The Natural

May 11, 1984

2h 17m

★ 6.9

He lived for a dream that wouldn't die.

Overview

An unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs with a mysterious past appears out of nowhere to take a losing 1930s baseball team to the top of the league.

Genres

Drama

Production Companies

TriStar Pictures

The Natural Trailers

Cast

Roy Hobbs

Robert Redford

Max Mercy

Robert Duvall

Iris Gaines

Glenn Close

Memo Paris

Kim Basinger

Pop Fisher

Wilford Brimley

Harriet Bird

Barbara Hershey

The Judge

Robert Prosky

Red Blow

Richard Farnsworth

The Whammer

Joe Don Baker

Gus Sands (uncredited)

Darren McGavin

Bump Bailey

Michael Madsen

Sam Simpson

John Finnegan

The film tells the story of the friendship between Johann and Ludwig as they strive for the ultimate “buddy” relationship. Going beyond, well beyond, what would be considered good and healthy, the pair attempt to become the ideal twins, driving their relationship based on their partnership in competitive rowing (coxless pairs) to the ultimate, to perfect harmony in mind, word, thought and deed. But their symbiotic relationship is thrown out of balance: Ludwig strives to tighten the bonds ever closer, but Johann discovers happiness in the form of love for Ludwig’s sister, Vera. But because Ludwig hates her, the couple keep their relationship secret. But secrets have a way of coming out and Ludwig is wounded to the core. As the finals of the rowing competition draw closer, Ludwig has already set his sights on a greater goal: to preserve their friendship forever, no longer in life but in death.

6.6

Damage

Dec 2, 1992

The life of a respected British politician at the height of his career crumbles when he becomes obsessed with his son's lover.

6.2

The Big Easy

Nov 27, 1986

Remy McSwain is a New Orleans police lieutenant who investigates the murder of a local mobster. His investigation leads him to suspect that fellow members of the police force may be involved.

6.5

The Knock Out Cop

Oct 25, 1973

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5.9

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6.2

All You've Got

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6.8

The Rookie

Mar 25, 2002

Jim Morris never made it out of the minor leagues before a shoulder injury ended his pitching career twelve years ago. Now a married-with-children high-school chemistry teacher and baseball coach in Texas, Jim's team makes a deal with him: if they win the district championship, Jim will try out with a major-league organization. The bet proves incentive enough for the team, and they go from worst to first, making it to state for the first time in the history of the school. Jim, forced to live up to his end of the deal, is nearly laughed off the try-out field--until he gets onto the mound, where he confounds the scouts (and himself) by clocking successive 98 mph fastballs, good enough for a minor-league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Jim's still got a lot of pitches to throw before he makes it to The Show, but with his big-league dreams revived, there's no telling where he could go.

6.5

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6.1

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Jan 15, 1999

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7.8

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4.3

Winter Break

Mar 22, 2003

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7.9

Herod's Law

Nov 9, 1999

In the 1940s, a small Mexican town has seen its last three mayors assassinated in rapid succession. A naive janitor is recruited to become the new mayor, and he believes he will modernize the little town and usher in a reign of peace. But the system corrupts him very quickly, and he takes to abusing his power while associating with an unscrupulous assortment of opportunists, hypocrites and criminals.

7.3

Rudy

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7.5

I Can Only Imagine

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7.3

Love & Basketball

Apr 21, 2000

Monica Wright and Quincy McCall grew up in the same neighborhood and have known each other since childhood. As they grow into adulthood, they fall in love, but they also share another all-consuming passion: basketball. As Quincy and Monica struggle to make their relationship work, they follow separate career paths though high school and college basketball and, they hope, into stardom in big-league professional ball.

6.8

Slap Shot

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7.0

Bad Lieutenant

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While investigating a young nun's rape, a corrupt New York City police detective, with a serious drug and gambling addiction, tries to change his ways and find forgiveness.

7.5

The Wrestler

Sep 7, 2008

Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. But he can't resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback.