PRE-GAME ⚾️
Welcome back to Balls on Film! 👋🏻
I hope that everyone has had a good week.
I’m glad to be back with you, after taking last week off. As I mentioned in my update, it’s been a bit of a tough time here in our household. My mother-in-law sadly passed away last week, following a short decline in health. My wife and I have been trying to keep busy, and have tried to just dive into organisation mode, but it’s been a bit of a heavy time for our family. If anyone has ever dealt with a similar situation, you will know how much of a whirlwind the days and weeks following can feel like. We’ve been spending the last few days taking care of things, spending time with family and remembering her life. For me, I’ll always be grateful for how immediately welcome she made me feel when my wife and I first met, and how quickly I felt part of the family. She always made people feel welcome, and had a great sense of humour too. I’m glad that both my wife and I got to be by her side at the end, and I know she will be missed by many.
I’ve been thinking a lot about family over the last couple of weeks, and it’s also a theme which is central to this week’s movie. Field of Dreams is one of my all-time favourite films, and one that I hold near and dear to my heart.
Of the three films in the Kevin Costner baseball trilogy, I knew I had to start with this one.
FIRST HALF ⚾️
I don’t know about you, but whenever I watch one of my favourite films with someone who’s never seen it before, I spend half the time watching the movie and the other half wondering if the other person is enjoying it as much as I hoped they would. My most recent viewing of Field of Dreams was with my sister, who is ten years younger than me, and had never seen it before. I was worried that it would have aged badly, or not appealed as much to someone a bit younger than me, and I hit play with a fair amount of trepidation. As the final scene played out though, I looked over and saw her wiping away a tear from her eye. She loved the movie, and her reaction to it only solidified my stance on this being a timeless piece of filmmaking that speaks to people of all generations.
For those who have been living under a rock since 1989, and somehow haven’t seen this movie - Field of Dreams is based on W.P. Kinsella’s novel Shoeless Joe. It tells the story of Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), an Iowa farmer who hears a mysterious voice whilst walking through his cornfield. The voice tells him, “If you build it, he will come”, which Ray interprets as a calling to build a baseball field on his farm, despite not really knowing why. The project results in risks to his livelihood, and him facing hefty skepticism from other people. Once the field is built, however, the ghosts of legendary baseball players - including Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) mysteriously emerge to play. This sends Ray on a quest to understand the deeper meaning behind the voice, which leads him to confront unresolved issues in his life, particularly his strained relationship with his late father.
Like many of the best sports movies, Field of Dreams isn’t just about sports. Sure, baseball is a major focus here, but it’s really the backdrop to something much deeper. The real magic of the film lies in its exploration of relationships, especially between fathers and sons and the ways in which it deals with themes of hope, regret and redemption.
Kevin Costner’s portrayal of Ray is the film’s highlight. His performance is understated, filled with the hope and wonder of a man driven by something that he cannot fully understand. Ray is an everyman, grappling with the weight of his decision to build the field, and the risks to his family and business that come with it. He’s such a relatable character, and it’s one of the aspects of the film that helps make its more fantastical elements feel believable. The film does a great job of getting the audience to root for Ray from the get-go. Not once do we think he’s crazy, or having some kind of breakdown and hearing voices. We believe in the same magical, mysterious force that he does, without question and Costner’s portrayal plays a big part in getting us there.
The supporting characters are equally compelling, particularly James Earl Jones, as reclusive author Terence Mann. He’s initially cynical, but is eventually drawn into Ray’s mission. This is my favourite role of James Earl Jones’ storied career, and the slow character transformation and how Ray gradually gets through to him never fails to make me smile. The initial meeting between the two in Mann’s apartment is one of the film’s funniest moments. Burt Lancaster as Moonlight Graham, is a brief but poignant appearance, but his arc propels the journey of Ray and Terence forward. And then there’s Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe. Liotta’s performance is both quiet and enigmatic. He doesn’t say much, but it only adds to the mystique of his character and the mystery of his presence on the field. Liotta plays the part with an almost otherworldly feel, and he commands the audience whenever he’s on screen. His initial appearance in the film still gives me chills.
I’ve touched on it briefly already, but what I love about Field of Dreams is its willingness to fully embrace its fantastical elements. The way in which the film does this whilst also never losing its emotional core is necessary for the story to have the impact that it does, and it pulls it off effortlessly. There’s so much in this film that, quite honestly, is completely absurd and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense - not limited to long-dead baseball players emerging from the cornfield to play a game. The film, however, never treats it as a spectacle or with any kind of silliness. Instead, these moments feel magical - and you feel the emotional weight of all of it. As the film goes on, the field becomes a place for healing for many of the characters, including Ray, Terrence Mann (James Earl Jones), and the ghost of Shoeless Joe - which is really what the film is all about. Watching both life and death intermingle on a baseball diamond is just another one of the film’s fantastical elements that you’d probably roll your eyes at in any other movie, but here it just feels intimate, and makes you feel that same sense of hope that the characters do.
