... Fields Of Dreams is a film that I had, until now, never seen all the way through in one sitting. I'm glad I did as it is a film that can be inspirational and also makes the viewer able to put things into perspective in life. Its also a film that generically speaking is something that everyone ... Read review
Field of Dreamsis, in the words of its makers, a baseball film that "isn't about ... more
baseball". Rather, it's a magical film that works its spell on all but the most hard-boiled of viewers, an altogether superior slice of apple-pie sentimentality. Kevin Cos...
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If you build it, he will come. With these words, Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) ... more
is inspired by a voice he cant ignore to pursue a dream he can hardly believe. Supported by his wife Annie (Amy Madigan), Ray begins the quest by turning his ordi...
Field of Dreamsis, in the words of its makers, a baseball film that "isn't about ... more
baseball". Rather, it's a magical film that works its spell on all but the most hard-boiled of viewers, an altogether superior slice of apple-pie sentimentality. Kevin Cos...
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Field of Dreams' begins in an Iowa cornfield when Ray Kinsella hears a mysterious voice - ... more
''If you build it he will come'' and sees a brief vision. With the support of his wife Annie Ray Kinsella pursues his dream and encounters several memorable c...
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Elmer Bernstein, among the greatest of the golden age film composers, has lamented that ... more
there's not enough "artistry" in soundtracks today. He abhors the pop hit collections that pass for movie music albums, and the man's got a point. Perhaps he'd go for Horner's score to Phil Alden Robinson and W. P. Kinsella's fairytale ode to fathers, sons, and baseball. It's as evocative as the film itself, a shimmering corn field or a late-afternoon fly ball in every note. It's warm ("The Cornfield" is sweet, subtle, heartbreaking--like an echo, really), fun ("Old Ball Players" recalls Randy Newman's Ragtime score), and stirring ("The Place Where Dreams Come True" doesn't need a father-and-son game of catch to move you). A gem. No, a diamond! --Robert Wilonsky
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Drama - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Shelagh Fraser, Barbara Flynn, Keith Drinkel, Felicity Kendal, Pam Ferris, Colin Douglas
Advantages: No religous overtones, deals with a persons pain Disadvantages: You'll need a box of tissues!
...magically walking from the corn field and walks onto the diamond. The man is Shoeless Joe Jackson, the only problem is that Jackson had died a number of years before and appears on the pitch as a young man in the uniform of the 1919 Chicago White Sox Team, a team that were banned from the World Series for intentionally losing games to bring about an agreed score. This incident was controversial time and something that has been well documented in ... ...as this is one film that does not require a sequel to be made as this film has a perfect mix of everything that an uplifting film could ever have.
Field Of Dreams is a perfect title for the film, it simply does what it says. ... more
Sometimes it's amazing just how engrossed one can become in a film. Fields Of Dreams is a film that I had, until now, never seen all the way through in one sitting. I'm glad I did as it is a film that can be inspirational and also makes the viewer able to put things into perspective in life. Its also a film that generically speaking is something that everyone can relate to terms of what the film is about.
Ray Kinsella is a family man who is running a farm in Iowa, when Ray is working the corn fields, he hears a voice telling him "If you build it, he will come" along with a vision of an American baseball field. From this he realises that he has been sent a message and decides to build this to allow "him" to come, only problem is that he is not sure who the he actually is and why. The main reason that he has done this is to allow himself the experience of spontaneity and do something out of the norm.
The pitch is built, and every night the Kinsella's family watch the pitch in the hope that something happens, but nothing happens until a year later when a solitary figure in a white baseball uniform appears magically walking from the corn field and walks onto the diamond. The man is Shoeless Joe Jackson, the only problem is that Jackson had died a number of years before and appears on the pitch as a young man in the uniform of the 1919 Chicago White Sox Team, a team that were banned from the World Series for intentionally losing games to bring about an agreed score. This incident was controversial time and something that has been well documented in the media at the time. The corn is a gateway to somewhere and a question that is quite rightly never answered throughout the film. Although the visitors do ask "Is this heaven?" to which Costner's response is always "No...this is Iowa." It has to be stated that the landscape and the panoramic shots around the Kinsella home and the baseball pitch look absolutely stunning on screen and bring out the vast richness of the natural colours.
