The inspirational film The Hill follows the true story of Rickey Hill, a baseball player with an unlikely story due to physical handicap, but how real or fake is the film?
Currently streaming on Netflix and drawing a massive audience, The Hill was released in theaters back in August 2023.
While it was a theatrical hit, more people are discovering the uplifting story of Rickey Hill while the film is marketed as "based on the incredible true story," but there's some speculation about how real the events of the film truly are.
Read full article on The Direct.
Currently streaming on Netflix and drawing a massive audience, The Hill was released in theaters back in August 2023.
While it was a theatrical hit, more people are discovering the uplifting story of Rickey Hill while the film is marketed as "based on the incredible true story," but there's some speculation about how real the events of the film truly are.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 1/24/2024
- by David Thompson
- The Direct
Siena Bjornerud turned heads after popping up in the Dennis Quaid-led 2023 movie, The Hill.
Telling the story of the real-life of former major league baseball player Rickey Hill, The Hill follows the young sports phenom as he overcomes a degenerative spinal disease and takes the field despite what his overbearing father may think.
The film recently hit Netflix, giving The Hill a whole new audience as the masses are introduced to Siena Bjornerud, who plays Rickey's girlfriend Gracie in the base-running blockbuster.
Read full article on The Direct.
Telling the story of the real-life of former major league baseball player Rickey Hill, The Hill follows the young sports phenom as he overcomes a degenerative spinal disease and takes the field despite what his overbearing father may think.
The film recently hit Netflix, giving The Hill a whole new audience as the masses are introduced to Siena Bjornerud, who plays Rickey's girlfriend Gracie in the base-running blockbuster.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 1/23/2024
- by Klein Felt
- The Direct
Biopics have been a dependable way for filmmakers to deliver a powerful story. There is always a set template attached with the biopics though. It’s either a rags to riches story or a cautionary tale about someone who fell from glory because of their vices. Which is the more interesting one? I feel the latter and yet there is a great warmth about an inspiring story where someone crossed great obstacles and tasted success. The new film The Hill is based on the life of baseball star Rickey Hill. With full access to all the intricate details about his life, this biopic has enough material to craft an inspiring story around his legacy. Rickey was born with a degenerative spine ailment and yet went on to be known as the ‘hardest hitter’ in baseball. He was a prodigy, but his career was cut short by his physical challenges. Overcoming...
- 9/26/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
Emma Seligman’s Bottoms is looking at an estimated weekend gross of $516k on ten screens with a possible leading $51,625 per-theater average for the raunchy, teenage high school girl take on Fight Club.
That’s a win for MGM, its Orion Pictures label and Brownstone Productions, producers on the modestly budgeted ($11.3 million) film written by Seligman and Rachel Sennott. The film skews young and was backed by edgy marketing — ingredients, although never surefire, behind the biggest post-Covid indie film breakouts.
Sunday’s final tally will determine if Bottoms nabs the highest per-screen average post-pandemic on ten or more screens. A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Opened to $50,131 at 10 locations in March of 2022. National Cinema Day, unspooling today, is a wildcard with attendance up but box office dollars limited by $4 tickets and seats available.
Bottoms is playing New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Austin at Alamo Drafthouse cinemas, arthouses including...
That’s a win for MGM, its Orion Pictures label and Brownstone Productions, producers on the modestly budgeted ($11.3 million) film written by Seligman and Rachel Sennott. The film skews young and was backed by edgy marketing — ingredients, although never surefire, behind the biggest post-Covid indie film breakouts.
Sunday’s final tally will determine if Bottoms nabs the highest per-screen average post-pandemic on ten or more screens. A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Opened to $50,131 at 10 locations in March of 2022. National Cinema Day, unspooling today, is a wildcard with attendance up but box office dollars limited by $4 tickets and seats available.
Bottoms is playing New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Austin at Alamo Drafthouse cinemas, arthouses including...
- 8/27/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s an unusual theatrical weekend as the second National Cinema Day rolls out Sunday with $4 tickets for all shows and formats at participating theaters — the bulk of the nation’s circuits big and small. The event was announced Monday with a dedicated clip of new openings, recent returning (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) and re-releases.
Angelika said all its theaters in New York Washington, D.C., California, Virginia and Texas are leaning in, and throwing in $4 sodas of any size. Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas, with nine locations in Texas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Illinois, will offer small popcorns and sodas for $4. Concession discounts are up each theater owner.
