A Legend Like the World of Baseball Will Never See Again

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MOVIE REVIEW
Facing Nolan
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Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 42m
Director(s): Bradley Jackson
Where To Watch: In select theaters and now on demand, for more information, see www.facingnolan.com

I genuinely think that some of the best sports documentaries focus on a single legend instead of trying to spread it out over a whole team. Not to say that team documentaries can’t be good; it’s just my preference to hear the entire story of one of the greats. You can listen to more about individual performances, stats, and their drive. FACING NOLAN was a story about Nolan Ryan and his many memorable performances on the mound. The neat twist is that it's told from the perspective of those hitters that faced him. Some were career-long nemeses who can now look back and appreciate everything he accomplished.

Ryan’s career lasted a record-tying 27 seasons (tied with Cap Anson.) When he retired, he had amassed 324 wins with records for no-hitters (seven) and strikeouts (5,714). Along with many other records, no one will ever strike out or walk as many players as Ryan has over his career. A player's longevity and playing time will never match his, meaning those numbers, among others, are unreachable.

The documentary is told through stories of some of baseball’s most incredible, along with family, friends, and even an appearance from George W. Bush. Ryan is also interviewed, sharing some insights from his perspective. Ultimately, the stories told through the words of the opponents who faced him throughout his time in the majors were some of the most compelling.

If you want to learn about one of the best players to throw a ball at the major league level, this documentary is for you. Even if you’re not a massive fan of the teams he played for, this film has something for everyone. I like nothing more than learning about a new topic; documentaries have done more for me than all my history classes in school. They generally share more and tend to have a more unbiased look into these stories of the past as well.

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