‘Facing Nolan’ Knocks It Out Of The Park [Documentary Review]

5,714 strikeouts, 7 career no-hitters, 324 wins, and hold 51 Major League Baseball records. No, I am not talking about someone playing MLB The Show, I’m talking about one of the greatest pictures of all time Nolan Ryan. Starting his MLB career with the New York Mets in 1966 Ryan grew into one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Playing for the Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and the Texas Rangers Ryan’s career would last for 27 seasons. Well, thanks to Utopia and Fathom Events we get to relive some of the greatest moments of Nolan Ryan’s time on the mound in a special documentary titled Facing Nolan. This documentary will screen in select theaters on May 24th.

Facing Nolan

Told from the point of view of the hitters who faced him and the teammates who revered him, Facing Nolan is the definitive documentary of a Texas legend. In the world of Major League Baseball, no one has created a mythology like Nolan Ryan. In Theaters Nationwide on May 24th.

Nolan Ryan’s numbers tell a story, but numbers alone do not capture his essence. Flashpoints have emblazoned him onto our subconscious: like pitching with his jersey covered in blood. Running a cattle ranch during the off-season. The iconic brawl where Ryan walloped the 20 years younger Robin Ventura. Despite mythical moments and statistical brilliance, Ryan’s career is a study in extremes. Not only does he hold the record for most walks and most wild pitches, but he has also given up the most grand-slams and the most stolen bases. Many of today’s baseball analysts do not consider him to be among the greats, but with all this in mind, where does Ryan fit in the ever-evolving game of baseball? 

My Thoughts On Facing Nolan

When doing reviews a lot of times I have to worry about spoilers, but in this case, there really is nothing to spoil. Facing Nolan really isn’t about learning new facts about the Rayn Express, it is more of a story that is meant to take fans down memory lane. Now don’t get me wrong there are some new things you may not have known, like how his wife Ruth Ryan helped keep Nolan from giving up on baseball, and how he was ready (thanks to Dave Winfield) for that round on the mound with Robin Ventura.

We do not only hear from Nolan and Ruth Ryan in this documentary, but we also get to hear from former teammates and opponents he faced over the years. Legends like George Brett, Rod Carew, Pete Rose, Bobby Valentine, and many others talked about what it was like facing and watching Ryan on the mound. Even former President George W. Bush makes an appearance to talk about Ryan’s greatness.

What I also loved about this documentary was how it brought Ryan’s family into it. When Ryan entered the big leagues no one expected him to last long, not even Ryan himself. But like I said earlier, thanks to the support of his wife Ruth, Nolan Ryan decided to stick it out and became one of the greatest of all times. We would also go on and learn more about Nolan Ryan’s family and the impact he had on them.

But as a Ryan fan what I really loved about Facing Nolan is how we got to look at the many milestones throughout Nolan Ryan’s MLB career. From his 7 no-hitters to sticking out Ricky Henderson for his 5000th strikeout I felt like a kid again reliving memories of watching Ryan pitch. But like a good documentary, it also covered his not-so-great moments as well like his wildness when entering the big leagues and his unfortunate injury that finally ended his career.

In Conclusion

Facing Nolan is a must-watch! Director Bradley Jackson knocked the ball out of the park with this documentary. If you are someone who watched Nolan Ryan pitch get ready for an amazing trip down memory lane. If you never had the chance to watch Ryan you will be in awe seeing how great the Ryan Express was. This film has it all, from the highlights to the lowlights you love every minute of this documentary. Oh yeah, and if you are wondering you do get to see the “multi-hit” game of Robin Ventura. Do yourself a favor, do not miss this documentary.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Are you excited about the Facing Nolan documentary coming on May 25th? Did you ever get to see Ryan pitch and if so what were your thoughts on his style. Also, we must know, who is your favorite baseball player of all time? That Hashtag Show wants to hear from you.

You can tell us your thoughts by leaving a comment below or hitting me up at starwarsnerd574. You can also join me on the That Hashtag Show Facebook page to chat about all things movie and pop culture-related. Also, make sure to stay up to date on all the Pop Culture news by following us at ThatHashtagShow.com.

SEE ALSO:

‘Facing Nolan’ A Documentary On Nolan Ryan Will Screen In Theatres One Night Only In May.