Field of Dreams

Plot synopsis:
Ray Kinsella is a novice Iowa farmer who lives with his wife, Annie, and daughter, Karin. In the opening narration, he explains how he had a troubled relationship with his father, John Kinsella, who had been a devoted baseball fan. While walking through his cornfield one evening, he hears a voice whispering, "If you build it, he will come." He continues hearing this before finally seeing a vision of a baseball diamond in his field. Annie is skeptical, but she allows him to plow the corn under in order to build a baseball field. As he builds, he tells Karin the story of the 1919 Black Sox Scandal. Months pass and nothing happens; his family faces financial ruin until, one night, Karin spots a uniformed man on the field. Ray recognizes him as Shoeless Joe Jackson, a deceased baseball player idolized by John. Thrilled to be able to play baseball again, he asks to bring others to the field to play. He later returns with the seven other players banned as a result of the 1919 scandal.
Ray's brother-in-law, Mark, can't see the players and warns him that he will go bankrupt unless he replants his corn. While in the field, Ray hears the voice again, this time urging him to "ease his pain."
Ray attends a PTA meeting at which the possible banning of books by radical author Terence Mann is discussed. He decides the voice was referring to Mann. He comes across a magazine interview dealing with Mann's childhood dream of playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers. After Ray and Annie both dream about him and Mann attending a baseball game together at Fenway Park, he convinces her that he should seek out Mann. He heads to Boston and persuades a reluctant, embittered Mann to attend a game with him at Fenway Park. While there, he hears the voice again, this time urging him to "go the distance." At the same time, the scoreboard "shows" statistics for a player named Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, who played one game for the New York Giants in 1922, but never had a turn at bat. After the game, Mann eventually admits that he, too, saw it.
Ray and Mann then travel to Chisholm, Minnesota where they learn that Graham had become a doctor and had died sixteen years earlier. During a late night walk, Ray finds himself back in 1972 and encounters the then-living Graham, who states that he had moved on from his baseball career. He also says that the greater disappointment would have been not having a medical career. He declines Ray's invitation to fulfill his dream; however, during the drive back home, Ray picks up a young hitchhiker who introduces himself as Archie Graham. While Archie sleeps, Ray reveals to Mann that John had wanted him to live out his dream of being a baseball star. He stopped playing catch with him after reading one of Mann's books at 14. At 17, he had denounced Shoeless Joe as a criminal to John and that was the reason for the rift between them. Ray expresses regret that he didn't get a chance to make things right before John died. When they arrive back at Ray's farm, they find that enough players have arrived to field two teams. A game is played and Archie finally gets his turn at bat.
The next morning, Mark returns and demands that Ray sell the farm. Karin says that they will not need to because people will pay to watch the ballgames. Mann agrees, saying that "people will come" in order to relive their childhood innocence. Ray, after much thought, refuses and a frustrated Mark scuffles with him, during which Karin is accidentally knocked off the bleachers. The young Graham runs from the field to help, becoming old Graham, complete with Gladstone bag, the instant he steps off of it, and saves Karin from choking (she had been eating a hot dog when she fell). Ray realizes that Graham sacrificed his young self in order to save her. After reassuring Ray that his true calling was medicine and being commended by the other players, Graham leaves, disappearing into the corn. Suddenly, Mark is able to see the players and urges Ray not to sell the farm.
After the game, Shoeless Joe invites Mann to enter the corn; he accepts and disappears into it. Ray is angry at not being invited, but Shoeless Joe rebukes him: if he really wants a reward for having sacrificed so much, then he had better stay on the field. Shoeless Joe then glances towards a player at home plate, saying "If you build it, he will come." The player then removes his mask, and Ray recognizes him to be John as a young man. Shocked, Ray realizes that "ease his pain" referred to John, and believes that Shoeless Joe was the voice all along; however, Joe implies that the voice was Ray himself. Joe then disappears into the corn.
Ray introduces John to Annie and Karin. As he heads towards the corn, Ray asks him if he wants to play a game of catch. They begin to play and Annie happily watches. Meanwhile, hundreds of cars can be seen approaching the baseball field, fulfilling Karin and Mann's prophecy that people will come to watch baseball.

Tags: dramatic, fantasy, inspiring

Review:
An opportunity to say hiya Dad, I was didn't know then, but I'm older now and understand more about the way the world works.In terms of the film, Cosner has never had a better role, Lancaster as Doc Graham finally showed what a great actor he really was, and James Earl Jones was simply perfect.In short a great film, James Horner's theme music is wonderful, the visuals are fantastic, the acting is as good as you could hope to see.For most this is a feel good movie, for me this is a reminder that it is never too late to make amends, I just miss my Father.
