The Hill

The Hill promotional image

Streaming on: Netflix

For purchase on: Amazon Prime, Youtube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Vudu

Language: English

CC: English

Genre: Sports, Drama, Sports Drama Movies

Content warnings: Christianity, tobacco use, ableism (verbal throughout the movie), racism (Black supporting characters presented as lower class throughout movie), possibly "inspiration porn"

Alright crew I'm going to begin what I hope is a weekly habit of once a week highlighting a movie from the current Netflix "Top 10 Movies in the U.S. Today" as a way to also expose me to things outside my "go-to" genres. This week that brings us "The Hill". This one is a 2023 film with Dennis Quaid, Colin Ford, and Joelle Carter as the top 3 listed on the playbill. The mini description provided by Netflix says the following:

"In this film based on a true story, young baseball hopeful Rickey Hill chase his major-league dreams while living with a degenerative spinal condition"

That snip-it paired with listing the film as being "inspiring" and "emotional" is giving me yellow flags before I've even started watching it to be earnest. As a disabled human approaching my 4th decade, I've grown tired of the times I "become inspiration porn" so I'm a little concerned about this one. If you're unfamiliar with the term "inspiration porn" here's a short and sweet version (it doesn't have any officially recognized definitions as of January 2024): the idea that disabled people can do certain things “in spite” of their disabilities, and that they’re used to motivate and inspire non-disabled people. The term was coined by disability advocate and comedian Stella Young in 2012. I definitely recommend checking out her TED talk from 2014 that further explores the concept. All that said lets get into the movie shall we!

"The Hill" is based on the life of Rickey Hill. Hill was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 15, 1956. The movie takes place in Texas, in 1965 and 1974. It starts out with an opening sequence that sets the tone of quintessential small town America as we go from the baseball field to a church where we see a young boy in leg braces hitting rocks with a stick discussing baseball with a young girl. We get some interesting quotes from the boy's pastor father and we are further acquainted with our very white, very rural, very "Christian" small town. There's a fair amount of foreshadowing with all the talk of "miracles" and Hill being an unlikely prodigy. It should be known prior to watching this I knew absolutely nothing about Rickey Hill. My heart aches just a bit watching the family navigate how to support and even explain Rickey's disability to him. Be aware dear reader that 18 minutes into this movie and it's very apparent that James Hill is a pastor and that this is a key part of Rickey Hill's upbringing. The family is kicked out of the initial small town and by the grace of an elderly white couple presented with the opportunity to take a new position in a different small town. This is where the baseball really starts to take center stage in the story and where we really begin to see the disability called "making sacrifices". I do appreciate the craftsmanship in the writing and the directing of the scenes between James and Rickey Hill in his youth. There is a lot of compassionate yet real talk there if you can recognize the Christian narratives as a tool in telling this story. I do deeply appreciate the writing on this one and that the children absolutely show more Christ like behavior than the adults. For the record dear reader I too spent some time with the Christian church - was in youth group, taught Sunday school, was a member of the praise and worship team for multiple services, baptized in the waters at Catalina island, led bible studies in college, and ultimately left the church for reasons unimportant here. Young Rickey Hill choosing both God and baseball did indeed bring a smile to face and memories of the good times with the church.

The shift from Rickey being a young boy to Rickey being a young man is a smooth one. Big nods to great writing on that one. The reintroduction of Gracie is a little "fairytale romance" and boarding on saccharine but not so much as to enter the House of Mouse territory. In my heart I simultaneously hope that James Hill watched his son play baseball at some point in the decade we jump in the movie... and I understand that the likelihood is high he never did. Staying true to my initial impression of this being quintessential small town America we're witnessing where accepting differences is slower than molasses in the middle of a snow storm. We see this play out in the "rematch" between the "townie" baseball bully and Rickey... where in true Rickey style he knocks it out of the park. Now how would this be an inspirational tale if something else didn't happen to Rickey - enter a sprinkler head and a gnarly ankle break. The scene in the doctor's office just serves as a very personal reminder to myself that medicine has indeed improved massively since 1973, and that we in America have a gross history of medical care being deemed a luxury regardless of the circumstances around why it's needed. The ongoing show of family connection, care, and dare I say growth did indeed bring some tears to my eyes at a variety of moments. Pastor men, Preacher daddies... they all seem to have this bullheaded refusal to accept help. There's a real consistent irony to that. And in terms of consistency it takes the death of a loved one and the pain of watching your child on a road to recovery to get him to even contemplate what his son has been saying all along. That there can be enough space in a life for both God and baseball.

Now readers I am not the biggest baseball fan. I spent some time in my college years watching my little brother's little league games and I've seen a few major league games over the years with friends but this particular movie doesn't require any kind of deep knowledge of baseball and that sure as fuck appreciate. The later part of the movie would probably be improved with a slightly better understanding of baseball than I myself have but the cinematography and writing do a strong enough job that I don't feel lost in those moments of the film. It does help that we have Helen Hill (mom) making a justified heartfelt plea to James to finally respect their son. See also dear readers the writing does indeed lay out that James Hill in over 10 years of his "phenom" son playing baseball against some pretty stacked odds... NEVER watched his son play. It's a shame in my book that James delivers a sermon declaring his arrogance, selfishness, and pride to a very sparse congregation on the night of the big game. I may have rolled my eyes a time or two during this scene in the movie. Unsurprising to me the only moment James Hill manages to show up and watch his son play is the "pinnacle" spot in the game when Rickey is going 11 for 11 against a pro pitcher. I do appreciate the father-son scene out on the baseball diamond in an empty stadium but man do I wish Rickey had heard the sermon... or that James repeated those words in front of his family. Guess three's still some work to be done on James Hill's pride. The photos and continuance of telling the story of rickey Hill before the credits roll is pretty heart touching and I'm super happy to have watched a semi-biographical film about someone who is indeed still alive!

All in all it's a pretty solid watch. The pacing of the film keeps your interest for the most part. I'm not sure this one will go on my re-watch list for the amount of religion in the film but it is too be expected given the story they are telling about a real man and the upbringing he had. The jury is also still out on if this one is "inspiration porn". I'm going to continue to think on that one and may give either an update to this particular post or make a fresh one revisiting the concept in the future. Until next time I'll see you on the internet.

Favorite Quote of the film:

"I'm too old and mean to stand by another minute while you make their misery theirs."