Last year, with the box office still recovering and National Cinema Day held on the generally slow Saturday of Labor Day weekend, the event, which drew crowds, made sense, some indies said this week. (Although they...
Angelika said all its theaters in New York Washington, D.C., California, Virginia and Texas are leaning in, and throwing in $4 sodas of any size. Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas, with nine locations in Texas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Illinois, will offer small popcorns and sodas for $4. Concession discounts are up each theater owner.
Last year, with the box office still recovering and National Cinema Day held on the generally slow Saturday of Labor Day weekend, the event, which drew crowds, made sense, some indies said this week. (Although they...
- 8/25/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Two true-life sports movies opening on the same weekend! Oh yeah, it was bound to happen but we’re taking a big detour (hmm), maybe even a U-turn from the video game F1 flick. For one thing. this one is set squarely in the past, before Pong was a staple, way back in the splashy 1970s, after a brief stop in the sensational ’60s. Oh, and this concerns the American pastime (as in hot dogs and apple pie), in the tradition of The Natural and The Rookie (with which it shares a star). Now the title doesn’t refer to the pitcher’s mound, but rather to the obstacles its focus must face (perhaps closer to a steep mountain). And since it’s also the last name of the family in this faith-based drama it’s simply The Hill.
After the briefest of prologues in which a seemingly angry teen...
After the briefest of prologues in which a seemingly angry teen...
- 8/25/2023
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Chicago – Catching a young actor in an early career stride is like catching lightning in a bottle. Colin Ford has such a breakthrough role portraying Rickey Hill, a Texas ballplayer who is battling a degenerative disease that may not give him enough time to fulfill his major league dreams. The film is aptly titled “The Hill.”
Rickey Hill wears leg braces as a child due to a degenerative spinal disease, but enjoys playing baseball. His strict pastor father (Dennis Quaid) dissuades his son from the sport, wanting to shield him from further injuries. But despite all odds, the older Rickey (Colin Ford) becomes a baseball “phenom.” When he begins to be scouted for the major leagues, the father and son are still divided, but Rickey Hill won’t give up.
Colin Ford and Dennis Quaid in ‘The Hill’
Photo credit: Briarcliff Entertainment
Colin Ford was born in Nashville, and began acting as a child,...
Rickey Hill wears leg braces as a child due to a degenerative spinal disease, but enjoys playing baseball. His strict pastor father (Dennis Quaid) dissuades his son from the sport, wanting to shield him from further injuries. But despite all odds, the older Rickey (Colin Ford) becomes a baseball “phenom.” When he begins to be scouted for the major leagues, the father and son are still divided, but Rickey Hill won’t give up.
Colin Ford and Dennis Quaid in ‘The Hill’
Photo credit: Briarcliff Entertainment
Colin Ford was born in Nashville, and began acting as a child,...
- 8/25/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
It’s long been said that religion and politics don’t mix. But religion and sports, that’s another story, especially at the movies. The Hill, telling the inspirational true-life story of baseball player Rickey Hill — don’t feel ignorant if you haven’t heard of him; most people seeing the film won’t have either — feels perfectly engineered to appeal to both sports fans and religious folk, especially in those parts of the country so quaintly described as “the heartland.” Basically substituting baseball for dancing, the film plays like an updated version of Footloose, with Dennis Quaid replacing John Lithgow as the disapproving pastor.
When we’re first introduced to Rickey, he’s a young boy growing up impoverished in rural Texas, with braces on his legs because of a degenerative spinal disease. That doesn’t stop him from pursuing his deepest love, namely hitting balls with a bat,...
When we’re first introduced to Rickey, he’s a young boy growing up impoverished in rural Texas, with braces on his legs because of a degenerative spinal disease. That doesn’t stop him from pursuing his deepest love, namely hitting balls with a bat,...
- 8/24/2023
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After two dismal weekends at the box office, any chance of things recovering for the last weekend of August doesn’t seem likely, although one daring movie (and this year’s “National Cinema Day“) will try to make an impact. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.
On Sunday, August 27, many North American theaters will be offering $4 movie tickets in hopes of keeping the burst of movie attendance thanks to “Barbenheimer” going into September. It will be hard to tell what sort of effect it has this year, because studio estimates on Sunday might not be able to account for any bump from National Cinema Day.
With that in mind, Sony is releasing the racing movie “Gran Turismo,” which isn’t based on the Sony Playstation driving simulator as much as it tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, as played by Archie Madekwe (“Midsommar”), a gamer whose...