But this is one of my all-time favorites.This is a movie about themes like reconciliation, destiny, redemption, idealism, disappointment, the difficulty of relationships, especially that of the father-son relationship.In this movie, the baseball field is where all such issues achieve resolution.This is such a gentle movie, full of such sincerity, and moving emotions.
When you got back to the late eighties and early nineties you will find that Kevin Costner was the biggest actor to employ at that time as he starred in lots of major films like Dances with wolves which of course he directed, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, A Perfect World, JFK and Field of Dremas which I think delivers his best performance of all those films.
Field of dreams is not a film that gets mentioned when it comes to Costner's career but I think it holds his best and most touching performance.
Anybody who likes a feel good film like It's a Wonderful Life will ultimately fall in love with this film by the end as the more it goes on the more you find out why Ray was guided to build the pitch and follow the voice which he throughout the film makes no sense of what it he is looking for.
I have watched this film so many times and though inside I know the ladled sentiment should be cringeworthy-especially for a cynic such as I...it somehow never fails to utterly absorb me.Horner's musical score is haunting and mesmerising and adds so strongly to the whole ethereal feeling that this film exudes.The acting is extraordinary in that they pull off corny lines without provoking me to laughter or cringing, with the possible exception of James Earl Jones speech  "...the one constant is baseball...".I even have to admit that Kostner is good (painful though it is).You may not like or understand baseball...it doesn't matter.
I have now seen this film around 12 times in two months and i can safely say this is one of my all time favourite pictures!It has everything1 excellent acting from Costner,Earl Jones and the great late Burt Lancaster in one of his last film roles which is definably one of his finest.Ray Liotta also was amazing for one of his first roles as Shoeless Joe Jackson which i felt could not of gone to anyone else but Liotta.The storyline is dazzling as well as the acting and the dialogue.This movie is an incredible and a times comical experience.Every actor in this film should feel more than proud they were in this amazing feel good movie which has never deserved a bad review.
The acting in "Field of Dreams" is sensational, Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, and even a cameo appearance by Burt Lancaster made this film a bonanza for acting brilliance!!
As a casual baseball fan, who does truly love the game, I realized how much I see it as a major symbol of America when I listened to James Earl Jones, aka Terrence Mann, give the soliloquy about the game toward the end of the film.
For one thing, anyone who has ever played catch with his dad will be very touched by this story.This is pure fantasy and has some schlock, if I'm using the right word, mixed in with some sickeningly-Sixties Liberalism but the good parts are SO good that they far outweigh anything else and make this film one I've always treasured.To me, this movie has many memorable scenes, too many too mention here especially since there are enough reviews already.
My favorite character in the movie was "Doc" Graham, played superbly by Burt Lancaster in the last movie role he ever played, and by Frank Whaley as a younger "Archie." Kevin Costner, as "Ray Kinsella," the star of the film, is outstanding, too.
Ray Liotta, who plays "Joe Jackson," became a star because of this movie.Politics aside, this a special movie to anyone who has dreams, yearns at times for the good 'ole days, loves baseball, enjoys a good time-travel-type of story and is a sentimentalist at heart.
It has a beautiful mix of mythology and family values that come together to realise a dream that ultimately rewards those viewers who are prepared to open themselves up to pure fantasy with a deep emotional core.It was nominated for best picture in 1989 because it struck a cord with so many people, it's not just the thematic heart of the film that delivers, it's also the actors on show who perfectly realise this delightful tale.
Kevin Costner is surrounded by great workers in Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan and Burt Lancaster, and he wisely lets these actors dominate the scenes that he shares with them, it's something that is an often forgotten good point of Costner's performances; that he is comfortable to let his co-stars dominate important narrative snatches.
However, he is the glue that binds the whole film together, it's quite a naturally engaging performance that rightly gave him the star status he would achieve post release of the film.As a born and bred Englishman I don't profess to appreciate just how much a way of life Baseball is to Americans, but I do have my own sports in England that I'm happy to dream the dream with in equal measure, and with that I understand all the themes in Field Of Dreams big time.
