Sam Raimi is best known for his work in horror, fantasy and science fiction, but, on occasion, he tried his hand directing films of different genres. One such experiment was 1999 sports drama For Love of the Game. Plot, based on the eponymous novel by Michael Shaara, begins when Billy Chapel (played by Kevin Costner), aging baseball pitcher for Detroit Tigers, prepares for the last game of the season during which his team didn’t have much to brag about. Just before the game he also experiences couple of unpleasant surprises. Gary Wheeler (played by Brian Cox), his long time friend and team’s owner, informs him that he sold the team which will be relocated from Detroit to San Francisco. He also learns that his long time girlfriend Jane Aubrey (played by Kelly Preston) is leaving him in order to get new job in London. Despite devastating news, he, as a true professional, goes to pitch against New York Yankees. With the help of his friend, catcher Gus Sinski (played by Richard C. Reilly), he tries to pitch in a way that would allow the perfect game of baseball. As the game goes on, he remembers events from five years ago when he, still as great star, met Jane for the first time.
Raimi explained his decision to make this film, rather atypical for his filmography, with his personal love for America’s favourite pastime. Whatever his motives were, he apparently approached For Love of the Game with cold detachment of Hollywood professional. Quirky characters and visuals and the dark humour that has served him so well previously is absent in this film. Even worse is his failure to deal with flaws of script by Dana Stevens, writer best known for her work on City of Angels. The main problem is lack of connection between the stories that deal with protagonist’s professional and personal challenges which, in turn, makes For the Love of The Game failed combination of sports film and generic melodrama, with all the worst cliches of both genres. This approach also prolongs the film to almost unbearable two hours.
Kevin Costner, actor who owed a lot of his stardom to baseball-related films like Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, seemed like a good choice to play the protagonist. And the protagonist being former star with his best days behind him in some way corresponded with Costner’s real life career at that point, affected by series of spectacular flops. Costner is decent in his film, but his efforts, as well the efforts of his colleagues like Preston and Reilly, can’t bring much life in this flawed film. Basil Poledouris, one of the most talented Hollywood composers, adds to the disappointment with his often annoying soundtrack. Impression is even worse for those viewers who start to wonder what would For Love of the Game look like if being directed by sports genre specialist like Ron Shelton.
RATING: 2/10 (-)
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