On Sunday, August 27, many North American theaters will be offering $4 movie tickets in hopes of keeping the burst of movie attendance thanks to “Barbenheimer” going into September. It will be hard to tell what sort of effect it has this year, because studio estimates on Sunday might not be able to account for any bump from National Cinema Day.
With that in mind, Sony is releasing the racing movie “Gran Turismo,” which isn’t based on the Sony Playstation driving simulator as much as it tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, as played by Archie Madekwe (“Midsommar”), a gamer whose...
- 8/23/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
In the midst of a weekend with National Cinema Day, in addition to several previews, Sony’s feature take of PlayStation game, Gran Turismo, is bound to take No. 1 at the box office. This despite the fact that tracking has lowered its projections on the film down to $12M from $15M.
Gran Turismo originally was scheduled to open on Aug. 11, but Sony unconventionally decided to pivot to previews for two weeks prior to the pic’s opening this Friday in an effort to drum up word of mouth on the Neill Blomkamp directed movie since the cast wasn’t available due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Per industry sources, not Sony, previews are estimated to be in the $3M-plus range. That cash will be rolled into Gran Turismo‘s first Friday. This would boost the movie’s opening weekend to an estimated $15M in 3,800 theaters. In major markets such as LA,...
Gran Turismo originally was scheduled to open on Aug. 11, but Sony unconventionally decided to pivot to previews for two weeks prior to the pic’s opening this Friday in an effort to drum up word of mouth on the Neill Blomkamp directed movie since the cast wasn’t available due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Per industry sources, not Sony, previews are estimated to be in the $3M-plus range. That cash will be rolled into Gran Turismo‘s first Friday. This would boost the movie’s opening weekend to an estimated $15M in 3,800 theaters. In major markets such as LA,...
- 8/22/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Briarcliff Entertainment has released the first trailer for The Hill.
Growing up impoverished in small-town Texas, young Rickey Hill shows an extraordinary ability for hitting a baseball, despite being burdened by leg braces from a degenerative spinal disease.
His stern, pastor father (Dennis Quaid) discourages Rickey from playing baseball to protect him from injury, and to have him follow in his footsteps and become a preacher.
As a young man, Rickey (Colin Ford) becomes a baseball phenomenon. His desire to participate in a try-out for a legendary major league scout divides the family and threatens Rickey’s dream of playing professional baseball.
Based on a true story, The Hill is directed by Jeff Celentano and also stars Joelle Carter, country music singer and songwriter Randy Houser, Golden Globe nominee Bonnie Bedelia, and Scott Glenn.
The Hill opens in theaters August 25, 2023.
Growing up impoverished in small-town Texas, young Rickey Hill shows an extraordinary ability for hitting a baseball, despite being burdened by leg braces from a degenerative spinal disease.
His stern, pastor father (Dennis Quaid) discourages Rickey from playing baseball to protect him from injury, and to have him follow in his footsteps and become a preacher.
As a young man, Rickey (Colin Ford) becomes a baseball phenomenon. His desire to participate in a try-out for a legendary major league scout divides the family and threatens Rickey’s dream of playing professional baseball.
Based on a true story, The Hill is directed by Jeff Celentano and also stars Joelle Carter, country music singer and songwriter Randy Houser, Golden Globe nominee Bonnie Bedelia, and Scott Glenn.
The Hill opens in theaters August 25, 2023.
- 6/5/2023
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
"How many miracles do you need?" Briarcliff Entertainment has revealed an official trailer for an American baseball biopic called The Hill, arriving in theaters later in August this summer. It's set for a wide release, another of these Americana specials for everyone to enjoy. Colin Ford stars as Rickey Hill, a boy who has an extraordinary ability for hitting a baseball despite being burdened by leg braces from a degenerative spinal disease. His father discourages him from playing to protect him from any injury, and to have him follow in his footsteps as a preacher, however he goes on to become a baseball phenomenon. Dennis Quaid co-stars with Ford, joined by Joelle Carter, country music singer-songwriter Randy Houser, Bonnie Bedelia, and Scott Glenn. Based on a true story, the director explains: "I'm setting out to make an iconic film in the classic sense, a beautiful sweeping and powerful inspirational story.
- 6/1/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Briarcliff Entertainment has released a trailer for The Hill, the inspirational sports drama starring Dennis Quaid, scripted by Angelo Pizzo & Scott Marshall Smith and directed by Jeff Celentano. Have a look above.
