A Satisfying Baseball Film that Doubles as a Love Story...

Rating: Null/10 (20 September 1999)

For Love of the Game is one of those rare gems that comes along once ever so often that leaves the audience fully satisfied, from a movie-going standpoint, and does exactly what it sets out to do.
I was wary of another try at a comeback by Kevin Costner, but his tender and moving performance was a true and pleasant surprise. Portraying fictional life-long Detroit Tiger pitcher, Billy Chapel, a not larger than life character, but just a normal man, despite his media-intensive career, is a great breath of fresh air. There are great performances abounding in his film, including the two main supporting players, John C. Reilly, as Costner's pitcher's stalwart catcher, and Kelly Preston, as the conflict and caring love interest.
The film moves a terrific pace, interweaving the five-year relationship of Costner's Chapel and Preston's Jane Aubrey with Chapel's possibly final and oh-so-perfect game in Yankee Stadium. It works on numerous levels, and left me with a lot of on-screen memories.
Unfortunately, there is a downside. I fear too few people with see For Love of the Game, and most that did see it will soon forget it. Will it revive Costner's sagging career? Probably not. It is a great movie, though? Undoubtedly, yes!
Highly recommended.