Totally illogical.No one is able to realize how fascinating this movie is until they have the right feeling to watch the inner voice and sense it whenever they reckon it is one of theirs.The introduction sound and view of the corns behind Kevin Costner's shoulders are perfect.If you build it he will come...I don't know which part is the best yet.But one of the most touching part is the moment that Doc is crossing the line to save Karin although he knows he could never be a Moonlight Graham again.Afterward everybody congratulates him.This is free will.Thus when the time comes we should make a choice.Maybe there is some place called heaven, maybe not.If we build it at the right time at the right place, you might have some idea what heaven is.Everybody should see this movie to understand the flawless value of our lives.Because there would be no other chance..
I am 19 years old, and have seen many "great" films, but Field of Dreams is absolutely the best I have ever seen.This movie is much more than meets the eye.
However, I am tired of hearing this repetitive criticism.Field of Dreams is the story of a farmer, Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), a complete product of the 60's, who lives in Iowa with his wife, Annie (Amy Madigan), and daughter, Karin (Gaby Hoffmann).
When Ray says some of the harshest words possible to the most true baseball lover he knows, his dad,(for which I will not tell, since it would spoil part of the movie), he ran away to college and completely shut out his father from his life.Living a plain life full of solidarity, Ray one day randomly hears a voice, or revelation, if you will, while working in his corn stalk.
You don't have to love baseball, or even like it for that matter, but you do have to appreciate the father-son relationship/aspect of the film that transpires throughout the entire movie, and the magical (even if somewhat melodramatic) "cloud" under which the entire story takes place.For any person, man or woman, who has ever thrown a baseball and had a game of catch with their dad, this movie is the quintessential father/son, father/daughter emotional, movie-going experience.
The plot is still a lazily slapped-together mash of events that are either cheesy and bland beyond belief or simply nonsensical (and quite often, both at once!)I've seen movies in which a character is compelled to do something fairly out of the ordinary and is criticized for it by his peers before (in this case, a mysterious voice give Kinsella extremely vague instructions that he decides he MUST follow) but in those films and stories, the character actually winds up ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING in the end.
And what is beyond the corn field?Pros: Great performances by Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, and Ray Liotta, amazing scenery, heartfelt and touching story, and a very emotional endingCons: Amy Madigan's character is sometimes annoying and some unanswered plot questionsOverall Rating: 8.5P.S. This film is an American classic.
Even though the audience doesn't learn till the end of the movie what Kevin Costner's character's regret and redemption is, we experience some amazing and interesting co-starring wonderful characters (with Ray Liotta "Shoeless Joe" and Burt Lancaster's as the country doctor).
It was inspirational in any way you wanted it to be, and the final scene with Costner and his Dad was a moment to be treasured in film, as was James Earl Jones speech about the pure beauty of a game like baseball.
But awards do not necessarily reflect a movie's appeal, and I predict that people will be watching "Field of Dreams" for a long time to come.
i first admit,i am a very faithful Costner fan[ and forever will even if the box office underestimate him or he himself underestimate his potential]so whenever a movie shown for him,i just watch...like or dislike..the natural feelings..but i am totally ignorant considering baseball and that great love for it..but that movie touched me from inside..the idea of being content with your past..to have a chance to tell those you love or forgive so..and also to listen to your heart..to go for the idea..to build your own field of dreams..when everything is coming back,but in really a" better" way not a" bitter" one..i also liked the performance of James Earl Jones..Bert Lancester..and all the crew from the past..it is really great to find this mixture between past and present..reality and dreams..for this mixture,this movie will still vivid inside me...
Then again as Liotta says, Cobb was so disliked in life, he wasn't invited as the ghosts of baseball past play in Costner's Iowa cornfield.And believe me, Field Of Dreams is far from corn..
Anyone who has ever had issues with a parent needs to watch this.Great performances by James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan, Frank Whaley, Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta and Burt Lancaster.
He usually plays these larger than life characters (usually), but in this he just an ordinary average guy, with a supportive wife (Amy Madigan, who I really liked in this), a sweet little daughter (Gabby Hoffmann, who was the cutest little girl), and a big baseball field in his backyard (formally known as the big corn field in the backyard).My favorite characters in this movie, though, were Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Jackson and James Earl Jones as Terrance Mann.
'Moonlight' Archie Graham, now dead, would give anything to play baseball again, much more with his hero, 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, but in fact, just playing the game.Burt Lancaster delivers his last performance in "Field of Dreams" as Doc Graham, a man who didn't live wondering why he became a doctor, but what if he played one more time in his life, how thrilling it would be.
