A movie about the game

Rating: 8/10 (21 August 2005)

The tag line for Bull Durham says it all. "It's all about sex and sport. What else is there?" Nothing when it comes to this film. That sounds harsh but there really is nothing else to this film!! Films can be made about a sport, or a sport can be made into a film. What I mean is sometimes certain films are made that completely encompasses a sport, it's all about that particular sport and with Bull Durham Costner begins his infamous Baseball trilogy. Bull Durham really does encompass Baseball, both stars Tim Robbins and Kevin Costner show an emotional attachment to the game that is touching and very real. The only other thing that abounds in the film besides baseball is sex...and I wouldn't even call it romance because I didn't feel any romance between the characters just sex based on baseball.
Tim Robbins really gives a stand out performance as Ebby Calvin 'Nuke' LaLoosh. He's young, self absorbed, hot headed and also gives a great comedy performance because of his character. He truly does a great job and is the only one in the film who comes close to having any sort of chemistry with real life love Susan Sarandon...perhaps that's where the chemistry comes from as they met on this film. He also has a great even better chemistry with Kevin Costner. The two butt heads but support each other and become great friends and it's fun to watch the two of them go head to head. Costner, who has always been one of my favorite actors, does a good job playing Crash Davis. He plays the old timer of the film despite being still young, as far as baseball is concerned he is the mentor of the film. He teaches "Nuke" LaLoosh in seemingly harsh lessons but in the end turns him into a big league pitcher. I didn't feel any chemistry whatsoever between Costner and Sarandon but I don't blame him. Sarandon, to me, was so out of place in this film. She has had some wonderful roles in her life but this just wasn't meant for her. I thought she was too old and quite frankly too classy to be playing a "ball girl." She was believable as the experienced lover but just not as the tramp she was made to play. I didn't think she made the good female lead.
Ron Shelton who wrote and directed the film did a great job of capturing the spirit of baseball, there is no doubt about that. He created some great characters in Crash Davis and 'Nuke' LaLoosh. Anyone who has a love for baseball is going to in turn love this film but if you're not a fan you might find it a tad drab. Any time Shelton writes or directs he tries to capture the reality of the situation whether it be baseball, basketball (White Men can't Jump), boxing (Play It To The Bone), or police work (Dark Blue and Hollywood Homicide.) He knows about the buddy system and about the topics he creates but Bull Durham is one of his better films. For sports fans a real treat!! 8/10