Review of For Love of the Game (1999) by Thersie M — 17 Mar 2009
Overshadowed by two other Kevin Costner baseball flicks, For Love of the Game deserves a bit more attention. I recall wanting to see this movie on first release, and regretting not doing so for reasons on which I won't elaborate.
I did catch it upon DVD release and was impressed enough to listen to the director's comments tracks after having seen it. Director Sam Raimi clearly loves the game and the baseball scenes at Yankee Stadium are shot beautifully.
Future Hall-of-Famer Billy Chapel (Costner) pitches for his Detroit Tigers in a late season game that means little to his struggling team. Give credit to the screenwriters for resisting the temptation to make this a playoff game or a contest other than ordinary.
Chapel's career is winding down,and he is dealing with some big career decisions. His relationship with girlfriend Jane (Kelly Preston) is at a crossroads so she and her daughter (Jena Malone) are weighing heavy on his mind as well.
On the field, the movie delivers in exploring the thought process of a pitcher and how he approaches hitters. Off the field, through flashbacks and through seeing Jane and her daughter watching on television on separate coasts, we see how Chapel arrived at this emotional point in his life.
Will he accept a trade or will he go out on top? The answer to that question will not surprise anyone, but then again, what does it mean to go out on top?
This review of For Love of the Game (1999) was written by Thersie M on 17 Mar 2009.
For Love of the Game has generally received positive reviews.
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