For Love of the Game
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Movie Reviews of For Love of the Game
Movie Review: Giving it all
Summary: 5 Stars
Michigan State's own Sam Raimi demonstrates once again that his directorial range extends well beyond horror movies (like 30 Days of Night) and superhero flicks (Spider-Man - The Motion Picture DVD Trilogy (Spider-Man / Spider-Man 2 / Spider-Man 3)). Raimi is a talented director to be reckoned with, and this film is a testament to that.
Kevin Costner portrays a baseball player who in the twilight of his career. He was once a dominating pitcher, but time has eroded some of his skills and he can sense his last stroll to the pitcher's mound is near.
Kelly Preston plays his on-again / off-again love interest after a chance meeting. Kelly has always been beautiful, and this might be her finest performance to date.
The story is told via flashbacks while the Detroit Tiger's hurler pursues every baseball pitcher's dream: a perfect game. It comes on the last game of the season vs. the most storied franchise in the game (the Yankess) at perhaps the most storied stadium in all of sports (Yankee stadium). It also is the last game of the season, and perhaps the last game of his career.
While some may find the story a bit longwinded, I thought that the film was evenly paced & told well. We have to remember that they're trying to encompass a player's entire career with various anecdotes & memories (some good, some not-so-good). Costner can be bland in some movies, but this was one of his better outings - up there with Dances with Wolves - Extended Cut (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) and The Guardian.
If you're looking for a date movie, this one just might be perfect. Women will love it as it can pass for a chick flick. Men will like it because it's also a sports movie. Both genders will appreciate the satiric humor that's directed towards sports "know-it-alls" that we've all encountered in our lives. All in all, this is a good movie - step up to the plate & check it out!
Movie Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
Not being a baseball fan at all, I hesitated to get this movie. I have Bull Durham, and like it the more I see it, great humor in that movie, but For Love of the Game is the best ever. It has almost made me a baseball fan. Kevin Costner does an outstanding job in this movie--he throws all the pitches and makes the catches himself--that alone is amazing to watch, to hear the wind whistle past the ball, see the rosen powder fly from the catcher's mitt--it doesn't get any better. The camera work is outstanding, camera angles/replays/closeups, overall film techniques used to produce realism of an actual professional game, actual umpires from the league in the role of umpires, actors with experience in minor and major league play in the role of players and coaches, fan/crowd responses, etc., it's as real as it can get.
John C. Reilly is outstanding, he portrays the essence of a real friend. Kelly Preston is good, if I had a choice I would have chosen someone with more electricity and spark with Kevin but Costner makes up for the lack of spontaneous chemistry between the two. I would have bought this movie just to see the outstanding job Costner does, however, the story line is powerful; the relationship between Billy (Kevin) and Jane (Kelly)is so real depicting the ups and downs of a relationship with two flawed people and the difficutly of having a normal life and developing love interest with someone in the public eye. It just doesn't get any better, in my opinion, than For Love of the Game.
The story in For Love of the Game is the story of life--only told from the perspective of a single baseball game. We focus on one aspect of our life--our career--and almost ride it too long and risk missing out on the most important part of our overall existence. There are flaws in this movie but only those looking for flaws can get sidetracked by that and miss one of the best movies ever. This one is a keeper and one to be watched over and over. I don't know which I like best, the love story or the shots of the baseball game--and this from someone who doesn't like baseball--both are intertwined so skillfully they can't be separated. I almost want a second copy to make sure I never lose this outstanding movie.
Movie Review: DVD extras raise it from 4-stars to 5
Summary: 5 Stars
First, why I rate the movie 4 out of 5 stars.I'll start by saying I believe you need to be over 35 and a baseball fan to appreciate all aspects of this movie. As an over-40 male active in sporting activities, I could identify with the frustrations when your body begins to let you down; when things that used to be easy on the field become more difficult; and when you start asking yourself if it's still worth it. I've had my share of sports injuries that had to be rehabilitated. To me, this movie was real. The short prayer of, "God, just let my shoulder not hurt for the next 10 minutes" is SO true. If your idea of a great baseball game is a 1-0 pitching duel, you'll enjoy this a lot more than if you like to see 10-8 home-run fests.
Kevin Costner threw every pitch shown, fastballs and curveballs, for strikes and was clocked over 80 mph. Find another ACTOR who could've done that. All players were either professional players in the Tigers and Yankees farm systems (for non-acting positions) or they were actors with organized baseball experience and the umpires were actual MLB umpires. I don't know how you can get more real and still have people who can act.
The extra DVD features raise it a star. It has a featurette on many of the aspects I've shared above which help you appreciate the film on another level. If you successfully navigate through the little quiz, there's another featurette of Babe Ruth in "Slide, Babe, Slide". Plus the deleted scenes, etc. of most good DVDs and some DVD-ROM features.
For those indestructible 20-year olds - you probably won't like it. It doesn't move fast enough and you won't understand a lot of the subtext. But when you're 35, get it. Like most baseball movies, this plot will stand in good stead for many years.
Movie Review: A Home Run!
Summary: 5 Stars
People seem to either LOVE Kevin Costner, or HATE Kevin Costner. To be right up front, I like him. He makes movies he likes, and movies he would like to see. There are 2 themes running parrallel to each other in this movie; 1. The reflections of a career during an incredible game, and 2. A compelling love story, also reflected upon during this same game. BOTH keep you in 'the game'. Kelly Preston is terrific! Her character is very easy to like, and is an example of very good casting. Not overbearing, not show stealing, not someone trying to compete for more attention than her character needs. Costner, like his female counterpart, is also terrific. You can't help BUT cheer for him. Both for the perfect game he stumbles upon, and the girl, who has become part of his characters emotional fabric. Not to be forgotten, is the dialogue delivered by Vin Scully, T.V. announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He paints an incredible picture of the game as it moves through the movie. His dialogue is delivered better than any actor could ever try to do. Another example of great casting. This movie, on DVD, offers some nice fringe benefits as well. Deleted scenes, interviews, and extremely nice audio if your system suports it. The soundtrack adds alot to this movie. The music selected is complimentary, not a character unto itself. It adds some great dynamics to the story that is being told. So, is this a great sports movie, or a great love story. Well, I can answer this very easily. They both fit together so well, fans of both will enjoy this with no regret for watching a great sports/love/Kevin Costner movie. If you like a GOOD movie, add this to your DVD collection. You'll like watching this again.Movie Review: Excellent movie on life, love and baseball
Summary: 5 Stars
I personally found this movie to be an excellent watch. It is about a baseball pitcher in his ending career, pitching his final game. As he plays through this game, he flashes back on memories, moments, and mostly how the love of his life has impacted him. After the feeling that he has lost everything he has ever loved because of his career ending, he realizes he loves something even more. For love of the game is a movie that can reach out and personally touch specific crowds of people. This movie gets to me because I am an athlete and know how it feels to have the game quit you.
While watching this movie the flashbacks are something I believe a majority of people can relate to. That makes this movie significant because we can all peel back our layers and compare them to Billy as he views the years. You witness struggle, love, desperation, heartbreak and a number of other emotions while viewing this movie. Hopefully the memories Billy goes through will remind you of yours, such as falling in love.
This movie can take a person back to when baseball was good, when playing the game was all that mattered. Money, the jersey you wore, none of that matters in this movie. You only played: For love of the Game.
-Drac
Apologies for the lack of review, but this movie is magical and I would not want to spoil any of it.