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“We just don’t recognize life’s most significant moments while they’re happening. Back then I thought, “Well, there’ll be other days.” I didn’t realize that that was the only day.” – Dr. Archibald “Moonlight” Graham
Number of Times Seen – More than 10 times (Theater in 1989, cable, video, DVD, 22 Nov 2001, 7 Apr 2014 and 4 Mar 2020)
Link to original review – Here
Brief Synopsis – An inexperienced farmer hears a voice that tells him to build a baseball field and is taken on a wondrous journey to finding his purpose in the world.
My Take on it – This month, Darren really challenged me to decide what films to choice because I have hundreds of favorite films and any of them would have been the right choice.
In the end, I chose this film because I hadn’t seen it in years and had the urge to rewatch it.
I recall seeing this movie in the theater when it came out over 30 years ago and it still is so amazing to watch again and again because the story is so uplifting and enjoyable to watch unfold.
This movie finds a way to be so moving and inspirational at the same time and it stays that way from start to finish.
Kevin Costner was perfectly cast in the lead role and is able to make us truly believe the physical and emotional journey that he must take.
They find a way to set this story up really well and then take us to visit people and places that we never expected to meet and it does so in such a great way that it enhances the setting of the story over and over.
The movie has some great interactions with the past and they do this all in very subtle ways that helps make the story even more realistic despite its fantastical nature.
James Horner does an amazing job with this film’s musical score and helps give it an even more inspirational tone to all that these characters experience.
In addition to Costner, the supporting cast is also great and we get some very moving performances by Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster and James Earl Jones.
Amy Madigan plays Costner’s on-screen wife and the chemistry that the two of them have is great and it feels so genuine and believable throughout.
This film was quite deserving of its Oscar nomination for Best Picture in addition to nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Original Score yet didn’t manage to win any of them.
Bottom Line – Amazing film that is both moving and inspirational at the same time. Costner is perfectly cast in the lead role and makes us believe the physical and emotional journey of his character. The story is set up really well and takes us places that are quite unexpected and this enhances the setting so much. The interactions with the past is done in a very subtle way that works and helps make us believe everything that transpires. The musical score by Horner is quite moving and helps give the story a more fantastical feel to everything that happens. The supporting cast is also great and we get to see some great performances by Jones, Lancaster and Liotta. Costner has wonderful chemistry with his on-screen wife played by Madigan and their relationship is quite believable throughout. Very deserving of its 3 Oscar nominations including for Best Picture even if it didn’t manage to win any of them. Highly Recommended!
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – After the movie was completed, test audiences didn’t like the name “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, because they said it sounded like a movie about a bum or hobo. Universal called director and screenwriter Phil Alden Robinson to tell him that “Shoeless Joe” didn’t work, and the studio changed the title of the film to “Field of Dreams”. When Robinson heard the news of the change, he called W.P. Kinsella, the author of the book, and told him the “bad” news, but apparently he didn’t care, saying that “Shoeless Joe” was the title the publishing company gave the book. Kinsella’s original title was “Dream Field”. (From IMDB)
Rating – Oscar Worthy (9/10) (no change from original review)
