"The Hammer" never quite brings the pain, in the parlance of pro wrestling, leaving the film feeling heartfelt but flat.
The Hammer
He knew he could be a champion. They knew he could be much more.
2010 · 1h 48m · PG-13
Drama, History
Directed by
Oren Kaplan
Overview
A coming of age drama following the life of Matt Hamill, the first deaf wrestler to win a National Collegiate Wrestling Championship.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
Cleaving to the sports-as-salvation playbook with more fastidiousness than creativity, "The Hammer" offers a sincere but wearyingly formulaic portrait of triumph over adversity.
Overall this is a gentle and fascinating alternative to your typical noisy big-screen blockbuster.
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