How Dennis Quaid’s THE HILL Focuses on 2 Corinthians 12:9
By Movieguide Staff
THE HILL is the incredible true story about baseball phenom Rickey Hill, starring Dennis Quaid and Colin Ford.
Rickey grew up with a degenerative spinal disease that forced him to wear leg braces throughout his childhood. Despite his family having very little money, Rickey’s love for baseball arose from hours and hours of hitting rocks with a stick in rural Texas.
Ford, who plays the older version of Rickey in the movie, said that it was the true story of perseverance that first drew him to the role.
“THE HILL has been many years in the making for myself and [director] Jeff Celentano, he’s been a part of this for like 10 years and I’ve been a part of it for now since 2018, 2019,” Ford said.
“It’s just so exciting to finally see the finished product and then everyone’s reaction to the film as well,” he added. “I think the draw for me was the true story aspect. Just having been a baseball fan in my youth, the baseball element was very cool. But I think more than that was uh after discovering who Ricky was and the adversity that he faced and all the things that he struggled with; it was just a no-brainer for me.”
Despite his father’s efforts to protect Rickey, Rickey had his eyes set on playing baseball in the major leagues and no physical obstacle was going to stand in his way.
“Ricky took his greatest weakness and turned it into a strength,” Ford said. “Years and years of honing in on that hitting skill when he couldn’t run around the bases let alone walk, prepared him to be the hitter that he needed to be eventually at this fateful tryout against to become a professional baseball player.”
“I think that’s in scripture,” he continued, quoting 2 Corinthians 12:9: “God makes us strong through our weaknesses and I think that that’s exactly what God did through Rickey. I think his self-belief only propelled him forward even more and then later the support system that he received from his family, his brothers, sisters, grandmother and mom are just the catalyst that he needs in order to go off and shoot for the stars.”
Ford said that his own faith played a major role in his depiction of Rickey and his decision to pursue acting as a career in general.
“Having a film like THE HILL which has a really cool strong message [of faith]… I think it’s a joy for me to get to share,” Ford said.
“Pastor Hill really wants Ricky obviously to follow in his footsteps but I think more than that it’s about wanting to keep his son safe,” he added. “He’s keeping him away from baseball because he wants what’s best for his son and he doesn’t want to see him hurt.”
Check out the full interview below:
THE HILL is scheduled to come out on August 25, check back soon for our full review!
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
