Rating: 
Summary: An EXCELLENT Movie!
Review: I just finished watching For Love of the Game for the first time 10 minutes ago, and had no idea what I had been missing all this time! Costner does an AMAZING job portraying Billy Chapel, the famous 40-year-old pitcher of the Tigers baseball team, and you completely believed Prestons character, Jane... I wasn't exactly sure WHAT the whole movie was about when I started watching it earlier today... something to do with baseball? But now I can't believe I ever missed hearing about the interesting and enrapturing plot-- The show centers aroung one un-important game for the Tigers, but maybe Billy's greatest game ever... Billy had had the worst day, with his girlfriend (Jane played by Preston) moving away and his boss practically saying his career was over, but at this particular game, he wanted to show everyone that he was going out with a BANG! He has several flashbacks throughout the entire movie that give this one-of-a-kind film some explanation of what was going on in his head... Overall, I just LOVED For Love of the Game, and definitely plan on buying it soon!PS This is more of a chic-flick, but I think guys could somewhat enjoy it too... It has baseball in it.
Rating: 
Summary: A GAMELY CRAFTED, NO-FRILLS HIT!
Review: "They don't make 'em like they used to!"As regards "For Love of the Game", the above comment applies to both movies and baseball players! Old-fashioned, straight-ahead storytelling, complimented by solid performances, extremely convincing on-the-field action, excellent photography and more than competent direction by Sam Raimi, make for a resoundingly entertaining movie...even if you're not much of a baseball fan. Perhaps the best thing going for the film is its truly innovative integration and balance of rapid-fire on-going game vs. relationship development flashback elements, allowing the viewer to "get inside the athlete's head" in a way no other movie in recent memory does. "For Love" thusly manages to put a signature spin on the subjective experience of a great athlete's swan song by sharing & highlighting the stark contrast between the external precision & perfection of the real-world game in progress, and the turbulent, highly personal, inner-world of the passions that drive him. Kevin Costner, certainly NOT the greatest actor in the world, literally shines in the mother of all tailor made roles. Kelly Preston shows us a highly focused intensity, in just what may be her best on screen appearance to date! John C. Reilly, although cast as the solid-as-a-rock-always-there-when-you-need-him-on-the-sidelines Catcher, plays to the hilt a supporting role, in every sense of the word. There are moments in "For Love", however, that seem a touch too maudlin, trying just a little too hard to jerk that extra tear. A few of these melancoly scenes are drawn out to the point of making the viewer self-conscious and put upon. These occasional excesses are easily overlooked, however, in light of the films many strengths and its overal highly engrossing nature. TECHNICAL NOTE: Amazon rated picture quality of the Widescreen DVD version a lackluster 3.5...which leads me to imagine that either they reviewed a defective copy, or that there were problems with early prints that were subsequently corrected, because the picture quality I observed was among the best of my entire DVD collection !
Rating:
Summary: A Solid Hit
Review: If you're a baseball fan, you should like this film. If you're not a baseball fan, you should lke this film. While it has a lot to say to the fan, it's basically about people, and has a lot to say, generally. It's a good romantic film, quite apart from the baseball theme. Costner and Preston are quite believable in their roles, and you care as much about what happens to them as you do about how the game ends. Director Raimi takes you right inside the head of Costner as his character, Billy Chapel, pitches a season-ending and possibly career-ending game, capping off a stellar career. In fact, with more and more managers calling the game from the dugout, the pitching calls from the catcher, well-played by Reilly, and Costner's verbalization as to why he's accepting them or shaking them off, may well become a thing of the past, with pitchers no longer having that option. This is a very heart-warming film. It scores a "10" on feel-good scale.
Rating:
Summary: It's not a perfect game, but it is a two-hit shutout.
