Cobb (film)

Cobb is a 1994 American biographical drama film directed by Ron Shelton and starring Tommy Lee Jones as baseball player Ty Cobb. The film is based on the 1993 book Cobb: A Biography by Al Stump, who is portrayed in the film by Robert Wuhl.

The film primarily focuses on the final year of Cobb's life in 1961, when he hires sportswriter Al Stump to ghostwrite his autobiography. Stump travels to Cobb's Lake Tahoe home and observes Cobb's volatile personality, racism, and hoarding of wealth. As Stump digs deeper into Cobb's life, he uncovers contradictions between the legend and the reality of the baseball icon, ultimately struggling with the ethical dilemma of writing a truthful biography versus perpetuating a myth.

Cobb explores themes of hero worship, the complexities of legacy, and the often-harsh realities behind the idealized versions of historical figures. It contrasts Cobb's on-field brilliance with his off-field cruelty and attempts to grapple with the problematic aspects of his character. While initially lauded for its depiction of Cobb, the film faced controversy due to accusations by Al Stump's estate that the movie fabricated events and embellished Stump's role. The historical accuracy of Stump's biography itself has also been questioned.

The film was not a box office success, and critical reception was mixed, with praise directed towards Jones's performance but criticism aimed at the film's perceived negativity and historical inaccuracies.