The fact that a film like this has been based loosely on characters involved with this adds a foundation in reality and also means the story has a link to what can only be called the after-life. As the film moves on the whole team are assembled with the other seven players and a game can be held as another team is found something that only the Kinsella family can see, but other visitors cant, leading to a few situations that raise a smile with the situation at hand.
Kinsella is played by Kevin Costner, the main character who is a simple Iowa farmer who has a life-changing experience because of the messages received. The character is quite comical in places and allows the audience a way of getting to know the person without the film slowing down to allow a break and losing any momentum of pace at all. Throughout his journey Ray has other messages delivered to him, journeys which lead to self-discovery and overcoming challenges.
This type of part for Costner is something that we very rarely see the actor in and is refreshing to see him portray a part without it being in a historical or in a film of exceptional length of time.
All you know is that a man has been sent on a mission to do things and to get people together at this certain place. You never know why this has to be done and you are never really certain if he is doing the right thing at all. For example when attempting to persuade recluse writer Terrance Mann, played by James Earl-Jones, you see Kinsella pretend to have a gun concealed in his jacket pocket in a pathetic attempt to kidnap Mann, just before this you get to hear the original theme from Top Gear as well that is played over a montage to show the journey that is being made.
With James Earl-Jones playing a writer who has to be found and Ray Liotta playing baseball player Joe Jackson the cast is a great gathering on-screen and has that something special that you know will give a polished performance. Ray's wife is played by Amy Madigan; she backs Ray up and has a lot to deal with in Ray's absence. The cuteness factor is provided by Gaby Hoffman who plays little Karin Kinsella. The fact that the main cast total seven characters allows the film to breathe and to grow substantially over the course of the 107 minutes that the film lasts and this is a positive strength as the film has minimal cast yet maximum impact.
Other than the mission in hand, there are other plotlines that the story deals with, the main one being the financial status and the bankruptcy that threatens the farm itself. This is a continuous thread throughout the film and something that builds up over the course of the film in urgency naturally putting pressure on the entire family and easily reached a high point of tension towards the end of the film.
It's interesting to note that because the players are based on a real team and real events that respect has been duly paid by including the real names, Archie "Moonlight" Graham is played by Burt Lancaster. This was his last film before he passed away and even though he is in the film for less than 10 minutes, the part he plays is crucial as he is the rookie who gets a second chance to complete a lifetimes dream.
Overall this is one film that has grown on me and one that now that I have seen this in its entirety is one that I will watch again, this is in no way a chick flick at all, even though a scene shot from above with Costner lying on a bed with his shirt open is something that I suspect was placed there for the ladies to swoon at, and is a film that will appeal to all.
I also believe personally that this is a film that has been written in such a way that it will have a different meaning to everyone that watches it, for me personally the end scene where Ray has a meeting is very moving and from my point of view is something that I would give anything for to be in that position, unfortunately I know that this isn't going to happen and that is why I do tend to find the last ten minutes emotional to watch. And with this ending there is a question that springs to mind saying what happens next.... however this is not a question that needs to be answered as this is one film that does not require a sequel to be made as this film has a perfect mix of everything that an uplifting film could ever have.
Field Of Dreams is a perfect title for the film, it simply does what it says.
Advantages: None Disadvantages: Appalling story and acting
Ray Kinsella is a farmer in Iowa, married to Annie and they have a child, Karin. One day, Ray is in the fields when he hears a voice: "Build it, and he will come." Initially, he thinks he must be dreaming, but the voice comes back to him, along with a vision of a baseball pitch set into part of his land. He becomes convinced that something great will happen and so ploughs one of his fields and turns it into a baseball pitch.
Having spent all their ... ...financial trouble, but when a team of famous baseball players from years ago turn up to play on the pitch, Ray thinks it is all worth it. Then he starts to hear voices again, giving him further instructions. What is the point of the instructions? And will Ray be able to keep the family out of debt?
I had never heard of this film before I watched it, but knowing both Kevin Costner and Ray Liotta star, I thought it would probably be worth a watch. ...
sunmeilan 21.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Field Of Dreams (DVD)
...scene and plays on the field with other ghosts of baseball's past. The plot is slow-moving and there could have been a lot more character development. The Shoeless Joe character is totally flat as are all of the other players except for Archie 'Moonlight' Graham, a player who became a doctor after retiring from baseball without getting to play a single game in the Major Leagues (highest division in baseball).
