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The Phenom

Released Jun 24, 2016 1h 30m Drama TRAILER for The Phenom: Trailer 1 List
79% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 38% Audience Score 500+ Ratings
A sports therapist (Paul Giamatti) tries to help a troubled rookie pitcher (Johnny Simmons) who grew up with an abusive father (Ethan Hawke). Read More Read Less
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The Phenom

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Critics Consensus

Powerfully acted and emotionally affecting, The Phenom proves a baseball movie can step away from the mound and still deliver a heater down the middle.

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Critics Reviews

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Steve Greene indieWire When Buschel narrows his focus and has a handle on these characters' essences, there are flashes of greatness. All he needs is a tighter grip. Rated: B- Jan 1, 2017 Full Review Scott Marks San Diego Reader This "love me daddy" baseball pic that earns points for spending less than 5 percent of its time on the diamond and refusing to end in open competition...so far as the playing field is concerned. Rated: 2/5 Jul 1, 2016 Full Review Frank Scheck Hollywood Reporter It's Hawke who gives the film its dramatic urgency. Jun 24, 2016 Full Review Jason Best Movie Talk Ethan Hawke is making a habit of playing flawed fathers, but his feckless dads in Boyhood and Ten Thousand Saints appear positively benign in comparison with the toxic parent he plays in [this] psychological sporting drama. Rated: 3/5 Sep 17, 2017 Full Review Argun Ulgen PopMatters Buschel is clearly on the right track to fully embracing the limitations of conventional structures in storytelling. When he does, it could lead to a minor masterpiece, which at times The Phenom flirts with. Rated: 6/10 Jan 1, 2017 Full Review Dustin Putman TheFilmFile.com There is a stronger, deeper, fuller motion picture to be made from this material. Earnest though it is, this one is decidedly far from phenomenal. Rated: 2/4 Aug 25, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Disappointing as it had potential, but just never seems to deliver, you keep hoping it will get better and it never does Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member A disappointing movie. The actors were good, the filmography was entertaining but the scripting and the direction were a letdown. It was disjointed, plot directions seemed to disappear and the 'psychology' didn't make anything especially clear. The final scene didn't explain much and the ending - abrupt and incoherent - was very annoying. This movie was a wasted opportunity. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Horrible ending. Not worth the time Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/15/20 Full Review Audience Member I love baseball but there is no point to this movie. A complete waste of time! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member To me, extremely powerful fantastic movie. I really enjoyed every aspect. The screenplay, direction and especially the acting makes this one of my all time favorites. I believe a movie is at its best when it makes you think, makes you feel. This movie does both. Bravo! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member this movie fucking sucks, I would rather sit and stare at a wall than and let my imagination wander than watch this film again, the cinematographer must have had adhd because the angles and camera work could've have been done better by a quadruple amputee. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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The Phenom

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Movie Info

Synopsis A sports therapist (Paul Giamatti) tries to help a troubled rookie pitcher (Johnny Simmons) who grew up with an abusive father (Ethan Hawke).
Director
Noah Buschel
Producer
Jeff Rice, Jeff Elliott, Antonia Bogdanovich, Kim Jose
Screenwriter
Noah Buschel
Distributor
RLJ Entertainment
Production Co
Best Pitcher, Crystal Wealth, Bron Capital Partners
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2017
Runtime
1h 30m
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