Best baseball movie ever

Rating: 10/10 (5 June 2004)

You can read all the other reviews for the storyline. They're pretty accurate, except for some of the metaphysical rambles.
Simply put, this is the best baseball movie ever. If you are a baseball fan, a true baseball fan that loves the atmosphere of the game and understands baseball humor and lingo, then you will love this movie. It's that simple. And it's that good. If you are watching this movie to see a romantic comedy, you're just not going to "get it". This is the most realistic portrayal of baseball life that I have ever seen, including the humor, sex, frustration, and warts of being a professional ballplayer. Every actor and actress is perfect in their roles. While Annie's character isn't very believable, it's absolutely necessary to the story in a metaphorical sense, and played brilliantly by Sarandon. Tim Robbins, although I never pictured him as a baseball player before, ended up being the perfect casting choice. His facial expressions throughout the movie and acting skills were hilarious! And although I rate Dances With Wolves a hair higher (they're both 10's), I still consider this as Costner's best performance. When I think of Costner, I think of Bull Durham. Rarely is a movie and an actor so perfectly matched.
The movie is filled with hysterical anecdotes and "speeches". Things that you will find yourself saying one day to your baseball fan buddies, and everyone will smile and know you watched Bull Durham. The conversation on the mound among the players and the coach cracks me up just thinking about it. Again, unless you "understand" baseball, all these little hysterical nuggets will just fly over your head.
This IS the best baseball movie ever, from the point of view of a huge baseball fan.
10 out of 10 stars.