Rating: 
Summary: What the...?
Review: Every great director makes a misstep at some point in their career. "For Love of the Game" respresents the nadir of Sam Raimi's filmography. This is the kind of film I would have NEVER expected him to helm, but alas. I think he made it to show Hollywood that he can make a "normal" movie every once in a while. No zombies, hardly any blood, no crazy camera movements, no suspense, no cool special effects, no Bruce Campbell and no scares. What's the point? This isn't a Sam Raimi movie. This is sentimental stuff from the Hollywood dream factory. I'm glad he got back on his feet for making "the Gift" after completion of this waste of celluloid. Do us a favor, Sam. Stick to what you're good at. Don't allow Hollywood executives to think that if it's not "normal," it's garbage.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Do It
Review: This bleak excuse for a movie should be banned, as should the bulk of Costner's recent "work." Bad writing, bad acting. To watch this film is to die a slow and agonizing (and boring) death. Buy or rent The Rookie instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Top Notch Baseball Film From Kevin Costner
Review: Following the shining examples of earlier characters in "Bull Durham" and "Field of Dreams", Kevin Costner has once again taken on the role of a baseball player and played it to perfection. In this film, Costner stars as Detroit Tigers ace pitcher Billy Chapel, a 19-year veteran of the major leagues. Chapel's hall of fame career is winding down, and his team is playing out the string of another long season. To make matters worse, Jane, Billy's girlfriend, played superbly by Kelly Preston, has informed him that she has accepted a job offer in London. The final bit of bad news comes from the Tigers' owner, who informs Billy that he's sold the team and Billy will probably be traded next season. All of these things are weighing on Billy's mind as he steps on the mound at Yankee Stadium. However, right from the beginning of the game, Billy realizes that this day is going to be special. He has his best stuff working, and he's blowing through the Yankees like they were little leaguers. Gus, the catcher played wonderfully by J.C. Reilly, offers continuous encouragement to Billy throughout the game. One of the best moments of the film is the way Billy blocks out the noise of the crowd in his mind, and all that the viewer hears is the wooosh of the ball as it is pitched. I got chills when this occurred. It was extermely realistic. During the course of the game, Billy has "flashbacks" to his relationship with Jane. We get to see how they met and the evolution of their romance. Although he hides it well, it is clear that Billy truly loves Jane, but he's afraid to admit to her that he really needs her in his life. I thought the flashbacks were excellent. In some films, the flashbacks tend to take away from the movie, but not in this one. I think they were one of the better aspects of the movie. By the time the game reaches the 7th inning, Billy asks Gus if any Yankee has reached base. Gus says no. Only then does Billy realize that he's in the midst of a pitcher's dream; the perfect game. Summoning incredible courage and strength, Billy manages to complete the ultimate baseball feat. Watching this movie was a real treat for me. I enjoyed Costner's earlier performance in "Field of Dreams", but he tops it with this amazing performance. I recommend this excellent movie to all baseball fans, and fans of good movies in general. Its one you'll remember for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: A modern love story - an excellent movie
Review: A modern love story with a mix of great and realistic baseball action. After seeing this movie I was convinced that Kenvin Costner would have made a fine pitcher in real life, truly convincing. He obviously put his heart into the making of this movie. I own the Region 4 version which also allows you to watch the film in Spanish or English audio (as does a lot of Region 4 DVD's), I'm not sure though if the Region 1 version offered here has Spanish audio. In Australia many people by multiple region DVD players so it really does not matter to us where we buy our DVD's but people in the United States might like to check it out first if Spanish audio is important to you.
Rating: 
Summary: Gotta LOVE baseball!
Review: As you are able to read in the other reviews the basics of the story line.......
My opinion is.... the parts of the movie that had to do with baseball were absolutely WONDERFUL. The romance area of the story line left a lot to be desired.