The voice, the vision, the ghosts, we accept them because they're positive, because we feel something magical ought to happen.And magical is an understatement, from the wonderful speech delivered by Jones' unique voice to the last encounter that gives the key to all the mystery surrounding the story, "Field of Dreams" ends with the perfect emotional pay-off to one of the most extraordinary journeys into the magic of sport, inspiring the best of human spirit: playing, sharing, connecting: you throw, I catch, giving and taking, the language of the heart in its purest form.
Whenever I need a lift from the daily grind of work, family and life in general then I try to make time to sit down and watch this truly wonderful story of hope and the things that can happen to us if we just have the faith to follow our dreams.
'Field of Dreams' was a film made for the midwest American traditional family who love tradition, a conservative lifestyle, and good old American sport: baseball.
Kevin Costner very well cast in this baseball movie about a guy in Iowa who is told by a mystery voice to build a baseball field in the middle of his crops.I am not a baseball fan, but I didn't need to be to love this movie - it could have been about any sport, and it would have been just as powerful, but somehow the baseball choice, with all it's history, seemed very appropriate.There were a lot of very powerful scenes in this movie, including beautiful, powerful charismatic acting by Ray Liota (easily the best role I have seen him in), and Burt Lancaster, which really choked me up for reasons I can't explain.
My dad when I was 10 (I'm 50 now) and I still cry every time I see this on TV.It has just the right combination of hope, sadness, fantasy, and depression for me.It explains to people that don't like sports why sports are important.Whiler I am not a big Kevin Costner fan, this movie just transcends his weak acting ability - and James Earl Jones can do no wrong as far as I am concerned.
One reviewer says Hollywood gets a movie right every so often and I agree this one is a classic.I am from north east England and an avid Soccer fan,I know very little about baseball but this does not spoil the film.Its a magic movie .movies were invented for films like this,in the old days Gary Cooper or James Stewart would have played the lead role but Kevin does a great job as does Amy.Another person in his comments concludes with make movies like this and they will come,he's so right lets have films with stories and heart.Thanks Hollywood for this movie.I have just watched this movie again on a rainy afternoon, it moved me very deeply know matter how many times you watch it,it tugs the heartstrings and makes you very emotional.There is not a single frame of this movie wasted, its a delight to watch.James Earl Jones is excellent along with Ray Liotta..
I only have a passing interest in the game but i loved this movie.The cast are excellent, Kevin Costner often underrated is very good in the the lead role as the Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella.Both Ray liotta and Amy Madigan are good as 'shoeless'Joe Jackson and Anni Kinsella respectively.Burt Lancaster as 'moonlight'Graham is superb in what is only an extended cameo,he only has two scenes,he steals them both and then there's James Earl Jones as Terance Mann he is truly wonderful,like Lancaster he pretty much steals all the scenes he's in.Probably one of his best screen performances.
I also liked much of James Horners score it really adds to the films magic.I found field of dreams to be a feel good movie in its truest form.It left me with a big smile on my face after i watched it and still does every time i stick it on my vcr.The film really reminds me why movies are made,to entertain us!
It was very nice to see a few comments from our friends in England who also enjoyed this movie realizing that you do not have to know a thing about baseball to get totally involved and sucked into the story about people not realizing how good they really do have it and how Ray Kinsella gets a second chance to make amends with his deceased father.
Kevin Costner is too static in his role as Ray Kinsella, the corny dialogue makes itself heard throughout the story and to non-Americans, the inherent clichés are borderline cringeworthy.Field of Dreams is a pretty moronic stinking film, which I suspect is why Bush likes it so much.
for anyone who has played catch with their father, Field of Dreams will hit home on an emotional level.some call it the best baseball movie ever made, but it's not really about baseball at all.
It makes a connection, somehow, on a very deep emotional plane - down where the feelings are not necessarily available to be influenced by rational thought.I also think it works on a more mundane level as a great baseball movie, with interesting plot twists and some incredibly funny lines.Even after all this time, Field of Dreams still exerts a very strong pull..
For someone who understands what the game of baseball truly stands for and what it means to play catch with your father and have that be a religious experience, Field of Dreams is much more than a "feel good" movie.
"Field of Dreams" takes full advantage of this mystique to create the greatest baseball stories ever told.For a basic plot summary, the movie tells the story of Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), an Iowa corn farmer who begins hearing voices out in the cornfield.
In the face of deep financial peril, Ray builds the field and holds onto the dream, along the way bringing in famous 1960s writer Terence Mann (James Earl Jones) and Archie "Moonlight" Graham (Burt Lancaster) to share in the incredible experience.This film has a solid plot and great acting.
I feel that Field of Dreams is not only a film about the love of baseball, but also life.