Knock the Cover off the Ball!

Rating: Null/10 (21 August 2012)

Most sports-themed film follow the similar tradition of an underdog getting an opportunity to play with the leagues followed by an obstacle that sets him back and then the final match that symbolizes his victory in life or that of a fallen sports hero finally getting a chance to clear his name and wins the last match of the film. 'The Natural' follows a similar tradition but Barry Levinson's treatment of the story is what makes this film unique. It's a very nice looking film thanks to the superb art direction and Caleb Deschanel's remarkable cinematography. Even though 'The Natural' has a polished look, it never appears flashy.
The characters are beautifully defined. It's got none of the formulaic caricatures one has witnessed x times in such films. All the characters here are complex just like any other human being. Furthermore, I liked that each of them had their own secrets, their own mystery. Humour is used cleverly with fine timing. Like the scene where the cover of the ball is knocked off.
Robert Redford is brilliant as the middle-aged batter. One can tell that he really studied the role and sunk his teeth into the character delivering a splendidly restrained performance. Rubert Duvall and Richard Fairnsworth are great too. Glenn Close and Barbara Hershey are wonderful. Kim Basinger's performance might not be outstanding but she certainly looks the part.
Overall, Barry Levinson has created something unique from what could have easily been a cliché. 'The Natural' is full of layers and rich in detail, detail in the characters and detail in their small interactions. However, a few flaws include casting Redford as Hobbs in his 20s (when he was in his late 40s). Of course they didn't have the technologies in those days that made Brad Pitt look younger in 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons' but still it was too obvious that Redford wasn't anywhere near 20. But these sequences are only ten minutes so they can be forgiven.