For Love of the Game (1999)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers (WGA):

Michael Shaara (novel)
Dana Stevens (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

Billy Chapel must choose between the woman he loves and the game he lives for.

Plot:

A washed up pitcher flashes through his career.

Plot Keywords:

Baseball | Detroit Tigers | Retirement | End Of Baseball Career | Athlete

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Billy Chapel
Kelly Preston	...	Jane Aubrey
John C. Reilly	...	Gus Sinski
Jena Malone	...	Heather Aubrey
Brian Cox	...	Gary Wheeler
Addie Daddio	...	Waitress
J.K. Simmons	...	Frank Perry (as JK Simmons)
Vin Scully	...	Himself
Steve Lyons	...	Himself
Carmine Giovinazzo	...	Ken Strout (as Carmine D. Giovinazzo)
Bill E. Rogers	...	Davis Birch (as Bill Rogers)
Hugh Ross	...	Mike Udall
Domenick Lombardozzi	...	Tow Truck Driver
Arnetia Walker	...	Airport Bartender
Larry Joshua	...	Yankee Fan in Bar

Also Known As:

For the Love of the Game (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #36985) | Italy:T | South Korea:12 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-7 (re-rating) | Finland:K-8 (original rating) | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Mexico:B | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Aspen, Colorado, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The cast lists the Tigers second baseman as Marcus Random, played by Earl Johnson, but in the eighth inning when he fields a ground ball his jersey says "Ransom", not Random. It also sounds like Vin Scully calls him "Ransom" in the play by play.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the game, Stroud, the new kid, is at bat wearing number 60. After the at-bat and he's heading into the dugout, the coach pats him on the back, and he's wearing number 61.

Quotes:

Billy Chapel: The game doesn't stink, Mr. Wheeler. It's a great game.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Comebacks (2007)

Baseball....movies....cool.

Although I didn't like For Love Of The Game the way I liked Bull Durham or Field Of Dreams, it's still a very entertaining film. Directed by Sam Raimi in a very subtle style, this is Costner's best film since Tin Cup. Raimi only shows flashes of his visual theatrics, Costner is very solid and I liked Kelly Preston very much. The way the story is told in the film is very fresh for a baseball movie and this is the high point for me. Baseball is just the background to a very touching love story. I hope this film more than anything else shows Hollywood that Sam Raimi is one of or greatest talents behind the camera.