Growing up, I learned a lot about baseball from three sources: My brother, my dad, and the Backyard Baseball computer games. None of them touched on Nolan Ryan quite like Facing Nolan does.
Nolan Ryan was one of the most revered baseball players throughout his career. As a pitcher, he threw 5,714 strikeouts - a record that is nowhere near being surpassed. He is the subject of a legend where he allegedly threw a pitch clocking in at 108 mph. Utilizing all of these skills, Ryan threw seven career no-hitters - a record that, again, is nowhere near being surpassed. All of this to say, Nolan Ryan was a force to be reckoned with.
Facing Nolan attempts to show, not tell, just how feared Ryan was against his opponents.
Show, Not Tell
Using interviews and clips from several of Ryan's teammates and opponents across his four decade career, the filmmakers paint a picture of a baseball player that clocked in, did his job, and clocked out. When Ryan was on the mound, no one could stop him. Hearing firsthand accounts of what it was like to be up against him or, even better, have him in your dugout, helped to emphasize the shadow that Nolan Ryan cast over the MLB.
I loved seeing archival footage of Ryan throughout his career. One of the most interesting aspects of him, as a player, is just how long he played. His career spanned FOUR decades. A total of twenty seven years in Major League Baseball is rare and the fact that Ryan played from the 1960s clear up until the 1990s says a lot about his lasting impact on his team and in the league. Near the end of his career, Ryan was facing players who had not even been born when his career started. If that does not hit the point home, I do not know what does.
For Baseball Fans Only
As a baseball fan, I found Facing Nolan to be very interesting. That being said, I can watch it and objectively say that I would not find it as interesting if I did not have some sort of investment in the subject, as I do. The documentary does not transcend its subject like so many of the greats do. But if you are a baseball fan, Facing Nolan has plenty to provide in the way of entertainment. With that caveat, I recommend the film to those who feel they would enjoy it.
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