I couldn’t write about this film without mentioning its audio and visual beauty. The cinematography, with the vast, open landscapes and how it’s all captured in a comforting, warm light really does make Ray’s baseball field feel heavenly. The cornfield itself feels like a living entity, and every time I watch the film, I don’t want to leave it, much like the ghosts of the players who visit. Maybe one day I’ll make it along to the real field, when I eventually do my baseball stadium tour of America. The score by James Horner is equally beautiful, enhancing the film’s otherworldly feel in a very subtle way. The look and feel of the film always puts me in the mood for baseball season. I love to watch this film every year in March, as Opening Day draws near. For many, Field of Dreams is a great summer movie - but for me, the hopefulness of spring is the perfect time to revisit Ray Kinsella’s farm.
Field of Dreams remains a classic because it taps into the universal emotions I noted earlier - regret, hope, love, and redemption, to name a few. It’s a positive, earnest tale that’s desperately welcome in today’s world. Despite its fantastical elements, the film remains deeply grounded in human emotion, and it speaks to the heart without ever pandering to it. It’s a story that reminds us that some of the things that we long for most of all like reconciliation, understanding and forgiveness, are always within our reach. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it.
Field of Dreams is available to buy or rent via most digital stores.
HALFTIME ⚾️
Let’s take a break for halftime. Grab some refreshments and settle in for the second half.
I received a wonderful message from
, who recently got to attend a screening of The Sandlot at a Rooftop Cinema Club in New York City, and sent over this photo:
I’d have loved to have attended this. What a setting for such a fantastic film.
I recently saw The Substance, and I really hope that others reading this have managed to catch it too. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, but it was the craziest movie I’ve seen in 2024 by far. Just absolutely batshit insane stuff, and it also boasts some of the best practical effects I’ve seen in horror for a while. I loved it. Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid are all great, and Quaid’s character might be one of the most repulsive I’ve ever seen.
A quick reminder: if the newsletter isn’t going to your inbox, and going to junk mail instead, please be sure to locate the mail in your junk folder, and mark it as not spam. Alternatively, just reply to any email from me with a quick hello, and it shouldn’t happen again! 😊
I’d also like to highlight that I’ve started the Balls on Film subscriber chat, which you can access from the main page or via the chat tab at the bottom of the screen in the Substack app. This is a space exclusively for subscribers - kind of like a group chat or live hangout. I’m still messing around with it and trying to figure out exactly how to best incorporate it into the newsletter, but I’ll post any discussion topics or updates there, and you can jump in if you want to. Hope to see you over there!
Is anyone else planning on watching the Mr. McMahon docu-series on Netflix? I’ve not watched wrestling in a long, long time but it was a huge part of my childhood and teenage years. I’m going to dive into this at the weekend, and I’m thinking of starting a thread in the subscriber chat, where anyone else watching it can also jump in and discuss it too.
Now, let’s get back out on to the field of dreams.
SECOND HALF ⚾️
Let’s jump into some awards and bonus content.
BEST SCENE 🏆
It’s got to be having a catch with Dad. How can you not tear up at this?
BEST LINE 🏆
“If you build it, he will come.” is certainly the most memorable, but it’s James Earl Jones’ speech that’s my personal favourite. I love watching this clip every year, right before the beginning of baseball season. It reminds me of the hopes and dreams of Opening Day, a blank slate - and of how much I love the game.
MVP AWARD 🏆
It’s got to be Kevin Costner. There’s a ton of memorable performances here, but I can’t award this to anyone else.
IMDB TRIVIA HIGHLIGHT 🏆
The line, "Hey, Dad, you wanna have a catch?" originally didn't include "Dad." Audiences were disappointed in the lack of acknowledgment of father and son, and the word "Dad" was looped in during post-production.
BEST LETTERBOXD REVIEW 🏆
I usually try to share funny Letterboxd reviews in this section, but this one really grabbed me and really hits the mark.
BONUS FEATURE 💿
One of the greatest things I’ve ever seen in sports was the 2021 MLB Field of Dreams game, played on the actual site where the movie was filmed. It was such a special game, and everything about it was perfect - well, aside of the Yankees losing! The intro with Kevin Costner still gives me goosebumps. Enjoy!
And Ray Liotta talking about making the movie, right before the game took place:
Finally, I always enjoyed the Field of Dreams references that were peppered throughout How I Met Your Mother. Here’s a montage:
POST-GAME ⚾️
That just about brings things to a close for this week, folks. As always, let me know what you thought of the film, and tell me what you’ve been watching in the comments.
In some personal news, I’m starting a new job next week after 15 years in my current one. I’m going through the whole range of emotions from excitement and nervousness to outright fear and imposter syndrome. If anyone has any hints or tips for coping with new job stress, I’d love to know! 😆. I’m not a big fan of change - at least, when I’m not the one making the change, so I’ve definitely been feeling overwhelmed recently!
Next week,
is coming back to Balls on Film to review Rocky. It’ll be our first boxing film, and one that probably sits at the top of many people’s sports movie rankings. I can’t wait to dive into it with him next week!See you then!
~James
So sorry to hear about your family loss, sending condolences.
Thanks for this wonderful piece on one of my fav films. Time for a rewatch methinks, especially with the recent passing of James Earl Jones too.
The importance of this film to you is reflected in the quality of your review. It’s one of your best yet. 😊