FOR LOVE OF THE GAME

US, 1999, 137 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Costner, Kelly Preston, John C. Reilly, Jena Malone, Brian Cox, J.K. Simmons.
Directed by Sam Raimi.

Here is Kevin Costner being a little like Bull Durham and reprising a 'Field of Dreams' theme as he remembered the influence of his father on his baseball career. I remembered watching 'Field of Dreams' in a New York City cinema in 1989was one of the most alienating movie experiences I have ever had. With little knowledge of baseball except from watching the movies and observing its impact on the American psycheoutside, I could not fully emphathise with the excitement of that audience which was so exhilarated by 'Field of Dreams'. I found myself an outsider.

But, one of the distractions from ' For Love of the Game' was that this movie was directed by Sam Raimi. Raimi had made his cinema mark with horror and action movies like 'The Evil Dead' and 'Darkman'. His reworkings of the western in 'The Quick and the Dead' and of the film noir in 'A Simple Plan' indicated that he was a tough director of strong, even tough, movies. 'For Love of the Game' is scarcely a tough movie. It is a romantic saga of a baseball player at the end of his time, going for a record, cheered by the crowd, remembering his wife and their love and their troubles... Full of sentiment, in fact.

But it set me reflecting on Sam Raimi as a director who, moving into mid-life, is going to anger his admirers who will say that he has no right to make a baseball-sentiment movie. But he is showing an ability to be at home in a range of movies.

1.The title, the focus on baseball, the American sport, the mythologies about baseball?

2.Kevin Costner in the central role, the background of Bull Durham, The Field of Dreams? Baseball themes?

3.The film as a piece of Americana? The American locations, Detroit, the team travelling around the United States? The musical score? The song: ‘The Summer Wind’?

4.The prologue: the father, Wheeler, the game, home movies, the build-up to the career, the game sequence?

5.Billy, his age, experience, his place on the side, hurting and aching, wincing? His friendship with Gus Sinski? The situation? The final game, the review of his life?

6.The hotel and the suite, his name, waiting for Jane, the dinner – Wheeler and the selling of the Tigers? ‘Heart and Soul’, the family? The decision to sell Billy? The question of whether he should retire or not from the great game?

7.The issues of commercialisation of baseball and the players, Wheeler as a character, his role in selling?

8.Jane, the background with Billy, her decision to leave? The final game, her saying that she didn’t need him? Listening to the radio, watching the TV? The lounge and the man at the bar?

9.The rookie, memories of the past, the home movies, the commentators’ voices, the television? The subjective style? Billy and his opponents and their comments?

10.Gus as confidant, relationship with the coach, together for nineteen years?

11.The loud fan, saying that Billy was finished, at the bar and the comment?

12.The plays, tough, the falls, hardball?

13.The memories of meeting Jane, the car breaking down, the towing man and his recognition? Going to the game? The comments of ‘this week’s blonde’?

14.The meal, the questions, her article, the kiss, the elevator? The date? Their relationship, laughing, going to spring training? The girl and the sexual situation?

15.Davis, smile, the trading to New York, the worthy opponent? Giving advice?

16.The phone argument, the masseur, the deal, the possibility of freedom?

17.Jane’s daughter, her character, running away? In the plane, the frank talk, the mother trying to prevent mistakes? Her memories? Jane and Heather and the men? The chalet, skating?

18.Cutting her hand, the outburst about the US and the doctor? Saying that Mike was most important to her then? Anger, about his not coming back? Jane and his feeling distracted, weak? Life as a gift? The declaration of love?

19.Jane, leaving, the airport, her reasons?

20.The issue of the perfect game? Billy not knowing if he had anything left? Gus giving him the boost? Gus missing the catch? The deal, his father? The flashback and his meeting Heather, ringing Jane, making the decision, writing on the ball for Wheeler’s nephew, “Tell them I’m through for love of the game”? The prayer and the pain for ten minutes?

21.Love, stoic, the pain, the team, the motivation, the prayer, the acclamation of a nice job, the strain, strong will, success?

22.The aftermath, Gus drinking, alone and weeping, the airport, Jane and Heather, Jane proud of Billy? His discovery that he needed Jane?