The Hill
The true story of Rickey Hill, the son of a travelling pastor who overcomes physical obstacles to pursue his dream of playing baseball in the major leagues.
The film earned $7.6M at the global box office.
1 win & 1 nomination
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Hill (2023) showcases strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Jeff Celentano's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Young Rickey Hill struggles with leg braces due to his degenerative spinal condition, watching other children play baseball while he cannot. His physical limitation defines his world.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Rickey discovers he can hit a baseball powerfully despite his disability, revealing unexpected talent. This moment shows him that his dream might be possible, disrupting his acceptance of his limitations.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Rickey makes the active choice to pursue baseball seriously, defying his father's authority. He commits to trying out for a team, stepping into the world of competitive baseball despite the physical and familial obstacles., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: Rickey receives recognition or an opportunity from professional scouts, making his dream seem within reach. The stakes raise as he moves from local success to potential professional career, but this attracts greater opposition., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 91 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Rickey's body fails him at a crucial moment—perhaps collapsing during a tryout or being told his condition makes professional baseball impossible. His father's prediction seems correct. The dream appears dead., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 98 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Synthesis moment: Rickey realizes that pursuing his dream isn't about defying his father or proving others wrong—it's about honoring the gift he's been given. He reconciles faith and action, gaining clarity and renewed purpose., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Hill's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Hill against these established plot points, we can identify how Jeff Celentano utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Hill within the biography genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional biography films include Lords of Dogtown, Ip Man 2 and A Complete Unknown.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Rickey Hill struggles with leg braces due to his degenerative spinal condition, watching other children play baseball while he cannot. His physical limitation defines his world.
Theme
Rickey's mother or mentor figure suggests that faith and determination can overcome any obstacle, hinting at the central question: Can belief in yourself triumph over physical limitations and opposition?
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Hill family dynamics: Rickey's strict preacher father who prioritizes ministry over baseball, his supportive mother, and the religious community in rural Texas. Rickey's love of baseball grows despite his physical condition.
Disruption
Rickey discovers he can hit a baseball powerfully despite his disability, revealing unexpected talent. This moment shows him that his dream might be possible, disrupting his acceptance of his limitations.
Resistance
Rickey debates pursuing baseball against his father's wishes. He practices in secret, faces his father's theological opposition to worldly pursuits, and grapples with whether to honor his father or follow his dream. His disability creates additional doubt.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Rickey makes the active choice to pursue baseball seriously, defying his father's authority. He commits to trying out for a team, stepping into the world of competitive baseball despite the physical and familial obstacles.
Mirror World
Rickey meets a coach, mentor, or love interest who believes in him and represents the accepting world outside his father's rigid theology. This relationship embodies the theme of faith in human potential.
Premise
The fun and games of Rickey playing baseball: early successes, proving doubters wrong, spectacular hitting displays, growing reputation, and the joy of doing what he was born to do. The promise of a disabled kid excelling at baseball.
Midpoint
False victory: Rickey receives recognition or an opportunity from professional scouts, making his dream seem within reach. The stakes raise as he moves from local success to potential professional career, but this attracts greater opposition.
Opposition
His father's opposition intensifies, his physical condition worsens under the strain, professional scouts doubt his durability, and the gap between dream and reality narrows. Every gain is met with greater resistance and physical pain.
Collapse
All is lost: Rickey's body fails him at a crucial moment—perhaps collapsing during a tryout or being told his condition makes professional baseball impossible. His father's prediction seems correct. The dream appears dead.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul: Rickey confronts whether his faith and determination are enough, processes the physical and emotional toll, and faces the possibility of giving up. He must decide what he truly believes about himself.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Synthesis moment: Rickey realizes that pursuing his dream isn't about defying his father or proving others wrong—it's about honoring the gift he's been given. He reconciles faith and action, gaining clarity and renewed purpose.
Synthesis
The finale: Rickey gets one final opportunity to prove himself, likely a crucial game or tryout. He gives everything he has, combining his natural talent with his hard-won spiritual strength. Resolution with his father and achievement of his dream.
Transformation
Closing image: Rickey on a professional baseball field or in reconciliation with his father, the leg braces transformed from symbols of limitation to testaments of perseverance. The boy who could only watch now plays, transformed through faith and determination.