Catching Hell

2011

1h 42m

Documentary

List

100%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

89%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

Citizens of Chicago blame baseball fan Steve Bartman for interfering with a crucial play during a Cubs playoff game.

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Matt Singer

IFC.com

Such an epic tale of human folly you'd swear Sophocles wrote it.

Rated: B

May 5, 2011

Full Review

Jason Bailey

DVDTalk.com

Rated: 4/5

Apr 29, 2011

Full Review

Frank Scheck

Hollywood Reporter

Filmmaker Alex Gibney dissects an infamous sports incident in fascinating and wildly entertaining detail.

Apr 27, 2011

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A nutty sports story about scapegoating.

Rated: B

Oct 7, 2011

Full Review

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Audience Member

Fantastic way of capturing the ‘03 Cubs NLCS playoff collapse. Way to capture the moment, but also the exasperated, frustrated energy of Chicago fans.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The story was told very well. They were able to find the perfect people to interview for this piece. By the end of the movie, they really made you feel sorry for Bartman and show how something like this can happen to anyone.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

1/15/16 ESPN.COM Another home run by Alex Gibney, forgive the pun. Excellent story telling, player and fan interviews and actual game footage show how one simple act, an error in Buckner's case and a reach for a foul ball in Bartman's case can change a life forever. Everyone forgets Calvin Schiraldi giving up 3 hits and Bob Stanley's wild pitch before the error. Everyone forgets Alex Gonzalez booting a sure inning ending easy double play grounder after the Bartman incident which would have prevented the huge inning the Marlins had. Fans, history and the game can be beautiful and cruel in the same game.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Leads you to believe it is about the near end to the Chicago Cubs 95 year World Series drought only to reinforce ESPN's east coast bias with the Boston Red Sox almost contemporary 1986 failure. Thank you ESPN.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Incisive documentary delves not only into the historical aspects of the 2003 event, but also the craziness of rabid sports fans.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Although we never hear from the man himself in the film, Catching Hell's humane and decent treatment of Steve Bartman shines a very bright light on our own lack of humanity when it comes to sports. Bartman shouldered much of the blame and a barrage of bad publicity after the Cubs choked themselves out of the 2003 NLCS, but he was singled out of a much larger group of fans who supposedly interfered with the ball and potentially cost them the game.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

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Alex Gibney

Director

Alex Gibney

Writer

Gary Cohen

Executive Producer

Alex Gibney

Executive Producer

Alison Ellwood

Film Editing

Alison Ellwood

Producer

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Synopsis

Citizens of Chicago blame baseball fan Steve Bartman for interfering with a crucial play during a Cubs playoff game.

Director: Alex Gibney
Producer: Gary Cohen, Alex Gibney
Screenwriter: Alex Gibney
Production Co: Jigsaw Prods., Triple Threat
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 20, 2017
Runtime: 1h 42m

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