Rating: 
Summary: BUll Durham remains a thoughtful baseball classic...
Review: I recently saw Bull Durham for the first time, and I must admit, I was touched by something very profound within it, something that is of almost unspeakable power, a certain quality that only a few movies have: the ability to tell you something about yourself, something about all men, something about the world, and something about life, all at once. Something About Yourself- I played baseball for six or seven years when I was younger, and it still remains my favorite game. I remember collecting cards, discussing the undefinable "potential" some rookies had and others did not, and reading scores of books on the subject. I had a child's lovely obsession with the game. This obsession also drove me to learn a painful lesson, when I was caught shoplifting baseball cards one summer day. Yet even this did not kill the dream. I remain in love with the game to this very day. Bull Durham reminded me of all this and more. It unlocked memories of baseball camp, of the boyhood dreams of "making it", of feel of the bat, the smell of the grass, the look of the dirt, the sound of the sky... Bull Durham reminded me what baseball was all about, and brought back memories spanning the vast spectrum of my soul, both pleasent and not. Something About All Men- In Bull Durham there are several different characters, all driven by one force- ambition, the search for success, the need for glory. All the men in the movie want to reach "the show"- the major leagues. You see, Bull Durham tells the story of a minor league team, with all the men hoping they will make it big one day. This aspiration is the core of all men and women, and is almost distinctly human. Do wolves constantly search to better themselves? Do whales? All men have ambition, and the pain and pleasure is causes is what Bull Durham is all about. Something About The World- Some people say the world isn't fair. They are the right ones. The main character in the movie, Crash Davis, perennially has his dream defeated, after 12 years of waiting, while the young pitcher he is assigned to train, Nuke, makes it after not even one. Nuke has talent, the movie says, and the world loves talent. No amount of Crash's humility, his intelligence, his love for the game can deliver him, though by all means he deserves to make it. To be even crueller, life tempts him by allowing him 21 days in the major leagues, years ago. This taste of victory haunts him for the rest of his life. Bull Durham also shows that there is no sadder cathedral than a minor league ballpark, for it is there that the prayers of thousands of men die quietly into the night. It is there that these men watch there dreams rot and decay before them. It is there that the lucky few who ascend are less deserving than the damned who aspire rightly. It is there that the world is least fair. Bull Durham is one of the most profound movies I have ever seen, raising questions of Man's futility and the constant frustration at the unfairness of life. Throughout this review I have told almost nothing about the plot, the characters, the story. That's because they all take second place to the moral implications, and the themes this movie brings forth. Summary=I heavily recommend this movie to anyone who loves baseball, anyone who loves movies, and anyone who loves poetry and philosophy. A fantastic movie. Fans should check out Costners others baseball flick, Field of Dreams. Review= Evan Stephens END
Rating:
Summary: Minor League Baseball Masterpiece
Review: Ron Shelton spent some time in the minor leagues represented in his screenplay for Bull Durham, so he knows about the baseball things represented. But he also clearly has a gifted ear for the tempo of real life, and he knows about hopes and desires and the things that make human beings tick. The setting for this film with the minor league Durham Bulls works, and works perfectly, but the characters, especially among the central love triangle, could just as easily have been traveling salesmen or race drivers or con artists or gangsters. Susan Sarandon plays Annie Savoy, a slightly older woman who is a Durham Bulls groupie of sorts: once a season she picks out a promising young player and begins an affair with them. During that season the promising young player has the year of his life and gets called up to the big leagues, leaving Annie to look for next year's promising young player. The Bulls also have a million-dollar prospect of a pitcher with a right arm who the gods reached down and turned into a thunderbolt. He also has less control than a seven year old with hyperactive attention deficit disorder without his Ritalin. He's as likely to throw it over the backstop as throw a strike, although his "stuff" is like Nolan Ryan or Randy Johnson. Tim Robbins brings "Nuke" LaLoosh to life in his best comic performance. Kevin Costner, in the best of his many baseball-movie appearances, plays "Crash" Davis, a power-hitting catcher with enough talent to be a leader on minor league teams, but only 21 days in "The Show" in years of minor league work. Crash is not only a competent minor league catcher though - he also knows the history of the game, and he knows how to get into the heads of players who have mental blocks preventing them from achieving all they can as baseball players. Crash, meet Nuke. Both of you - meet Annie. The dialogue is so witty and sparkling that more than a decade after the film's release, it still shows up frequently in discussions about baseball movies and on ESPN. Crash envies Nuke's god-given talent, and by degrees the clueless Nuke begins to appreciate Crash's baseball wisdom. Annie has the hots for both of them, and they for her, and the way this triangle evolves and resolves makes for a very satisfying baseball movie watching experience. The movie would be worth watching if only for the hilarious little scenes that happen out on the playing field between catcher Costner and pitcher Robbins. Nuke has the million-dollar arm and the ten-cent head. Crash knows his job (and everyone elses as well) like the back of his hand. Whenever Nuke starts trying to think for himself, he quickly gets into trouble, frequently with active assistance from Crash. Crash "calls" the game - signalling to the pitcher which pitches to throw. When Nuke listens things go well. When Nuke doesn't listen, Crash whispers to the hitter what pitch is coming so that the batter can tee off on the pitch. Then as the batter circles the bases after his home run Crash goes out to the mound to remind Nuke not to try thinking for himself. "Boy, the last thing I saw fly out of here like that had a stewardess and passengers on it!" Supporting parts are performed to hilarious perfection as well, with particular kudos to Trey Wilson as the manager and Robert Wuhl as a team coach. They have many entertaining scenes, including the one following Nuke's minor-league debut - when he struck out 18..... but also walked 18 - both league records! A must for grown-up baseball fans.
