For Love of the Game poster & wallpaper

Kevin Costner, Kelly Preston, John C. Reilly

Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) is having a bad day. His girlfriend Jane (Kelly Preston, stunning as ever) says she's leaving, and his boss (Brian Cox) says he's selling the business and ace employee Bil...( read more  read more... )ly may be out of job. Sounds like business as usual for an old-fashioned veteran. However, the business is baseball and for Billy Chapel, the 40-year old former all-star for the Detroit Tigers, it means his career--and his life--is at a crossroads.

Although it is no Bull Durham, For Love of the Game finds a solid and very believable role for Costner. The film is based on Michael Shaara's (The Killer Angels) stream-of-consciousness novel (the rough manuscript was found after his death 1988). The entire film takes place on Billy's day on the mound against the Yankees, a meaningless late-season game for the Tigers, but everything for Billy. In flashbacks, he lingers over his long relationship with Jane and his baseball career (from World Series heroism to a career-threatening injury). His one viable link to the game at hand is his catcher, played winningly by John C. Reilly. Costner, like Chapel, is looking for one more great performance, but the film is too simplistic and loopy at times to resonate. The love story has an extra helping of cuteness, and legendary baseball announcer Vin Scully nearly takes on a leading role, waxing grandiloquent. It's no grand slam, but a solid double. --Doug Thomas

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77% liked it

38,830 ratings

Critics

64% liked it

53 critics

PG-13, 137 min.

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Release Date: September 17, 1999

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DVD Release Date: August 15, 2000

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Stats: 1,480 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,480)

  • crackingdanio
    January 31, 2008
    crackingdanio
    highyl enjoyable
  • AgentLexi2132
    August 20, 2007
    AgentLexi2132
    A few flaws but otherwise enjoyable movie, may be boring moments but only fleeting ones.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 22, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    great flick, i love that kelly preston
  • Collegekid
    January 16, 2007
    Collegekid
    trumped only by Field of Dreams in terms of best baseball movie. A very good flick.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    It was okay.
  • Yelverton
    November 20, 2009
    Yelverton
    Good movie about a man pitching a perfect game, but the whole backstory screws it up.
  • EbertsLittleApprentice
    September 23, 2009
    EbertsLittleApprentice
    I rather enjoyed this Baseball Flick, although it felt like a Baseball Melo-Drama or Dramedy, yet It still has the right stuff, to keep you intuned untill the very last pitch.
  • SnowEater12
    August 24, 2009
    SnowEater12
    Very likeable. Costner fits greatly into his character. :)
  • jonirodgers
    August 24, 2009
    jonirodgers
    great story line wonderful movie
  • mstweety620
    August 14, 2009
    mstweety620
    Really liked it; -.5 because I wouldn't have picked Kelly Preston

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For Love of the Game Trivia

  • WHAT MOVIE DID KEVIN COSTNER PLAY THE LEGENDARY BILLY CHAPEL?  Answer »
  • A washed up pitcher flashes through his career. Starring Kevin Costner and Kelly Preston.  Answer »
  • She was the girlfriend to a "Twin" loved and hated Jerry Maquire and starred with Kevin Costner in the movie For Love of the Game.  Answer »
  • what movie did kevin costner play a baseball player who finished his career with a perfect game?  Answer »
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