Kevin Costner is so natural as a ballplayer and Susan Sarandon absolutely smolders as a minor league groupie with a penchant for philosophical discussion, quoting Whitman, and kinky sex. It's a film that captures the struggle of being good enough to play minor league baseball but not quite good enough to play in "the show," the major leagues, which I love about it. Costner's character spent the best 21 days of his life while in the bigs but is now relegated to helping a young hotshot pitcher (Tim Robbins) get there.
Relative to baseball, there are stale aspects to what we see, like the Latin American player who's into voodoo (ugh) and just how ridiculously wild the pitcher is, but there are lots of others that are brilliant - the interior monologue from Costner as he bats, the cliché quotes he coaches Robbins on, and the heartbreaking moment when a player is released. There are also wonderful moments in the routine little things that make up the game; just watch how one of the coaches (Robert Wuhl) jogs out to the mound (before the amusing comment that candlesticks make a good wedding gift), how Costner catches a foul ball, or how he swings with one hand in a batting cage when he turns around to see the ball coming his way.
Off the field, the love triangle between Sarandon, Costner, and Robbins adds spice and a wonderful sense of warmth to the film, and I loved how Sarandon's character is never judged for her string of lovers, each of whom last a single season. She's beyond beautiful but in addition to the flirtation and steamy scenes, her character is also intelligent about people, culture, and the game of baseball. Mixing this and the comedy into a sports movie makes for a compelling film, even 34 years later.
Quote: "Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curveball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather that Christmas Eve, and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Good night."
Relative to baseball, there are stale aspects to what we see, like the Latin American player who's into voodoo (ugh) and just how ridiculously wild the pitcher is, but there are lots of others that are brilliant - the interior monologue from Costner as he bats, the cliché quotes he coaches Robbins on, and the heartbreaking moment when a player is released. There are also wonderful moments in the routine little things that make up the game; just watch how one of the coaches (Robert Wuhl) jogs out to the mound (before the amusing comment that candlesticks make a good wedding gift), how Costner catches a foul ball, or how he swings with one hand in a batting cage when he turns around to see the ball coming his way.
Off the field, the love triangle between Sarandon, Costner, and Robbins adds spice and a wonderful sense of warmth to the film, and I loved how Sarandon's character is never judged for her string of lovers, each of whom last a single season. She's beyond beautiful but in addition to the flirtation and steamy scenes, her character is also intelligent about people, culture, and the game of baseball. Mixing this and the comedy into a sports movie makes for a compelling film, even 34 years later.
Quote: "Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curveball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather that Christmas Eve, and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Good night."