Review: This is hardly the movie one would expect from the man who brought us the likes of "Zena: Warrior Princess", but it is a pretty good movie. Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Evil Dead II, Army of Darkness) directs and Kevin Costner ( Bull Durham, The Bodyguard) stars in this story of an aging baseball star struggling over the future of his career and his love life. The entire movie takes place in one afternoon, as Costner stands on the pitchers mound in the middle of Yankee Stadium. As he pitches in what could be his last game, he begins to look back on his life in a series of flashbacks. He begins to remember his often stormy romance with his long time "on again, off again" girlfriend, played by Kelly Preston (Jerry McGuire, Jack Frost). As the movie plays on we are given little bits of insight as to the events the have played out between Costner and Preston. While he stands in reflection of his life, he must pitch against the Bronx Bombers in what is essentially a meaningless game. But as the game wears on, everyone with the exception of Costner realizes that he is pitching a perfect game, perhaps the rarest of pitching achievements. The drama builds at the end when you begin to wonder if he will indeed finish the perfect game, and if he and Preston will end up together. Costner does a very good job of playing the veteran pitcher (he played a veteran catcher in much the same position in "Bull Durham" several years earlier) trying to come to grips with the end of his career and the possible end of a relationship. Costner is a good fit in an athletic role, and makes the character believable. I still think all of his movies spend too much time in a close up of his face, but all things considered it goes over well. Preston is very likable as his long time girlfriend, tiring of playing second fiddle to the game, and there are several strong supporting performances, but the voice of legendary baseball man Vin Scully brings a feeling of true reality to the film. I am not a big fan of a movie told almost entirely in flashback, but once I got used to it, I did enjoy it. It does seem to be a little disjointed at times, but it makes its point. I liked the plot and the cast, but at times Costner becomes too philosophical, and I could do without all the up close shots of Kevin's face. At this point in his career, if people haven't noticed that he's handsome they never will. That's why I gave it a four. (The DVD picture and sound quality are very good and it does have neat little trivia game with questions about perfect games. It also has the standard info on the cast on director.)
Rating:
Summary: A Home Run!
Review: People seem to either LOVE Kevin Costner, or HATE Kevin Costner. To be right up front, I like him. He makes movies he likes, and movies he would like to see. There are 2 themes running parrallel to each other in this movie; 1. The reflections of a career during an incredible game, and 2. A compelling love story, also reflected upon during this same game. BOTH keep you in 'the game'. Kelly Preston is terrific! Her character is very easy to like, and is an example of very good casting. Not overbearing, not show stealing, not someone trying to compete for more attention than her character needs. Costner, like his female counterpart, is also terrific. You can't help BUT cheer for him. Both for the perfect game he stumbles upon, and the girl, who has become part of his characters emotional fabric. Not to be forgotten, is the dialogue delivered by Vin Scully, T.V. announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He paints an incredible picture of the game as it moves through the movie. His dialogue is delivered better than any actor could ever try to do. Another example of great casting. This movie, on DVD, offers some nice fringe benefits as well. Deleted scenes, interviews, and extremely nice audio if your system suports it. The soundtrack adds alot to this movie. The music selected is complimentary, not a character unto itself. It adds some great dynamics to the story that is being told. So, is this a great sports movie, or a great love story. Well, I can answer this very easily. They both fit together so well, fans of both will enjoy this with no regret for watching a great sports/love/Kevin Costner movie. If you like a GOOD movie, add this to your DVD collection. You'll like watching this again.
Rating:
Summary: Strike Three - A Perfect Movie
Review: Baseball movies were made to star Kevin Costner. When it comes to casting an actor to play a baseball player, Kevin Costner is just a "natural." Okay, that was Robert Redford, but it just worked with that last sentence. In this film, Costner plays major-league pitcher Billy Chapel, who was once the best in the game, but is now in the very final stages of his career. He is pitching for the Detroit Tigers against the first place New York Yankees. In the process of thinking about his career and life, he embarks on a wild ride of pitching a perfect game. Costner constantly has flashbacks to important moments in his life. Through them, we get to see him develop as a major league pitcher, and we watch him mature as a person. The flashbacks are really well done, and they are mixed into the film, well, perfectly. The acting was really good as well. The lead role was made for Costner, and he did an excellent job, especially the baseball scenes. Kelly Preston was decent as his scorned lover who still has feelings for Chapel. The nicest surprise of the move was John Reilly, the catcher. He played Costner's best friend and offered him the support that catchers always give. He acted exceptionally well. The movie had a really nice flow to it. The camera work was superb, and the background love story was nicely maintained. The baseball scenes were shot very nicely, and the addition of legendary announcer Vin Scully was a really nice touch. It made the game seem real. This is a good movie, and a real pleasure to watch.
Rating: 
Summary: Great baseball, useless ending
Review: The baseball is dramatic and realistic and the flashbacks are effective. The idea of the events of his whole life coming together to make for a dream performance against the odds is exciting. But his romance is so shallow and hollow, and to make it all come right at the end without any reason or sense just doesn't cut it.
Rating:
Summary: It's not a "Baseball Movie"!