Quaid plays the stern father of young Rickey Hill (Colin Ford), a boy who shows an extraordinary ability for hitting a baseball despite being burdened by leg braces from a degenerative spinal disease. While Quaid’s character discourages Rickey from playing baseball to protect him from injury, and to have him follow in his footsteps and become a preacher, the son becomes a baseball phenomenon.
The film also stars Joelle Carter, country music singer-songwriter Randy Houser, Bonnie Bedelia and Scott Glenn.
The Hill is produced by Warren Ostergard and Celentano. Executive producers include Ron Cundy, Michael A. Blubaugh, Michael E. Hollingsworth, Rickey Hill, Matthew Dwyer, Darren Moorman, Carl Mazzocone and Tyler W. Konney, Clay Pecorin and Russell Geyser of Rainmaker Films.
Quaid plays the stern father of young Rickey Hill (Colin Ford), a boy who shows an extraordinary ability for hitting a baseball despite being burdened by leg braces from a degenerative spinal disease. While Quaid’s character discourages Rickey from playing baseball to protect him from injury, and to have him follow in his footsteps and become a preacher, the son becomes a baseball phenomenon.
The film also stars Joelle Carter, country music singer-songwriter Randy Houser, Bonnie Bedelia and Scott Glenn.
The Hill is produced by Warren Ostergard and Celentano. Executive producers include Ron Cundy, Michael A. Blubaugh, Michael E. Hollingsworth, Rickey Hill, Matthew Dwyer, Darren Moorman, Carl Mazzocone and Tyler W. Konney, Clay Pecorin and Russell Geyser of Rainmaker Films.
- 6/1/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired North American rights to The Hill, an inspirational true-life sports drama starring Dennis Quaid, scripted by Angelo Pizzo & Scott Marshall Smith and directed by Jeff Celentano. Quaid starred in one of the most successful fact-based sports films in recent memory with The Rookie, and Pizzo wrote two of the best true sports films in Rudy and Hoosiers. Celentano helmed Gunshy and Breaking Point.
Quaid plays James Hill, a traveling pastor who becomes an overbearing influence on Rickey Hill, his sandlot baseball phenom son. The pastor thinks he’s protecting the boy because of health concerns and fear of how others will treat the youth because of his physical disabilities. But Rickey is determined to overcome those setbacks to fulfill his dream of playing professional baseball and making his father proud. The cast includes Colin Ford, Joelle Carter and country star Randy Houser, with Bonnie Bedelia and Scott Glenn.
Quaid plays James Hill, a traveling pastor who becomes an overbearing influence on Rickey Hill, his sandlot baseball phenom son. The pastor thinks he’s protecting the boy because of health concerns and fear of how others will treat the youth because of his physical disabilities. But Rickey is determined to overcome those setbacks to fulfill his dream of playing professional baseball and making his father proud. The cast includes Colin Ford, Joelle Carter and country star Randy Houser, with Bonnie Bedelia and Scott Glenn.
- 1/5/2023
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Scott Glenn, Colin Ford, Joelle Carter, country music star Randy Houser and newcomer Jesse Berry are joining Dennis Quaid in The Hill, the family drama penned by Angelo Pizzo and the late Scott Marshall Smith, who died in December.
The film, which is in production in Georgia, tells the true story of Rickey Hill, who overcame his physical disability to play professional baseball. Given the complexities Rickey faced in his relationship with his father, Pastor Hill (Quaid), his is a story about more than just athletics. It’s also about family and what one young man can do to follow his dream.
Berry and Ford will play the young and older versions of Rickey, with Carter portraying Rickey’s mother, Helen Hill. Houser will portray Ray Clemons,...
The film, which is in production in Georgia, tells the true story of Rickey Hill, who overcame his physical disability to play professional baseball. Given the complexities Rickey faced in his relationship with his father, Pastor Hill (Quaid), his is a story about more than just athletics. It’s also about family and what one young man can do to follow his dream.
Berry and Ford will play the young and older versions of Rickey, with Carter portraying Rickey’s mother, Helen Hill. Houser will portray Ray Clemons,...
- 11/16/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Dennis Quaid has signed on to star in The Hill, a family drama penned by Angelo Pizzo and the late Scott Marshall Smith, who passed away in December.
