A
movie directed by
Barry Levinson. I personally consider it a
classic. It has top-notch actors such as
Robert Redford,
Robert Duvall,
Glenn Close,
Kim Basinger, and
Wilford Brimley.
I've heard it described as a 20th Century Fairy Tale (specifically on the IMDB), which I would say is an accurate description. Roy Hobbs (Redford) plays baseball like nobody else. Unfortunately, when he was young, he was shot and the injury (and the scandalous circumstances surrounding the incident) prevented him from playing until he was much older, and almost at the end of his career.
He plays with a bat that was made from a tree that was struck by lightning, which he carries in a special case, and in his first major league at-bat, he knocks the cover off the ball. If only he had been able to start his career sooner! Then, of course, there is the climactic final scene when he hits the home run that clinches the penant and hits the lights and sends sparks everywhere. This final scene was very beautiful (at least, that's how I remember).