declares Roy. "I'll send for you!" To celebrate, they go for a roll in the hay, apparently for the first time.
The rest of the flashbacks tel the story of Roy's journey to Chicago and his getting sidetracked in his quest for the Major Leagues. Youth, coming of age-suddenly and the inevitable development of at least some degree of cynicism along the way.
Some have been critical, declaring it too long and meandering. We could't disagree more. The screenplay moves along at a good clip, but not too fast. Yet, it still does not overdue, or "pad" out, if you will, any scenes.
As for the all important aspect of casting, Director Barry Levinson and Company would seem to have covered all the bases. After the parts of Roy and Iris are firmly identified with Mr. Redford and Miss Close, the choice of the rest of the players was no less fitting.
We have Roy's High School Coach Sam Simpson (John Finnegan) who is both fatherly proud and cautiously protective of his young protégé. Sportswriter Max Mercy(Robert Duvall), who would stab one in the back if it meant the right price or a little more circulation.
We have the "other women" (not just one, but two),Harriet Bird(Barbara Hershey)and Memo Paris(Kim Bassinger) helping to provide bumps in the road for Roy.
The Big Time Gambler, Gus Sands (an uncredited Darren McGavin)provides a large measure of villainy, especially when in cahoots with N.Y.Knights Owner, The Judge (Robert Prosky). As usual, Mr. Robert Prosky turns in a fine, somewhat underplayed, masters' performance.
Team Manager/Part Owner Pop Fisher(Wilford Brimley) and Coach Red Blow(?)(Richard Farnsworth),provide a team of tough, cynical yet lovable "old codgers" to run the team and provide their best advice and judgment for the younger folks, especially Hobbs.
I confess that my favourite character is Joe Don Baker as "The Wammer". He is the fictional Big League Slugger who Roy meets on the train, and later competes with at the Fairgrounds. Mr. Baker presents us with a huge and powerful, bigger than life slugger. As nasty and vain as he is talented, Joe Don's "Wammer" also bears quit a resemblance both physical and personality-wise to one George Herman 'Babe' Ruth.* The location shooting included a lot of work in and around Buffalo, N.Y., which doubled for parts of New York City as well as Chicago.The use of Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium as a 'stand-in' for both Wrigley Field, Chicago and for the mythical Knights' Field in New York City.
Oh, my own personal scene of the whole picture comes along right about midway when N.Y.Knights'Star Outfielder, Bartholomew 'Bump' Bailey gives his all for 'Pop' Fisher and the team by running through the wall, literally. The scene and follow-up come together to demonstrate a fine example of "Black Humour"**, a rare commodity in today's cinema.
* Please don't accuse me of attributing any of the arrogant,vile and self-centered attitudes and behaviour to the 'Babe'. These poor and less than admirable qualities are strictly the property of "The Wammer".
** 'Black Humour' is a little used term today for that which is found to be funny in a serious, sad or tragic situation. Illness, deformity and sudden death(such as "Bump's") would be good examples.