
FOR LOVE OF THE GAME
In the time frame of a single baseball game, we live through a stormy
five-year relationship between star pitcher Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) and his
girlfriend Jane (Kelly Preston) in this wonderfully charming film largely done
in flashback.
Billy is a 40 year old pitcher at the end of his career. His team has just been
sold and he has to make a decision to allow himself to be traded or to retire.
His love for baseball makes this an agonizing decision. On top of that,
the woman with whom he has maintained a five year relationship has just called it quits.
We feel his pain. Now he's got a very important game to play and through it, we get to see just
what kind of man he is and how he tackles his problems.
What makes this film standout is the exceptionally real moments of his relationship
with Jane with all its confusions and complications. Both Costner and Preston are
very good.
The baseball setting is one in which Costner has become very accustomed and he fits it
like the proverbial glove.
This is beautifully edited between flashbacks and present day.
Lotta says "For Love of the Game" is well balanced between the relationship and baseball
and Costner as usual has come through for us with a fine film.
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