The Phenom (2016)

A rookie pitcher undergoes psychotherapy to overcome the yips.

Director:

Noah Buschel

Writer:

Noah Buschel

Stars:

Johnny Simmons, Ethan Hawke, Paul Giamatti

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Simmons	...	Hopper Gibson
Ethan Hawke	...	Hopper Senior
Paul Giamatti	...	Dr. Mobley
Sophie Kennedy Clark	...	Dorothy Boyer
Alison Elliott	...	Susan Gibson
Yul Vazquez	...	Coach Eddie Soler
Paul Adelstein	...	Scott Borwitz
Marin Ireland	...	Rachel Cullum
Louisa Krause	...	Candace Cassidy
Frank Wood	...	Richard Boyer
Meg Gibson	...	Jill Boyer
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Teresa Epland
Emily Fleischer	...	Betsy Schmidt
Journey Smith	...	Lloyd Moseby
Niesha Butler	...	Tuesday Davis

Storyline

A Major League rookie pitcher loses control over his pitching and is sent down to the minor leagues, where he begins sessions with an unorthodox sports psychologist. In the process, hidden conflicts with his overbearing father are brought to light.

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Plot Keywords:

baseball pitcher | therapy | psychologist | therapy session | psychotherapy | 

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Taglines:

Hopper Gibson throws one hundred miles per hour. Now he needs to stop thinking.

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The recurring musical motif is by Mozart. Noah Buschel described Mozart as "the original phenom."

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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.

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Quotes

Hopper Sr.: What's-what's rule number one?
Hopper Gibson: Never show emotion on the mound.
Hopper Sr.: Mm-hm. And what do we do when you break a rule during a game? Whadda we do?
[silence]
Hopper Sr.: What the f...
[throws a beer can, hitting the side of Hop's face]
Hopper Sr.: Huh? WHAT DO WE DO? Huh? What do we do?
Hopper Gibson: [quietly with blood trickling from above his temple] We run wind sprints.
Hopper Sr.: That's right. Now get your ass outside.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Ethan Hawke/Freddie Prinze Jr./Ingrid Michaelson (2016)

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Soundtracks

Pas De Deux
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (as Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky)
Arranged by Christopher Todd Landor

User Reviews

The baseball version of "Good Will Hunting"

It's a movie about a kid who loved playing baseball. He worked really hard everyday to get better and better at the game, then suddenly one day he discovers he is better than everybody else. So, what now?

Everybody expects something of him. His team expects him to throw 100mph fastballs into the strike zone game after game. His coach expects him to stay out of trouble. His teacher expects him finish school. His dad expects him to not get lazy and waste his talent. His girlfriend expects him to be just a normal guy who she can talk to and relate to and be best friends with. And his shrink expects him to accept his talent.

Would I recommend you to watch this movie?

Yes. Although most of us can't throw 100mph fastballs, but if you can just suspend belief for a moment and put yourself into his shoes, you will find a very well written story about a working class kid working hard and making a success of himself.

No. If you go into this thinking "he's making $$$ millions, what's he got to complain about?" or "he's naturally talented, why everybody want to drag him down?" Then you are better off watching something else.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Phenom

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elephant Eye Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1