1999 Rewind: For Love of the Game


Films released in 1999 will turn 25 this year. Over the next few months, I'll be looking at some of the memorable films from that year, including some of my favorites. Today, I'm continuing with another blockbuster that changed films.

Billy Chapel: Tell them I'm through, "for love of the game", Billy Chapel

For Love of the Game
Starring: Kevin Costner, Kelly Preston, John C. Reilly, Brian Cox, and J.K. Simmons
Director: Sam Raimi
About: Baseball is part of the fabric of America, and baseball films are part of the fabric of the cinematic landscape. Among baseball films, Costner is one of the kings. He's done all kinds of films about the game and he's great in all of them. For Love of the Game, released in 1999, is no exception. It isn't the kind of film you'd normally expect to see from Raimi, but he does a beautiful job with it. It's based on the novel from Michael Sharra, and it's an exceptional film. It's about a pitcher, Billy Chapel (Costner), who is weighing a lot. His team has been sold, he's on the trade block, and his girl (Preston) is moving to New York. Does he keep going or does he hang it up? All while he's mulling this, we see flashbacks of his journey. And, along the way, he's pitching a perfect game. It's a beautiful and engaging film, one of my favorites in the genre. It was a great addition to the 1999 cinematic lineup and is well worth your time to check out as summer is in full swing.

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