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For Love of the Game the Movie
In, For Love of the Game, Kevin Costner plays the role of
aging Detroit Tigers pitcher Billy Chapel. Chapel is nearing
the end of his long and illustrious career as a major leaguer,
just as Tigers owner, Billy Wheeler is nearing the end of his
career as owner of the ball club.
Kelly Preston, as Jane Aubrey, is Billy's sometime on, sometime
off girlfriend who loves Billy, but never believes that Billy
loves
her back. She is nearing the end of her relationship with the
pitcher to begin a new life in London.
Chapel learns of Wheeler's decision to sell the club which will
also mean Chapel will be traded if he continues to play. Then
he learns of Jane's decision to leave him once and for all.
But it's Chapels turn to pitch that day against the New York
Yankees. Billy Chapel loves baseball more than life, although he
desperately wants to love Jane as much, but just hasn't got
it figured out yet.
Taking a mix of emotions into the game; Jane's leaving, the
Tigers being sold, and facing the decision to retire from the game
he loves, Chapel begins what will be soon the pinnacle of his
career, pitching a perfect game.
Kevin Costner as Billy Chapel
Veteran announcer, Vin Scully does the play by play doing the
excellent work that Scully has done as an announcer over the
years giving the listening audience colorful insights into what this
game really means to Chapel.
"After 19 years in the big leagues, 40 year old Billy Chapel has
trudged to the mound for over 4000 innings. But tonight, he's
pitching against time, he's pitching against the future, against
age,
against ending. Tonight, he will make the fateful walk to the
loneliest spot in the world, the pitching mound at Yankee
Stadium, to push the sun back into the sky and give us one
more day of summer."
The game being played that day becomes not only a real game,
but also the game of Billy's life to this point. In the dugout
between innings, Chapel flashes back to scenes during his life.
From the first time he met Jane, to various encounters they've
had, the fights and the good times.
Billy Chapel has learned in his career how to be a major league
winner on the mound, he's done anything it took to get him a
place in the Hall of Fame.
Jane has led a life without a true romance, she's been
desperately looking for that romance, but has been unable to
do what it takes to hold that romance and believe that it
can happen to her, even though it's been right there in
front of her eyes the whole time.
Kelly Preston as Jane Aubrey
Billy Chapel has never been afraid of losing, Jane has
always been afraid of losing. It's a curious pairing between
the biggest star in baseball and a person who admits that
she's a nobody from nowhere, with nothing to offer.
Jane is off to the airport as the game begins, but no matter
how hard she tries, she has a date with destiny as
everywhere the game is being broadcast. She is bitter,
because once again, a romance didn't work out and she is
left hurt. To handle her pain, Jane secretly hopes that
Billy will fail.
As the eighth inning begins, Chapel realizes he is on the
verge of destiny, no one has reached base yet. But with the
pain in his shoulder and the aging, wearisome body, he also
realizes this will be his last game.
As the airplane is ready to board, Jane is torn between
watching the love of her life or leaving him. She stays and
ends up watching the last few innings in a crowd of Yankee
fans, this time hoping Billy can complete his perfect game.
Billy announces his retirement to Wheeler, for "love of the
game, tell them I'm through". The perfect game is
accomplished but is bittersweet. What should be the best
night of his life, finds Chapel alone and empty in his hotel
room sobbing.
Billy knows what he must do and the next day finding Jane at
the airport tells her that he's given his all to the game he
loved, but never to her, his love for the game is not enough
to make his life a perfect game. Jane finally realizes this
is the true romance she's been seeking all her life to also
make her life a perfect game.
For Love of the Game
(1999)
Directed by Sam Raimi
Writing credits
Michael Shaara (novel)
Dana Stevens (screenplay)
Kevin Costner .... Billy Chapel
Kelly Preston .... Jane Aubrey
John C. Reilly .... Gus Sinski
Jena Malone .... Heather Aubrey
Brian Cox .... Gary Wheeler
Jacqueline Piñol
J.K. Simmons .... Frank Perry
Vin Scully .... Himself
Steve Lyons .... Himself
Carmine Giovinazzo .... Ken Strout
Bill E. Rogers .... Davis Birch
Hugh Ross .... Mike Udall
Domenick Lombardozzi .... Tow Truck Driver
Arnetia Walker .... Airport Bartender
Larry Joshua .... Yankee Fan in Bar
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Runtime: 137 min
See Also:
Bull Durham
The Natural
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