Cobb
A conflicted sportswriter confronts the ugly reality behind baseball legend Ty Cobb while being pressured to turn abuse into heroic mythology.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- abrasive
- paranoid
- sports history viewing
- serious film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an unusually harsh and original sports biopic elevated by Tommy Lee Jones's searing performance, though its abrasive tone and length divided viewers.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Stump discovers that Cobb's baseball greatness cannot be separated from his anger, racism, misogyny, and abuse.
Stump writes one version for Cobb and another for the public, turning authorship into the film's central ethical dilemma.
The film devotes relatively little screen time to baseball action and concentrates on Cobb's destructive behavior.
Cobb pressures Stump to whitewash his character while controlling access to his official life story.
Films like Cobb, and why
Raging Bull
character-driven biographical drama about a celebrated but morally compromised public figure, anchored by a volatile lead performance
The Wrestler
unvarnished sports biopic focused on the destructive personality behind an iconic athletic career
61*
baseball-centered historical drama balancing sporting legend, personal mythology, and troubling behavior
Amadeus
morally confrontational biographical film examining how fame and ambition coexist with cruelty
Movie Details
- Director
- Ron Shelton
- Release Date
- 1994-12-02
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (107)
Cast
- Tommy Lee Jones
- Robert Wuhl
- Lolita Davidovich
- Ned Bellamy
- Scott Burkholder
- Allan Malamud
- Bill Caplan
- Jeff Fellenzer
- Doug Krikorian
- Gavin Smith
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Cobb about?
- A conflicted sportswriter confronts the ugly reality behind baseball legend Ty Cobb while being pressured to turn abuse into heroic mythology.
- What is Cobb like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Cobb as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Cobb violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Cobb as moderate.
- What did critics think of Cobb?
- Critics broadly found the film an unusually harsh and original sports biopic elevated by Tommy Lee Jones's searing performance, though its abrasive tone and length divided viewers.
- Which films are like Cobb?
- Films with a similar feel include Raging Bull, The Wrestler, 61*, and Amadeus.
- How long is Cobb?
- Cobb runs 128 minutes.
- Where can I watch Cobb?
- In United States, Cobb is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