Then there is the ever-popular figure ... ...the field and thinks Ray is an idiot for destroying his crops. Timothy Busfield gives an unmemorable performance as this character. This part of the story establishes the economic angle, as the viewer is supposed to be worried that Ray will lose the farm, and with it, the baseball players. If he has to sell his land, the new owner will certainly destroy the baseball field, and the ghosts will have nowhere to play.
The main problem I have with this ...
OKkaraoke 15.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Field Of Dreams (DVD)
Advantages: Feel good, and then feel even better. Disadvantages: Sentimental old codswallop! lol
I have just finished watching the 1989 film “Field of Dreams”, as I type the video is rewinding. I decided last night to write an opinion on this film, why? Because I read two other opinions and the memories came flooding back. This was not a veritable tidlewave of thought. I had watched this movie many years ago and some things I just could not remember. What I did remember was the many goose bump moments throughout the film and the ... ...had in my throat at the end. Having watched the film again, I have just emitted the small laugh, which is the male way of not bursting into tears. Now I have a predicament, how do I write about this film, without giving the whole plot away? Well here goes, strike while the iron is hot!
The film stars Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan James Earl Jones and Ray Liotta. It is based on a book called “Shoeless Joe” by W.P Kinsella. Although baseball ...
clanmac4 24.02.2001 (28.02.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Field Of Dreams (DVD)
Advantages: Great acting, fantastic cinematography, spellbinding storyline Disadvantages: Perhaps not long enough!
...So, back to the Field of Dreams. This is a film that manages to stir these emotions. It will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you wonder where the past two hours of your life have actually gone. When I first saw the film I honestly thought that I had been abducted by aliens at the commencement of the film, and replaced just at the end. I literally lost two hours of my life. Al the right ingredients are there: great acting, beautiful cinematography, ... ...and enlightening stories that your are ever likely to see.
If you have never seen this film then I urge you to rectify this fact. Rush out and buy it if you have to (because like most of those really great films it is never shown on TV ore than once in a decade). This is a cinematic experience that is never to be repeated and, in my opinion, is one of the greatest films ever made.
Perfection at last in Post-Classical American cinema. ...
andi_hutchings 14.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Field Of Dreams (DVD)
Advantages: Superb film, great story and acting Disadvantages: None
...have watched his baseball film Field Of Dreams will agree that is it one of his best. It could be argued that after also seeing success with Bull Durham, another baseball film, and Tin Cup where he played a golfer Costner should stick to sports related films.
Kevin Costner plays Ray Kinsella who although he is a happily married Iowa farmer still thinks back to a failed relationship with his father who was a baseball player. Amy Madigan plays his ... ...baseball when he leaves the Field Of Dreams to tend to Kinsellas daughter who needs medical attention.
As Kinsella pursues his dream he almost becomes bankrupt and receives little support at first from many in his family. Eventually though the dream is realised and scenes where Kinsella become reconciled with his father are among the most moving in a fiction story I can recall.
The film is extremely moving but does not solely go for sentimentality. ...
polydeuces 25.09.2001 (26.09.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Field Of Dreams (DVD)
Whilst working in his cornfields Roy Kinsella hears a voice telling him to build a baseball field. With his wife's support he decides to follow the voice, which culminates in the meeting of three great men and their life-long dreams coming true.
Feature Commentary With Director And Director Of Photography, Field Of Dreams Scrapbook Including Making Of, Trailer, Production Notes, Cast And Filmmakers Biographies
Aspect Ratio
1.78 Wide Screen, 16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital Stereo, Mono
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital Surround English Spanish Dolby Digital Stereo French Mono German
Professional reviews
Review
"...A labor of love for all concerned, and their sincerity and enthusiasm are suprisingly contagious..." -- Rating: B+ (Entertainment Weekly, p.65, 26/07/1996)
"...A work so smartly written, so beautifully filmed, so perfectly acted, that it does the almost impossible trick of turning sentimentality into true emotion..." (New York Times, p.C8, 21/04/1989)
DVD Description
A struggling Iowa farmer (Costner) obeys a mysterious voice in his cornfield that tells him to replace part of his crop with a baseball diamond resulting in the magical meeting of baseball heroes from the past. Mystical forces are at play here as ghosts of other sorts are confronted.
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