Review of Field of Dreams (1989) by Ray D — 24 Jul 2009

I have the feeling that I really shouldn't enjoy this movie--it's got Kevin Costner acting kind of smug, mysterious voices whispering 'IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME' in the cornfield for reasons that are never explained (unless if the viewer takes the position that SIGNS was an unofficial sequel to this film) and characters giving speeches about the redemptive power of baseball, which is a sport that's never been high on my must-watch list.

I mention this because, with all of these negative considerations taken into account, the picture itself works like a charm. Phil Alden Robinson directs like he's channeling the ghost of Frank Capra, Costner's smirk manages to be endearing, after the first few minutes, if you accept the voices whispering in the corn, everything in the story falls into line, and the redemption of James Earl Jones (as a Salinger-ish writer and recluse) and Burt Lancaster (in what I believe was his last role) through baseball with ghosts is....well, it's just weird enough to work.