Disappointing as it had potential, but just never seems to deliver, you keep hoping it will get better and it never does

A disappointing movie. The actors were good, the filmography was entertaining but the scripting and the direction were a letdown. It was disjointed, plot directions seemed to disappear and the 'psychology' didn't make anything especially clear. The final scene didn't explain much and the ending - abrupt and incoherent - was very annoying. This movie was a wasted opportunity.

Horrible ending. Not worth the time

I love baseball but there is no point to this movie. A complete waste of time!

To me, extremely powerful fantastic movie. I really enjoyed every aspect. The screenplay, direction and especially the acting makes this one of my all time favorites. I believe a movie is at its best when it makes you think, makes you feel. This movie does both. Bravo!

this movie fucking sucks, I would rather sit and stare at a wall than and let my imagination wander than watch this film again, the cinematographer must have had adhd because the angles and camera work could've have been done better by a quadruple amputee.

This was bad. It kept my attention for a while, but was a massive failure. Some good acting couldn't save it. The ending is terrible and ruins any good parts.

Terrible abrupt ending

Johnny Simmons was excellent. It's not your typical baseball movie. I didn't really like how the movie ended, it just seemed to end, if that makes any sense. It's not a movie I would recommend to a friend.

Johnny Simmons was not the right choice for a baseball movie, he can hardly throw the ball, let alone throw 98mph like his character is supposed to.

Strengths: The acting is the backbone of this movie. Johnny Simmons (Hopper) is the lead and, while I liked him in his smaller roles in Scott Pilgrim and Girlboss, this was easily his best work. His scenes with Paul Giamatti (Dr. Mobley) are emotionally powerful, while the stuff with his alcoholic dad (Ethan Hawke) keep you glued to the screen. I do think this was an interesting route to go with a sports film. Focusing on the mental aspect isn't often done, and what we got was solid. The scene between Simmons and Giamatti near the end featured great work from both men. Weaknesses: For a baseball movie, there's almost no baseball. I get that it focused on the mental side of the game, but it would've been nice to include more of Hopper on the mound. Though Hawke gives a fine performance, his role is very clichéd. How often are we going to get the alcoholic, abusive father storyline? I know it happens a lot in real life, but it's been an on-screen thing far too often to always be a hit. The film also ends on somewhat of a lame note and feels abrupt. It seems like not enough was done to complete some of the character arcs. Overall: If you're here to see a baseball movie, this isn't the film for you. It's more of a look at someone's psychological struggles. The acting is good, it's just missing a few things. With a bit more sports related scenes to spice it up and a strong ending, I'd rank this higher.

Hopper Gibson (Johnny Simmons) is in a position that every little boy dreams about. He is a star rookie pitcher in Major League Baseball. His numbers and talent are off the chart, when all of a sudden, he can't find the strike zone. There is nothing wrong with him physically, so the team sends him down to the minors and puts him to work with the top sports psychologist in the country. I really don't understand professional critics and what they look for when they rate a film. Take The Phenom for example, this film has got to be the slowest and most boring sports film I've ever seen, yet it has an 80 on Rotten Tomatoes. There was very little sports action in this film and the fast majority of it consisted of this guy sitting in a room talking to a shrink! Yes, the shrink was played by Paul Giamatti, who is an unbelievably talented actor, but why the hell would anyone want to watch some dudes therapy session? When he wasn't in therapy, he should be on the field, but no, he's dealing with his over barring father, who is fresh out of prison. Who plays this bad ass, bullying his pro-athlete son, who is in peak physical condition? A very old looking, very tattooed, Ethan Hawke and I really wasn't buying that for a second. There were some talented actors in this film, no doubt, but The Phenom was 88 minutes of talking and nothing more, what in the hell is so great about that? This film was as boring as movies get, so unless you're a die hard Paul Giamatti fan, I would absolutely let this one pass you by.

A plot that goes nowhere, and ends with absolutely zero entertainment value. Boring from beginning to end

This movie knows baseball, but the game is merely a backdrop here to a refreshingly introspective and insightful drama that is less about the big game and more about the bigger picture in life: knowing oneself and finding one's self-worth.

Watching this film on a whim helped me discover Bushcel's previous films, including the excellent "Glass Chin." He is a fine film-maker with a promising future, although frankly it's already been realized in my opinion. This movie concerns the struggles of a young hurler fresh to the Majors after an outstanding High School and meteoric Minor League career. Physically he's fine but in a flash the "yips" have over-come his ability to repeat his early success. Enter a Sports Psychologist with an equally quick rise through his profession to see what kinks need ironing out. The biggest being "Hopper Gibson" domineering but dead-beat Dad, intruding back in the kid's life at a stressful and cross-roads kind of time. The cast is brilliant, everyone plays their roles to the hilt w/o hamming it up or calling any more attention to themselves than needed. Giamatti is particular as the calm-but-direct Dr. Mobley; you'll wonder if he doesn't have a future as a therapist, or has been at some point. Hawke is amazing in a role unlike I've seen him play before (I've seen him play an antagonist, but not one this uncomfortably convincing.) Simmons chagrin was palpable, and though he wasn't always completely convincing as a 98-mph throwing hurler, he certainly was at showing fearful respect for his Dad (despite the incessant badgering) and the motel-scene will certainly stick in a young buck's mind who dreams of life on the road. A note-perfect look into a subject seldom broached in a sports' film. Concise and superbly acted, and none of the trumped-up maudlin that pervades films of this kind: Hopper does not finish this touching film by tossing a perfect-o or anything so silly. What he does is even more astonishing, and real. An instant favorite of mine from the first watch. Buschel, you are to be commended for your efforts. Anyone who found this to be "boring" must also suffer from finger-joint aches from chronic phone-texting.

Those hoping for a baseball film here will be greatly disappointed. The film is about a boy his struggles in life, relationship with his father etc. The performances are decent especially from Ethan Hawke but the script never really goes anywhere. In the end of the movie was pretty dull and the miss leading advertising of it being a baseball film.

Horrible movie. Did not get better throughout. Just awful

Boring. This is the most boring movie I have seen in years. The characters are cliche and the dialogue is mundane. I do not understand what the critics saw in this movie

The phenom is an interesting psychological vignette of dysfunction under the magnifying glass of major league baseball. There's a lot of dysfunction out there in the world, but how about when it's put on stage front and center? That's when the real fun begins. This is not a baseball movie by any stretch of the imagination, merely a vehicle used to study psychosis brought on by familia angst. And speaking of that angst, Ethan Hawke masterfully plays the dangerous macho alcoholic who himself had great potential as a youth, but succumbed to the pressure, and in the process takes all that missed opportunity and failure out on his son. Hopper Jr. (Simmons). Hopper works hard to deal with the inner demons placed there by his dad under the tutalage of his mental coach Dr. Mobley, played masterfully, as per usual, by Giamatti who always plays his roles to a "t" subtle when it's required abrasive if need be, etc. And even though Hopper Sr. tries his best to instill his failure and anger in his son, his son through great strength and courage works to take the higher road, one that is seen in evidence in the closing scene when he goes to visit his dad just because, well, he's his dad. A very well acted and instructive film, if you didn't just come to see a baseball film but rather a reflective piece on how we deal with our demons whether pro or con.

What a waste of time that was!!!!