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IMDbPro

The Phenom

  • 20162016
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)
Trailer for The Phenom
Play trailer2:28
3 Videos
65 Photos
DramaSport
A rookie pitcher undergoes psychotherapy to overcome the yips.A rookie pitcher undergoes psychotherapy to overcome the yips.A rookie pitcher undergoes psychotherapy to overcome the yips.
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Noah Buschel
    • Noah Buschel
  • Stars
    • Johnny Simmons
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Paul Giamatti
    • Noah Buschel
    • Noah Buschel
  • Stars
    • Johnny Simmons
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Paul Giamatti
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 21User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    The Phenom
    Trailer 2:28
    Watch The Phenom
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:28
    Watch Official Trailer
    'The Phenom': An Ordinary Kid
    Clip 1:23
    Watch 'The Phenom': An Ordinary Kid

    Photos65

    Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)
    Ethan Hawke, Paul Giamatti, and Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)
    Ethan Hawke in The Phenom (2016)
    Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)
    Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)
    Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)
    Paul Adelstein, Paul Giamatti, and Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)
    Paul Giamatti in The Phenom (2016)
    Niesha Butler, Marin Ireland, Aaron Judlowe, Johnny Simmons, and Michael Preziosi in The Phenom (2016)
    Ethan Hawke and Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)
    Paul Giamatti in The Phenom (2016)
    Johnny Simmons in The Phenom (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Johnny Simmons
    Johnny Simmons
    • Hopper Gibson
    Ethan Hawke
    Ethan Hawke
    • Hopper Senior
    Paul Giamatti
    Paul Giamatti
    • Dr. Mobley
    Sophie Kennedy Clark
    Sophie Kennedy Clark
    • Dorothy Boyer
    Alison Elliott
    Alison Elliott
    • Susan Gibson
    Yul Vazquez
    Yul Vazquez
    • Coach Eddie Soler
    Paul Adelstein
    Paul Adelstein
    • Scott Borwitz
    Marin Ireland
    Marin Ireland
    • Rachel Cullum
    Louisa Krause
    Louisa Krause
    • Candace Cassidy
    Frank Wood
    Frank Wood
    • Richard Boyer
    Meg Gibson
    Meg Gibson
    • Jill Boyer
    Elizabeth Marvel
    Elizabeth Marvel
    • Teresa Epland
    Emily Fleischer
    • Betsy Schmidt
    Journey Smith
    • Lloyd Moseby
    Niesha Butler
    Niesha Butler
    • Tuesday Davis
    Aaron Judlowe
    • Stan 'The Fan' Charles
    John Ventimiglia
    John Ventimiglia
    • Red Briles
    Steven Marcus
    Steven Marcus
    • Ernie Jaster
      • Noah Buschel
      • Noah Buschel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Paul Giamatti's dad, Angelo Bartlett Giamatti, was a very important figure in baseball. He was Commissioner of Major League Baseball.
    • Goofs
      The band aid on Hop's face, by an inch or two, does not match the point where his father cut and bled him with a beer can.
    • Quotes

      Hopper Sr.: Show me what you're made of, why don't cha?

    • Connections
      Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Ethan Hawke/Freddie Prinze Jr./Ingrid Michaelson (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Sonata No. 11 in A Major for Pian, K. 331
      Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performed by Glenn Gould

    User reviews21

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    Below Average Sports Drama Inspired by Rick Ankiel's Story
    Having just finished Rick Ankiel's book, The Phenomenon, and just finishing this movie, I think it's pretty obvious the plot is based on his story. As mentioned in the FAQ, nobody has come out and said the movie is based on Ankiel but the many similarities are striking and pretty hard to ignore. Here are a few:

    1) Ankiel attended Port St. Lucie HS like the main character, 2) Ankiel's dad was crazy, abusive and overbearing. Ankiel even talks about him screaming at and intimidating his HS coaches. He also took credit for Rick's success, 3) Like the movie's main character, Ankiel told people his father was a fisherman and hung drywall, when in reality he was a drug dealer who spent time in prison, 4) The main character in the movie plays in the Atlanta Braves organization, which was Ankiel's favorite team growing up, 5) After he loses his control in the 2000 playoffs, Ankiel moves down to the minors and spends a ton of time with sports psychologist Harvey Dorfman, and they talk a lot about his past with an abusive father.

    Those are just some of the glaring similarities so it seems pretty obvious this movie was inspired by Rick Ankiel's story. As usual, artistic license has added and changed certain parts of the story but it seems pretty obvious this movie was based on Ankiel's story.

    I'd consider the overall production below average, in part due to the lack of character development. However, I applaud the ambition for undertaking a difficult and often unspoken aspect of professional sports. The "yips" is a well-known phenomenon in the baseball world, but one that players avoid in daily conversation because of its ability to sneak up on any player at any time, and the emotional toll it takes on its victims.

    Because this theme seemed to take precedence, I was willing to overlook the main character's unrealistically poor pitching mechanics and the frequent and awkward misuse of baseball terminology. It would have been nice if the movie focused a bit more on the emotional turmoil experienced in the player's personal life as he tries to overcome his affliction. This seems to be a product of the lack of character development. Additionally, I think beginning the movie with various notable events throughout the pitcher's childhood would have provided some more context, added some character development, and provided a good foundation for the rest of the movie.
    helpful•2
    0
    • patrickkahn
    • Jul 4, 2017

    FAQ1

    • Is this film based on the life of Rick Ankiel whose autobiography just came out in April 2017?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 24, 2016 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Production company
      • Elephant Eye Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 28 minutes
      • Color

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