For Love of the Game starring Kevin
Costner, Kelly Preston, John C.
Reilly, Jena Malone, Brian Cox
For Love Of The Game
Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) is having a bad day. His girlfriend Jane (Kelly
Preston, stunning as ever) says shes leaving, and his boss (Brian Cox)
says hes selling the business and ace employee Billy may be out of job.
Sounds like business as usual for an old-fashioned veteran. However, the
business is baseball and for Billy Chapel, the 40-year old former all-star for
the Detroit Tigers, it means his career--and his life--is at a crossroads.
Although it is no Bull Durham, For Love of the Game finds a solid and very
believable role for Costner. The film is based on Michael Shaaras (The
Killer Angels) stream-of-consciousness novel (the rough manuscript was
found after his death 1988). The entire film takes place on Billys day on the
mound against the Yankees, a meaningless late-season game for the
Tigers, but everything for Billy. In flashbacks, he lingers over his long
relationship with Jane and his baseball career (from World Series heroism
to a career-threatening injury). His one viable link to the game at hand is
his catcher, played winningly by John C. Reilly. Costner, like Chapel, is
looking for one more great performance, but the film is too simplistic and
loopy at times to resonate. The love story has an extra helping of
cuteness, and legendary baseball announcer Vin Scully nearly takes on a
leading role, waxing grandiloquent. Its no grand slam, but a solid double. -
-Doug Thomas
Michigan States own Sam Raimi demonstrates once again that his
directorial range extends well beyond horror movies (lik e 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 actor 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 pitchers 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 Tigers hurler pursues
every baseball pitchers 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 theyre trying to
encompass a players 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 Collectors Edition) and The Guardian.
If youre 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 lik e it because its also a
sports movie. Both genders will appreciate the satiric humor thats
directed towards sports know-it-alls that weve all encountered in our lives.
All in all, this is a good movie - step up to the plate & check it out!
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