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Part Of Rodent's 15 Review Marathon Of The 1980s Classics And Their Sequels
Review #147 (2nd of 15): Field Of Dreams
Ray Kinsella is a newbie and failing farmer. His crops aren't great and he's facing financial ruin and bankruptcy.
While out in his corn field he hears a strange whispery voice saying "If you build it, he will come".
At first Ray thinks he's going mad and hearing voices... but as time goes on, the voice keeps sounding and he sees a vision of a baseball field where his crops are. He build the field and is stunned when an apparition of a dead baseball player magically appears on the field. The problem is, nobody apart from Ray and his immediate family can see the ghosts of the dead players on the pitch.
While out in his corn field he hears a strange whispery voice saying "If you build it, he will come".
At first Ray thinks he's going mad and hearing voices... but as time goes on, the voice keeps sounding and he sees a vision of a baseball field where his crops are. He build the field and is stunned when an apparition of a dead baseball player magically appears on the field. The problem is, nobody apart from Ray and his immediate family can see the ghosts of the dead players on the pitch.
Eventually, Ray is lead to seek out Terrence Mann... and their adventure together will lead them both not only to the depths of disbelief... but to a destiny that will change their very existence forever.
A lovely, lovely movie, laced with just enough schmaltz and heart felt emotion and backs itself up with small element of humour and lashings of mystery and drama.
Dreams isn't the average voyage of discovery or even the average drama... it throws a huge element of fantasy into the proceedings too and does it extremely well.
The plot falls a little flat at times, particularly when Ray is discovering certain things about where his quest is going, but it's hardly recognisable as a fault really.
There is however the mystery and some spooky aspects to the story and overall feel of the movie that work great as well.
The plot falls a little flat at times, particularly when Ray is discovering certain things about where his quest is going, but it's hardly recognisable as a fault really.
There is however the mystery and some spooky aspects to the story and overall feel of the movie that work great as well.
There's also masses of wonderfully playful plot elements and the odd little twists that keeps the viewer watching the screen.
The acting is spot on though.
Kevin Costner as Ray is brilliantly lost in the series of events. He plays the comedy really well too, especially when he first meets Terrence Mann's character.
James Earl Jones as Mann is also wonderful. His chemistry with COstner is perfect and they work well off each other in every scene they're together in.
Kevin Costner as Ray is brilliantly lost in the series of events. He plays the comedy really well too, especially when he first meets Terrence Mann's character.
James Earl Jones as Mann is also wonderful. His chemistry with COstner is perfect and they work well off each other in every scene they're together in.
Ray Liotta makes a brilliant show as Shoeless Joe Jackson, the main ghost of the baseball players. His brooding and rather sombre take on a lost but intelligent soul is really something very wonderful.
Back up comes from Amy Madigan, Timothy Busfield, Gaby Hoffman, Art LaFleur, Steve Eastin, Dwier Brown and Burt Lancaster.
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All in all, not a perfect film, but has some really great lumps of mystery and drama. It's acted well, has a really nicely written screenplay with only the odd crease in the plot and the ending is wonderfully heart felt after the fantastic build up.
My rating: 90%