Rating:
Summary: Truly a great one
Review: This is my favorite sports movie and, I think, Kevin Costner's best movie. (Well, he's also great in "Tin Cup," an underrated masterpiece.) "Bull Durham" is vastly superior to the weepier "Field of Dreams" because it really is about baseball, not about some doofus who puts his family at risk in order to play catch with Daddy (I really hate that movie). Ron Shelton made "Bull Durham" for adults, not cringing inner children. It knows that sex and baseball make for a better mix than mysticism and baseball. That's why it is the better film. What's not to love? Costner, loose and funny and supremely athletic, delivers his "beliefs" speech. Tim Robbins pitches wearing a garter belt. The "Bermuda Triangle" dialogue. The Walt Whitman seduction. The meeting on the mound. And Susan Sarandon. Yes, Susan Sarandon. Great scenes: Crash Davis, introducing himself as the player to be named later. The coach, instructing his players on the basics of baseball. Crash telling the batter what pitch Nuke is going to throw. The two fight scenes. Crash's private note to Annie. And of course: the great "Martian conversation with a Fungo" scene. What I'm saying is this: "Bull Durham" has great writing. Not just adequate writing that gets the plot from point A to point B, but beautiful, philosophical dialogue that establishes the personalities of the characters. You don't get that kind of writing today. It just rarely happens anymore. "Jerry Maguire" and "Tin Cup" come close in the sports movie realm, but "Bull Durham" established the tradition, and it is still the best.
Rating:
Summary: Funniest Baseball Movie Ever Made
Review: It's time for Major League Baseball players to get ready for "The Show", and yet I can't help but think about this funny screwball comedy about minor league baseball, written and directed by former minor leaguer Ron Shelton. For Shelton this was truly a labor of love, realistically depicting life in the minor leagues with ample doses of humor. Kevin Costner gives one of his finest performances as veteran minor league catcher "Crash" Davis, who has spent only 21 days in "The Show" (Major League Baseball) and is near the end of his own career. It is Davis' mission to train a promising young pitcher with a million dollar arm but a dim bulb of a mind to go with it, Nuke LaLoosh (Tim Robbins). Robbins offers the funniest - and among the best - performances in his career as LaLoosh, whom the majors think may be the next Nolan Ryan or Sandy Koufax. Vying for their affections is English school teacher - and diehard Durham Bulls fan - Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), who seeks out the most promising rookie each season and has an affair with him; though this time, both she and Davis realize that LaLoosh doesn't deserve her affections. "Bull Durham" is a hilarious mix of metaphysics, poetry, love and baseball - though not quite in this order - that's blessed with an excellent cast, script and direction from Ron Shelton. It's among my favorite films from the 1980s and unquestionably one of the best baseball movies ever made.
Rating:
Summary: Very Funny Movie
Review: This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Kevin Costner plays an aging catcher who has spent most of his career in the minor leagues. He's being sent to Durham to break in the bonus baby pitcher. The two end up competing for the affection of a local baseball Annie, while trying to win some games and develop the bonus baby into a real pitcher.
Kevin Costner should be required to make at least one sports movie per year. He's made some great ones over the years and this is one of his best. Tim Robbins is great as the bonus baby and Susan Sarandon is very funny as the baseball Annie.
Every baseball fan should see this movie.
Rating:
Summary: best baseball film
Review: Bull Durham is the best baseball film ever made, hands down. You could even go as far to say that it is one of the best films period. Young Susan Sarandon and Kevin Kostner are a real treat to watch in this love affair with baseball set in the Minor Leagues of North Carolina. If you love sports, and obviously baseball in particular, this movie is a must see.
