Facing Nolan

Directed by Bradley Jackson, Facing Nolan explores the life and times of famed baseball player Nolan Ryan and details his rise from humble beginnings to a career laced with record-breaking milestones. Filmmaker Jackson delivers an overlong yet mostly compelling documentary that effectively (and impressively) manages to capture the attention and interest of baseball neophytes, as Facing Nolan boasts a playful sensibility that’s heightened by a continuing emphasis on fascinating tidbits and anecdotes (eg though he had a successful first season as a pro ballplayer, Ryan was forced to take on a job in the off-season to support his family). And although Jackson elicits commentary from a wide variety of athletes and periphery figures (including George W. Bush!), Facing Nolan‘s greatest asset is Nolan himself – as the professional athlete, through the movie’s one-on-one interviews, wins the viewer over with engaging, affable stories revolving around his time on the field and at home. (It doesn’t hurt, either, that Jackson fleshes his subject out via choice soundbites from the man’s wife and children (and grandchildren).) By the time the crowd-pleasing final stretch, which is primarily devoted to Ryan’s legendary encounter with Robin Ventura, ultimately rolls around, Facing Nolan has cemented its place as an entertaining, sporadically enthralling portrait of a justifiably iconic sports legend.

*** out of ****

Leave a comment