Rating:
Summary: Not Just About Baseball
Review: This movie takes place almost entirely in one day, but the flashbacks in the mind of Billy Chapel (Kevin Costnar) while he is on the mound and in the dugout give it a sense of time by spanning his life. Billy is at a crossroads both personally and professionally. And by the next morning he has both figured out. While not a pure baseball movie it does offer a glimpse of what could be going on inside the head of a pitcher who is "in the zone" during the best game of his storied career. He is throwing a perfect game but does not even realize it until around the sixth inning when he has to ask his catcher. He does not realize it because his mind is elsewhere, on Jane (Kelly Preston) his on and off girlfriend of the last five years who has just told him she is going to live on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. She dropped this bomb only ten minutes after his boss, the owner of the Tigers, told him that the club is being sold and he will be traded to another team the next year. What a morning it started off as. Throughout the game while he is throwing bullets he is trying to figure out what to do about Jane and about his career. Kelly Preston does a fine job as Jane and Jena Malone plays Jane's daughter, Heather with another good performance (although a much smaller part than some she has had). Overall a good movie for guys and gals to watch together. The girls will like the love story, the guys will like the baseball and the memories of how it connected them (as it does Billy) to their fathers and the sandlot games of their youth. I liked the way the movie game full cirle to the first scene near the end to give you background on what was going on in that scene. A movie worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: Total [Garbage]
Review: Upon seeing previews for this movie I was very excited as I love Costner as a baseball player. Unlike other actors, Costner knows the game and how to play. He throws and swings normally. However this isn't a baseball movie. It is a love story with a few minutes of baseball. It doesn't have much baseball in it at all. In many movies that would be fine, but this movie is so slow and boring that the baseball doesn't pull it through. Oh, and it is very predictable too. If you want to buy a baseball movie ...just don't get this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Something for everybody
Review: A little romance, a little comedy, some mother-daughter issues, and just some great sports drama. Basically you've got a bunch of second rate players who are blessed for a single game while recounting their various conflicts and trials. Of course the focus is on Kevin Costner (40 yr old pitcher:Billy Chapel) who meets and romances Kelly Preston. She is the single mother of a teenage daughter. The film is told in an interesting manner jumping from the present to the past and points in between and then back to the present. And this happens over and over again. Part of me would like to give this 5 stars and another part says 4 stars but it's a definite winner any way you rate it.
Rating: 
Summary: For Love and Baseball.
Review: With the exception of some interesting fast balls and watching Kevin Costner sweat a great deal, this film is the story of an off again on again shaky relationship between Billy Chapel(pitcher for Detroit)(Costner) and his want to be Jane, played by Kelly Preston. Congradulations to Costner who manages to maneuver his way through the entire film without cracking a smile. Whoops maybe when I took a bathroom break once.
Preston does deserve an award herself-a best agonizer of the year trophy. Lots of facial distress and we don't even know her real problem until half way through the film. Lighten up Kelly. Lighten up Kevin. Is this acting? The baseball scenes appeal to baseball fans. I looked at my husband, the great Seattle Mariner fan. He was captivated by the pitches during the big game(Detroit vs NY) and in the end he shed a tear or two. Really. Obviously it works better if you love baseball. The story line--wait a minute, I think there is a story line there somewhere. Oh yes, it is about trust and about trust and about trust. So trust me when I say 'for love of your money' rent "Field of Dreams" instead." Or a great baseball story which is also a great story with wonderful acting. (You even get Madonna in that one) Not to mention Tom Hanks in a momumental role as the boozing manager of a lady's baseball team during the second World War. " A League of Their Own."
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Baseball Movie
Review: There's a lot to like in this movie, even for non-baseball folks - fine acting (Costner is not a "great" actor, but this role suits him perfectly) all around, two engaging story lines (baseball drama and love relationship drama) excellently written. The unfolding of the love story in flashbacks works very well and this is the only baseball movie I'm aware of that takes place over the course of only one game. You really don't need to be a baseball fan or even know much about the game, to enjoy this film a lot. For fans, it's the most realistic protrayal of the game ever put on film - real professional players and umps were used. The fact that Costner did his own pitching is fun and pretty impressive as well.
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