I'm not a baseball fan. I got turned off to the sport in Junior High when I could never get picked during the choose-up. I could catch and I could throw, but I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a snow shovel. My permanent position was in the bleachers, and I grew to resent the game and all who played it.

Despite my biases against baseball, there have been many baseball movies which have snuck (my own term) into the hallowed archives of my favorites. Field of Dreams just happens to be one of those. In my own defense (I won't give up my biases without a struggle) I prefer to see this movie as something more than just a baseball movie.

The Natural was a baseball movie; Pride of the Yankees was a baseball movie, and primarily baseball. In this case, Field of Dreams is much more. In addition to a baseball movie, it's a ghost story, an inspirational movie and, above all else, a love story. It's the account of a man's frustrated love for his dead father. It's the story of the love that exists between a man and wife, and their love for their child. It's the story of irrational but wholly valid love of some men for the game of baseball.

There's a difference between the game, which I dislike, and someone's love for the game, which I respect and for which I feel empathy. The manner in which this movie blended the many sub-plots was touched with as much magic as the field itself.

The film tells the story of Ray and Anni Kinsella, a farm couple who are raising corn and their small daughter on a farm in rural Iowa. Things are tight for money, but they love each other enough to make the hardships endurable. Anni sticks by Ray, even when he starts hearing a voice telling him, "If you build it, he will come."

He eventually comes to the conclusion (through a circuitous route you will understand when you see the movie) that the voice is talking about Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of the baseball players suspended for life after they threw the World Series. After listening to Ray explain about Shoeless Joe, you are left with the pretty strong feeling that, of all the players, he was innocent of actually participating in the ripoff.

Anyhow, with Anni's accession and support, Ray razes some of his corn crop and builds a wholly professional baseball diamond on his farm. Sure enough, Shoeless Joe Jackson does come to play on Ray's field. The only problem is that this doesn't seem to be all. He is now hearing the voice telling him to "Ease his pain." In trying to figure this one out, Ray comes to the conclusion that it is talking about 60's writer, Terrence Mann.

Anni hasn't heard the voice, and is reluctant to let Ray chase back to Boston after Mann because they have spent their savings on building the diamond. When she and Ray have the identical same dream about Ray in Fenway Park, she changes her mind and agrees that he needs to go.

In Boston, Ray is able to locate Mann's home, but finds the writer a much different person from the one who coined the "Make Love, Not War" slogan of the 60's. After risking personal assault, Ray is able to persuade Mann to accompany him to Fenway Park to see what the voice has been leading him to. While there he receives the message to "Go the distance," and sees (as no one else can see) the name Archie "Moonlight" Graham appear on the scoreboard. After denying it, Mann finally admits that he, too, has seen the name and heard the message. The two then set out to Minnesota to find Graham.

It's logical that the title of the movie is Field of Dreams, rather than the title of the novel, "Shoeless Joe." The flow between messages and problems and temporary solutions and more messages and more problems is almost dreamlike in the smooth manner in which they build to their heartwarming anti-climaxes and ultimate emotional and triumphant climax.

This is another film that could be dismissed by some as just another "tear-jerker," and that would be a disastrous mistake. It's full of living reassurances. There is the reassurance that, despite the dismal outlook for modern marriage, genuine love and mutual respect and communication are capable of building relationships for the ages. One good example is my own plan to return to Mexico next year with my daughter to help my ex-in-laws celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

There is the reassurance that, as said in a multitude of forms, faith can indeed "move mountains." There is the reassurance that, even as it says in both the Old and New Testaments, it is never too late to repent things you have done wrong, and to make amends. All in all, Field of Dreams is one of the best films ever made to show that life -- no matter how many problems you may be facing -- is full of miracles and joys, both big and small, just waiting to be claimed.

Sad to say, I haven't the highest opinion of Director Phil Alden Robinson's other films. They include Sneakers and In The Mood, neither of which was in danger of sweeping the Academy Awards ceremonies. He was also responsible for the scripts of those films, with the same lack of lasting impression. This, then, becomes both his personal best to-date, and very probably his personal best for the future as well. Just one more reason not to miss this one.

Ray and Anni Kinsella, and their daughter Karin, are played by Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, and Gaby Hoffman. All did outstandingly believable portrayals, and Hoffman was even awarded the Young Artist Award as the best young actor in a supporting role. James Earl Jones, owner of perhaps the most powerful voice in Hollywood, was perfectly cast as the writer, Terrence Mann. All I can say about his performance is that I have yet to see him turn in a bad performance, no matter how weak or poorly written his character might be.

There has to be a villain in every story and, in this case, it's Anni's brother, Mark, and is played without real conviction by Timothy Busfield. Even the original author of the story, W.P. Kinsella (no real relation, actually), was disappointed by Mark's lack of real hateable villainy. It was to be expected, though, because this film is so deeply positive that a unredeemable negative would have weakened the overall story.

Shoeless Joe Jackson is played with convincing restraint by Ray Liotta. It would have been easy to go over the top with the focal character, but Liotta made it truly believable. It's Shoeless Joe who asks Ray Kinsella, "Is this Heaven?" To which, Ray answers, "No, it's Iowa." How can you not like such an exchange?

Archie "Moonlight" Graham (another character drawn from the real past) is played as an eager youth by Frank Whaley. Again, despite the motivation of eager youth, Whaley portrays his character with believable restraint that makes him even more moving. Graham as the real-life adult is played by Burt Lancaster in his last real acting role in movies. Although he made a few TV appearances and did an Italian documentary, this was his last demonstration of how totally this virtuoso actor could build a character. His presentation of "Doc" Graham (Graham in real life returned to college and became a doctor after leaving the major leagues) was the gentle caress of a man who loved people, and another very moving character.

Throughout the film, the dialogue touches the heart with its sincerity and warm affection. When Ray's father, John Kinsella -- played naturally by Dwier Brown -- repeats Shoeless Joe's question, "Is this Heaven?", Ray again answers, "It's Iowa."
John says, "Iowa? I could have sworn this was Heaven."
Ray asks, "Is there a Heaven?"
John replies, "Oh, yeah. It's the place where dreams come true."
Ray then looks at Anni and Karin on the porch of the farmhouse. He looks back at John and says softly, "Maybe this is Heaven."

This isn't the usual maudlin tear-jerker, pumped full of pathos for pathos sake. It's a film so filled with natural and genuine human emotion that it just has to overflow somewhere along the line. I'll admit that I can cry over a well-cooked steak, but this one (don't laugh, or I'll never talk to you again) consumed 14 tissues and left me in a state of euphoric fulfillment. Despite my dislike of baseball, I've watched this countless times, and have made it a point to keep my own copy for repeat performances in the future. You may want to do the same. I hope so. You could certainly do worse.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older
Special Effects: Well at least you can't see the strings