If you’ve looked though my Blog Site you may have noticed a
lack posts regarding sports movies. Well, personally I’m just not a sports guy
and there are only a handful of sports themed movies that I’ve ever really
loved. I just feel that if you’ve seen one sports movie you’ve seen them all,
and their conventions can get a pinch repetitive. I don’t have any animosity
toured the subject, it’s just not for me. Then every once in a while you get a film
like the 1989 fantasy drama “Field of
Dreams”, which is undeniably a Baseball movie, but completely devoid of any
typical sports movie clichés, offering an experience that’s unique, simplistic
and very touching. Based on the Novel “Shoeless Joe Jackson Comes to Iowa”, “Field of Dreams” is a modern fairy tale
that has something special to offer to viewers ... whether their sports fans or
not.
Our movie
begins with some back-story of the life of Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella who’s played
by Kevin Costner. Basically, this guy was a prodigy of the 1960’s, loves
baseball and had a pretty stable relation with his father, at least until he
left the family and started one of his own. Now in present day, this farmer finds
himself hearing a mysterious voice saying “If you build it, he will come!” At
first the “Voice” makes no sense to him, but soon he discovers that if he were
to build a Baseball stadium in his corn field, it would call upon the spirit of
his greatest Baseball idle, the disgraced Shoeless Joe Jackson. Sure enough,
Ray spends a fortune on the construction of a Baseball field right in his corn
field, and sure enough it does bring back the deceased Baseball player, but it doesn’t
stop there. Soon, several other deceased Baseball players come out of the wood
works, or corn field in this case, as they’ve all had short comings that kept
them from their dream. Some Baseball players retired, taking up other
professions while others were banned from the game as a result of the 1919
scandal. Now in Ray’s baseball field, these lost souls get the chance to live
their dreams. Meanwhile, Ray’s mysterious voice begins asking for further requests,
revolving around the lives of other people, some of whom are dead and others who
have lost hope.
It’s a very
simple premise, and the simplicity of the story just adds to the wonder and charm
of the film. Think of it like an episode of “The Twilight Zone”, except very heartfelt and leaving you feeling
warm and cheerful inside. There’s never any strait forward explanation as to why
these magical oddities happen in the film, and the characters themselves while very
confused don’t ask to many questions either, they just go with flow. There’s a statement
made by Ray that he was probably chosen to build the baseball field as an act
of penance for something unforgivable he did to his father. As you’d expect,
this all pays off and leads to a somewhat predictable but very wholesome ending.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Kevin Costner but he does a respectable job in
the role of Ray Kinsella, but even at his best, he’s admittedly over shadowed
by the supporting cast.
His wife Annie played
by Amy Madigan is awesome, she’s full of energy, very supportive and she doesn’t
shy away from standing up for what she believes in, and by that I mean loudly speaking her mind to a large group of bigots. Enter author Terence Mann played by the
always awesome James Earl Jones, who’s retired from writing novels and has been
reduced to a grumpy old miser. There’s a subplot in which Ray seeks him out and
convinces Terence to take up his writing pin again which renews the authors faith
in own dreams. This is easily my favorite character in the movie, and James
Earl Jones steals the show with every scene his in. He’s funny in his stubborn attitude,
but he’s also very humble and sincere as he conveys his words of wisdom to Ray
and it’s just a real joy watching this grumpy old hermit come out of his shell.
His introduction scene is especially funny, and his closing monologue near the
end of the film is nothing short of sensational. Burt Lancaster also makes a
noteworthy appearance as Doc Graham, a man who never got to see his sports
dream come true as he left Baseball to pursue a carrier in medicine. To be
honest, most of these supporting characters actually have more captivating
stories then our main hero.
The late James
Horner composed the music for the film, and boy dose he nail the tone and feel of
this track. It has a quiet, almost ghostly quality that creates an atmosphere
that reflects off of the emotional tones in the film beautifully. Now, the
movie is very sentimental, you can even argue that it’s overly sentimental, but
personally I think it’s done in just the right way. The films emotional moments
balance hand in hand with the simplicity of the story and its magical atmosphere.
It’s actually a very inspiring film that can affect a wide range of people, not
just die hard baseball players. It’s the films relatable themes of lamenting
missed opportunities and a driving passion to pursue your dreams that give the
movie substance, and there’s even a subtle enfaces on family bonding,
particularly between father and son, which is done very well.
I often think of this movie as a classic modern
fairly tail. It may be sports themed and even has that same look and feel of a
classic sports movie, but it’s still a fantasy and it’s an experience that’s
just plain good for the heart. If you’re like me and don’t care for baseball or
sports in general, I still highly recommend this movie. It’s just a very humble
film that can put you in a good mood when it’s over, and while I freely admit it’s
not one of the absolute greatest movies I’ve ever seen, it’s still worth experiencing
more than once. If you’re someone who feels they were never able to fulfill a
dream, this film might just raise your spirit and cheerfully encourage you to
go the distance.
I give “Field of Dreams” 4 stars out of 5.
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