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Amazon.co.uk Review
Director Barry Levinson treats The Natural as a kind of shrine to America's national pastime, baseball, complete with all the possible mythic resonance that can be gleaned from the subject. Fans of the Bernard Malamud novel may be dismayed, but anyone who fell for the similarly mythic Field of Dreams will be hooked. Levinson displays an unabashed devotion to the game, although the film could use more of the realities of chewing tobacco and pine tar. The story opens as a young man (Robert Redford, in soft lighting) emerges from the sun-dappled heartland as maybe the best baseball player anybody's ever seen. On his way to the majors, he is waylaid by an enigmatic black widow (Barbara Hershey) and vanishes for many years. When he re-emerges, a silent mystery, he lands a spot with a New York team and begins tearing up the league--he's still the natural. Redford is fine, and Kim Basinger and Oscar-nominated Glenn Close are effective as the women in his life. The crowning touch is the soaring, extraordinary music by Randy Newman, the singer-songwriter turned orchestral composer. --Robert Horton, Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
For Redford this is a strange film. In many of his earlier incarnations he edges towards realism as a style and genre - by that I am thinking of 'Downhill Racer', 'The Candidate', 'Three Days of the Condor' and, of course, 'All the President's Men'. Then you have this... The wonderful novel has been pulled apart and, oddly enough, put back together again in an incredibly rich way. The power of pathos in this story is simply overwhelming. Redford floors us with his wistful performance - the ageing baseball star trying to follow his glowing star for one last ride into the record books. You can see the sadness in his eyes - Roy Hobbs a mythical young star who made one damn mistake (and a wholly human one at that) who ended up paying for it. But, the stars line up - and via faith from Glenn Close - he gets his second shot at redemption. Watch out for Robert Duvall and Joe Don Baker - great performances. And the lighting is stunning. The soaring music takes you to another place. And the look on Redford's face when he winces, then nods, as he prepares to hit that final pitch... well... in 100 years they'll still be appreciating that one: Yeah, comebacks are indeed the second wind of the soul. This is not a film about baseball - it's a fable about never, ever, giving up on your dream, nor more importantly, yourself. Because, as that ball unravels in mid-air (watch and you'll understand) you realise sometimes your previously unconquerable dreams can be realised in a heartbeat if only you supply the guts, and the Gods supply the knowing wink. What a lovely, decent, warm and encouraging film. We need more like it Bob.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a joy to see The Natural out on DVD at last. Purists howled at the change from the storyline of the novel. Listen to them not a jot. The Natural is simply a wonderful movie, greatly underrated by the Academy when the Oscars were handed out. Looking back, it is unbelievable that this fine film received not even a single Oscar nomination. Outstanding, beautifully understated performances across the cast create an emotional atmosphere that draws you in each and every time you watch the film. Randy Newman's magnificent soundtrack has the power to move you at all the right moments, and the camera work is beautiful - just watch the backlit, "haloed" Glenn Close stand up during a crucial moment in a game and try not to be impressed. A fundamental knowledge of baseball is helpful but not essential, for the real message is not in the game, but in the lessons in life Robert Redford's character, Roy Hobbes ("The Natural" in the story) learns along the way. This is not just a sports film, it is a love story - and in more ways than one. As Roy reflects upon his life late in the film, he says "Some mistakes I guess you never stop paying for." Well thankfully, the long-standing mistake of not bringing The Natural out on DVD has been rectified at last. Unlike a number of DVDs, it loads quickly into the main menu, bypassing the normal agonising wait past credits, warnings, commericals etc that many DVDs put you through when first loaded. The additional feature of a documentary starring Cal Ripken is a fantastic and touching bonus, but quite why the trailer for "The Way We Were" was considered a good idea for inclusion on a DVD about a baseball player is puzzling. The Natural has always one of my top all-time movies, and on DVD it has come of age. I highly commend it to anyone who loves the thrill of the gladiatorial showdown in sport, anyone who loves a good old-fashioned love story, and anyone who maybe has lost their way in life and needs to believe in something or even themselves again. Finely crafted, deeply moving, classic story telling at its finest. Buy it and be enchanted.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
and it works on so many levels.There is the sporting theme(baseball the American game, set in an innocent era,) The potential, and innocence of youth. Dreams that never die, as well as an indicment of the press(build em up to knock them down) but at the end of the day it is an enjoyable film. Would have given it 5, but you could say that the end is corny, but in the same way that you are caught up in the emotion, of say a Rocky film, this film leaves you with a warm feeling inside. Try it and see.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Redford at his best
Robert Redford gives a career defining performance in this poignant movie about love, life and baseball.Redford simply gives an acting masterclass here. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Colpeper
The Natural Blu Ray R2
One of my favourite films and been looking for it in Region 2 Blu Ray for some time. This imported Blu Ray is in English and with no problems.
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Terence Gibson
Pondless
It is fascinating, as a Yank, to see these wonderful reviews of what at first glance is a schmaltzy film about an American pastime that bores the hell out of most Brits (strange,... Read more
Published 13 months ago by JCV
Enjoyable.
The Natural.
I find this film a happy experience, and as I enjoy baseball, that is a bit of a bonus. Read more
I find this film a happy experience, and as I enjoy baseball, that is a bit of a bonus. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Joan L.
One of my films ever
I love this film.
Robert Redford is an actor of a different generation, he will be remembered forever and has been in some of my favourite films of all time. Read more
Robert Redford is an actor of a different generation, he will be remembered forever and has been in some of my favourite films of all time. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Sweetlilac
The Natural
Watched the film many years ago and noticed it on Amazon so i ordered it. Enjoyed it again, not a big Retford fan but enjoyed him in this. The delivery and quality were very good
Published 21 months ago by Bracks
NOT THE "DIRECTORS CUT" amazon have got the wrong discription
I have just wasted my money on this because this is a blu ray version of the original 1984 film,not the "directors cut" as stated by Amazon . Read more
Published on 22 April 2010 by B. Smith
Real Passion and Real Courage
This story is about a young boy from the country side who appears to be a very promising baseball player. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2009 by Suzy
the natural
This is an excellent film with a great story line watch time and time again.
Published on 11 April 2009 by Jack Pittam
The Art of Feel Good
A true masterpiece of simplicity. Like the paper-clip, a Jackson Pollock or the unfortunate 9/11 attacks. Read more
Published on 2 April 2008 by Spinalonga Israfel
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