Rating:
Summary: Minor League Baseball Masterpiece
Review: Ron Shelton spent some time in the minor leagues represented in his screenplay for Bull Durham, so he knows about the baseball things represented. But he also clearly has a gifted ear for the tempo of real life, and he knows about hopes and desires and the things that make human beings tick. The setting for this film with the minor league Durham Bulls works, and works perfectly, but the characters, especially among the central love triangle, could just as easily have been traveling salesmen or race drivers or con artists or gangsters. Susan Sarandon plays Annie Savoy, a slightly older woman who is a Durham Bulls groupie of sorts: once a season she picks out a promising young player and begins an affair with them. During that season the promising young player has the year of his life and gets called up to the big leagues, leaving Annie to look for next year's promising young player. The Bulls also have a million-dollar prospect of a pitcher with a right arm who the gods reached down and turned into a thunderbolt. He also has less control than a seven year old with hyperactive attention deficit disorder without his Ritalin. He's as likely to throw it over the backstop as throw a strike, although his "stuff" is like Nolan Ryan or Randy Johnson. Tim Robbins brings "Nuke" LaLoosh to life in his best comic performance. Kevin Costner, in the best of his many baseball-movie appearances, plays "Crash" Davis, a power-hitting catcher with enough talent to be a leader on minor league teams, but only 21 days in "The Show" in years of minor league work. Crash is not only a competent minor league catcher though - he also knows the history of the game, and he knows how to get into the heads of players who have mental blocks preventing them from achieving all they can as baseball players. Crash, meet Nuke. Both of you - meet Annie. The dialogue is so witty and sparkling that more than a decade after the film's release, it still shows up frequently in discussions about baseball movies and on ESPN. Crash envies Nuke's god-given talent, and by degrees the clueless Nuke begins to appreciate Crash's baseball wisdom. Annie has the hots for both of them, and they for her, and the way this triangle evolves and resolves makes for a very satisfying baseball movie watching experience. The movie would be worth watching if only for the hilarious little scenes that happen out on the playing field between catcher Costner and pitcher Robbins. Nuke has the million-dollar arm and the ten-cent head. Crash knows his job (and everyone elses as well) like the back of his hand. Whenever Nuke starts trying to think for himself, he quickly gets into trouble, frequently with active assistance from Crash. Crash "calls" the game - signalling to the pitcher which pitches to throw. When Nuke listens things go well. When Nuke doesn't listen, Crash whispers to the hitter what pitch is coming so that the batter can tee off on the pitch. Then as the batter circles the bases after his home run Crash goes out to the mound to remind Nuke not to try thinking for himself. "Boy, the last thing I saw fly out of here like that had a stewardess and passengers on it!" Supporting parts are performed to hilarious perfection as well, with particular kudos to Trey Wilson as the manager and Robert Wuhl as a team coach. They have many entertaining scenes, including the one following Nuke's minor-league debut - when he struck out 18..... but also walked 18 - both league records! A must for grown-up baseball fans.
Rating:
Summary: Very Srong and Very Sensual Movie
Review: Ebby Calvin Laloosh (Tim Robbins) has a million dollar arm but no control over it. The poor mascot gets hit about as often as it goes over the plate. So the Durham Bulls brings in Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) to get him on track. Crash has been a long time minor league player and even did a stint in the Show. His career is ending and he is not thrilled to be called in to train the slow witted, strong armed Laloosh. If anyone can get Nuke, whom Crash calls "Meat", to learn how to control his gift, it would be Crash... or maybe Annie. It is not clear to me just what is the official capacity of Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) and Millie (Jenny Robertson). Unofficially, though, they watch and critique the players on their games on the field and in the bedroom. Annie hooks up with one ball player each season and, for that season, is committed to that one player's improvement in both arenas. When she hooks up with Nuke, sparks fly between her and Crash as they both work on Nuke's performance on the field and it becomes indelibly tied to his performance in bed. Trey Wilson and Robert Wuhl make a hilarious team as the Manager and Assistant Manager of the Durham Bulls. From Wilson's "Lollygagger" speech to Wuhl's pitcher's mound huddle over how to get a curse off of a player's glove and what to get another player as a wedding gift, these two alone are fun to watch. This is a movie for adults - Kevin Costner has his great "I Believe in" speech in this movie and Susan Sarandon's relationships are highly sexual ... in a sensual sort of way. It is definitely inappropriate for kids and you'll be blushing till the cows come home if you watch this with your teenagers. But don't get me wrong - it is VERY well handled and is a very strong and very sensual movie.
Rating:
Summary: Very Well Done
Review: One of the things that I enjoyed about this movie was the realism. It showed how cruel the business of baseball can be while also highlighting how much fun the game can be. The director really made this more about the life of a minor leaguer and less about baseball. You get a great look at off-field stories that go on in the "bus leagues" highlighted by Kevin Costner's character mentoring the character played by Tim Robbins. In addition, a great job in casting was done because the baseball action was also very good too. The actors all looked like they could play.
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