Review: Ok, the main character is a baseball player and there's a lot of baseball "stuff" goin' on....But...It's about how Billy and Jane & Heather interact as real-live human beings, as a family ....They could have been computer programmers or "floor maintenance specialists", it doesn't matter! What matters is...that real-live human beings care....they listen and they try to fulfill the most very basic needs that they understand....The bottom line? Human beings are capable of love.
Rating:
Summary: Mr. Costner Completes His Baseball Trilogy!
Review: This Baseball Trilogy started in 1988, beginning with Bull Durham, with Costner playing Crash Davis, a down on his luck catcher who must play behind the new young pitcher, "Nuke" LaLoosh(Tim Robbins)while falling for the lovely Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon). Field Of Dreams continued the trilogy with Costner, this time, playing Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella, who one day begins hearing voices in his cornfield, telling him that if he builds a baseball field, the legendary Shoeless Joe Jackson would come to play there. And finally, Mr. Costner completes his baseball trilogy with For Love Of The Game, a baseball/love story with Costner playing Billy Chapel, a renowned and revered baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who's last game and season of his career is coming to an end. As we watch this game we are introduced thru flashbacks, Chapel's past and what leads him to where he is now. The baseball sequences are flawless, looking just like the kind of game you'd watch on regular TV. As good a baseball player as Billy Chapel is, we find he is a very flawed man, especially when it comes to finding the right person to share his personal life with. Enter Jane (Kelly Preston) who he meets on the side of the road one day while she's kicking her car for breaking down. The two decide to meet each other whenever he's in town for a game, with no other strings attached. Of course things grow into more than this, especially when Jane calls Billy to help her find her daughter who has run away from home. As you watch the game and in-between, view the flashbacks, you get a well rounded character who, in his own right, is trying to do the right thing. No one is to blame like most conventional romances, because both people have legitimate reasons for acting the way that they do. This is about a man, who, at the end of his career, realizes that as important as baseball means to him, life is very lonely if there is no one there to love and care about the person inside. This film has been widely criticized as being a rip-off of Bull Durham. But I like to look at it as Part 3 of a trilogy, like Star Wars for example. The first film wowed us, especially with scenes of the players talking on the field that we wouldn't be able to hear in real life. The second film tugged at our hearts and our emotions for our love of baseball itself. And the third film sort of brings those two pieces together (Return OF The Jedi has been said to just be a revamp of Star Wars: A New Hope but we still love it). If you look at it in this manner, this film is a well made, well thought out piece of film making, ingeniously directed by Mr. Sam Raimi. (Evil Dead 1, 2 and 3, A Simple Plan) Included on the DVD is a Spotlight On Location featurette, giving us some more insight on the making of the film as well as creating the characters. Deleted scenes, including one, used in the film, but here showing the original profanity used by Kelly Preston. The History Of The Perfect Game is a nice read if you've got the time, giving background to that most cherished game for a pitcher, plus a trivia game and the original theatrical trailer. While some people may still scoff, For Love Of The Game delivers to those who still believe in the power of baseball and love.
Rating:
Summary: DVD extras raise it from 4-stars to 5
Review: First, why I rate the movie 4 out of 5 stars. I'll start by saying I believe you need to be over 35 and a baseball fan to appreciate all aspects of this movie. As an over-40 male active in sporting activities, I could identify with the frustrations when your body begins to let you down; when things that used to be easy on the field become more difficult; and when you start asking yourself if it's still worth it. I've had my share of sports injuries that had to be rehabilitated. To me, this movie was real. The short prayer of, "God, just let my shoulder not hurt for the next 10 minutes" is SO true. If your idea of a great baseball game is a 1-0 pitching duel, you'll enjoy this a lot more than if you like to see 10-8 home-run fests. Kevin Costner threw every pitch shown, fastballs and curveballs, for strikes and was clocked over 80 mph. Find another ACTOR who could've done that. All players were either professional players in the Tigers and Yankees farm systems (for non-acting positions) or they were actors with organized baseball experience and the umpires were actual MLB umpires. I don't know how you can get more real and still have people who can act. The extra DVD features raise it a star. It has a featurette on many of the aspects I've shared above which help you appreciate the film on another level. If you successfully navigate through the little quiz, there's another featurette of Babe Ruth in "Slide, Babe, Slide". Plus the deleted scenes, etc. of most good DVDs and some DVD-ROM features. For those indestructible 20-year olds - you probably won't like it. It doesn't move fast enough and you won't understand a lot of the subtext. But when you're 35, get it. Like most baseball movies, this plot will stand in good stead for many years.
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