The film will tell the true story of Rickey Hill, a kid who overcame his physical disability to play professional baseball. Given the complexities Rickey faced in his relationship with his father, his is a story about more than just athletics. It’s also a story about family, and what one young man can do to follow his dream.
Quaid will portray Rickey’s father, Pastor Hill, an instinctively protective man who doesn’t want his son to go out into the world to pursue his dream, fearing that he’ll get ridiculed for his disability. Ultimately, Hill’s tough exterior is broken as Rickey grows up and proves his natural ability.
Jeff Celentano is directing the film, cast by Rick Montgomery (Green Book), which will go before cameras in Georgia in November.
He’s also producing alongside Warren Ostergard, with Matthew Dwyer, Michael Hollingsworth, Michael Blubaugh and Rickey Hill serving as exec producers.
The rest of the film’s cast has not yet been announced.
“I’m setting out to make an iconic film in the classic sense, a beautiful sweeping and powerful inspirational story. One that will stand the test of time like Blindside, Rudy, Field of Dreams and The Natural. Dennis was the first and only person I thought of for the lead role upon reading the script,” said Celentano. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he has the ability to play a loving, caring father while at the same time a staunch, powerful man – all the qualities needed to bring Pastor Hill’s character to life.”
“Since the 1970s in particular, the sports film has gained increasing recognition as one of the most important and popular genres in contemporary cinema,” added Quaid. “I couldn’t be more excited about this project. This film will no doubt further validate the power of American social mobility and show that in America you can choose to be what you want.”
Quaid is an Emmy nominee and two-time Golden Globe nominee best known on the film side for turns in Yours, Mine & Ours, In Good Company, The Day After Tomorrow, Cold Creek Manor, Far from Heaven, The Rookie, Wyatt Earp, Postcards from the Edge and other titles.
The actor’s recent TV credits include Netflix’s Merry Happy Whatever, Amazon’s Goliath and Fortitude, and Crackle’s The Art of More.
He’ll next appear in Alex Ranarivelo’s Born a Champion, Julio Quintana’s Blue Miracle, Andrew and Jon Erwin’s American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, Ray Giarratana’s The Tiger Rising, Sean McNamara’s Reagan, in which he’ll play the actor-turned president, and more.
Quaid is represented by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
The film will tell the true story of Rickey Hill, a kid who overcame his physical disability to play professional baseball. Given the complexities Rickey faced in his relationship with his father, his is a story about more than just athletics. It’s also a story about family, and what one young man can do to follow his dream.
Quaid will portray Rickey’s father, Pastor Hill, an instinctively protective man who doesn’t want his son to go out into the world to pursue his dream, fearing that he’ll get ridiculed for his disability. Ultimately, Hill’s tough exterior is broken as Rickey grows up and proves his natural ability.
Jeff Celentano is directing the film, cast by Rick Montgomery (Green Book), which will go before cameras in Georgia in November.
He’s also producing alongside Warren Ostergard, with Matthew Dwyer, Michael Hollingsworth, Michael Blubaugh and Rickey Hill serving as exec producers.
The rest of the film’s cast has not yet been announced.
“I’m setting out to make an iconic film in the classic sense, a beautiful sweeping and powerful inspirational story. One that will stand the test of time like Blindside, Rudy, Field of Dreams and The Natural. Dennis was the first and only person I thought of for the lead role upon reading the script,” said Celentano. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he has the ability to play a loving, caring father while at the same time a staunch, powerful man – all the qualities needed to bring Pastor Hill’s character to life.”
“Since the 1970s in particular, the sports film has gained increasing recognition as one of the most important and popular genres in contemporary cinema,” added Quaid. “I couldn’t be more excited about this project. This film will no doubt further validate the power of American social mobility and show that in America you can choose to be what you want.”
Quaid is an Emmy nominee and two-time Golden Globe nominee best known on the film side for turns in Yours, Mine & Ours, In Good Company, The Day After Tomorrow, Cold Creek Manor, Far from Heaven, The Rookie, Wyatt Earp, Postcards from the Edge and other titles.
The actor’s recent TV credits include Netflix’s Merry Happy Whatever, Amazon’s Goliath and Fortitude, and Crackle’s The Art of More.
He’ll next appear in Alex Ranarivelo’s Born a Champion, Julio Quintana’s Blue Miracle, Andrew and Jon Erwin’s American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, Ray Giarratana’s The Tiger Rising, Sean McNamara’s Reagan, in which he’ll play the actor-turned president, and more.
Quaid is represented by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
- 8/16/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
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