I haven’t watched either one for a long, long time, but I remember Field of Dreams as being sappy schmaltz and The Natural as having some cinematic virtuous (even if it was a tad too long).
Perhaps it is the age at which I saw the films, but The Natural is emblazoned in my childhood consciousness in a way that few others are. I remember watching it 2 or 3 times, and while not particularly influential in the way goonies/star wars/indiana jones were, its still lodged there.
Field of Dreams I didn’t see til later, and while I enjoyed the movie, it was a little too Hippie to lodge in my mind. That said, I almost cried when Doc stepped off the field. Plus James Earl Jones? He could read the phone book and be interesting.
Tough call. Two of my favorites. But James Earl Jones’ monologue is perfect.
Field of Dreams captures the feelings that many have for the sport.
And the part with Moonlight Graham walking off into the cornfield after having given up his dream in order to save Ray’s daughter, and Shoeless Joe calling out to him, “Hey Rookie!…You were good.” It kills me everytime.
Both movies are wonderful. Both are fairy tales that channel the spirituality of baseball, the idea of baseball as metaphor for life. It’s a somewhat cliche metaphor, but one that is executed with great skill in both The Natural and Field of Dreams.
And yes, both Redford and Costner are somewhat limited as actors — both owe their careers to looks more than ability — but in each of these films both actors are perfectly cast as somewhat archetypal all-American, corn-fed, farm-raised golden boys. And each is far “prettier” than their wife/girlfriend in each film: Amy Madigan (Field/Dreams) and Glenn Close (Natural).
And both Costner and Redford are good athletes, especially Costner. They both look good throwing, catching, and swinging a bat. (Very important if you’ve seen Tim Robbins in Bull Durham.
Finally, both films feature wonderful, iconic scores. The Natural by Randy Newman, and Field of Dreams by James Horner. I own both.
Tough call, but if forced to choose, I’d pick Field of Dreams by a kernal of corn.
Comment by Matt Thurston — March 2, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
Also, great supporting cast of older, experienced actors in both films:
James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster in Field of Dreams.
Wilford Brimley, Richard Farnsworth, and Robert Duvall in The Natural.
Early glimpses of Ray Liotta and Frank Whaley in Dreams, and Michael Madsen in Natural.
Bull Durham has the most quotable lines of any baseball movie (any sports movie, actually), but “Hey Dad… wanna have a catch,” from Field of Dreams, has got to be one of the “dustiest” lines in film history. “Dusty” as in “guaranteed to make your eyes water.”
Comment by Matt Thurston — March 2, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
The fact that Field of Dreams is currently winning makes me question my participation at this blog. What is wrong with you people? What’s next, The Sting or Dances With Wolves? If so, it’s The Sting, people, The Sting.
I like Field of Dreams just because it had so many more cliches I liked. Especially sayings. Both are solid good movies but hardly amazing ones. To be honest it’s not a dualism I feel strongly about.
The fact that Field of Dreams is currently winning makes me question my participation at this blog.
You think it should easily be the other way around? Field of Dreams scores a 91% on RT while The Natural received 83%. Field of Dreams was also nominated for three Oscars including Best Picture and Best Screenplay. The Natural’s best Oscar nomination went to Glenn Close.
It usually breaks this way. People who love baseball, and by love I mean really love baseball, Field of Dreams tends to be the favorite. For those who merely like baseball, they tend to be bigger fans of The Natural.
Bull Durham is almost more chick flick than baseball movie. Though Crash Davis talking about making it to the show, “25 hits”, etc. was great.
Never seen The Natural. Didn’t like Field of Dreams when I saw it in the theater and haven’t felt the need to revisit. What I really want to see is a baseball film analogous to Slapshot, something that is rude and bawdy and very funny. Kinda like if Major League had been good, or something that captures the energy of a book like Ball Four. Does anyone know of such a film?
What I really want to see is a baseball film analogous to Slapshot, something that is rude and bawdy and very funny. Kinda like if Major League had been good, or something that captures the energy of a book like Ball Four. Does anyone know of such a film?
Seen Bull Durham and the original Bad News Bears. Neither is what I’m looking for, though BNB is closer. The Tim Robbins character from Bull Durham and Matthau’s character from BNB could easily be a part of this fantasy project, though. In fact, Matthau could easily be the film’s Reggie Dunlop.
I didn’t like Eight Men Out either. Generally fine performances but John Sayles can get a bit preachy and high-handed when there’s something really important he thinks you should know, and unfortunately this is one of those times.
Plus we can’t forget Angels in the Outfield
That kid who inherits the Twins
The one where due to a freak accident the kid can pitch 100mph fast ball
Tom Selleck in Japan one
Mr. 3000 with Bernie Mac
and a whole slew of animals playing (chimps and buddy the dog)
Both had great feel good parts, but only The Natural had great feel bad parts (which makes sense since the novel doesn’t even have the feel good parts). The fiasco with Barbara Hershey. The owner in the dark room. Every time Gavin McCleod, the gambler, opens his mouth or glances at the camera.
Comment by John Mansfield — March 3, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
Field of Dreams is a smaller story. It’s ultimately about a small group of people and how they bond through baseball.
The Natural (in every iteration) is about Big Ideas. People aren’t people in the Natural, they are archetypes. It’s a fine film about Big Ideas, but I prefer a movie (smaltzy as it may be) about people.
Also, Major League is a darn fine movie; quite possibly the best movie ever made about sport.
What about Mr. Destiny with Belushi and Michael Caine? Sure, Baseball only occupies the first and last ten minutes…but, at least it has a scantily clad Renee Rousseau.
It usually breaks this way. People who love baseball, and by love I mean really love baseball, Field of Dreams tends to be the favorite. For those who merely like baseball, they tend to be bigger fans of The Natural.
A League of Their Own has to be my favorite baseball movie. Come on: Madonna, Tom Hanks, and the most quotable quote of all time: There’s no crying in baseball!
I loved both movies for different reasons but one of my favorite baseball movies is “For love of the Game”.Costner reflects over his career and his lost love while pitching the game of his life and as a person who grew up listening to Vince Skully every summer’s eve what great ambience of him calling the game and at the end quoting himself from Sandy Koufax’s greatest game a 1- 0 perfect game where the opposing pitcher threw a one hitter and there were only 2 baserunners all game.
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They built it (the movie). I didn’t come.
Comment by Last Lemming — March 2, 2009 @ 9:58 am
The scene in the Natural where he busts the light with the home run ball is just too cool.
Comment by John Scherer — March 2, 2009 @ 10:25 am
John’s right, nothing beats it.
Comment by Supergenius — March 2, 2009 @ 10:36 am
Any movie that makes my Dad cry wins. That means you Field of Dreams.
Comment by John K. — March 2, 2009 @ 10:39 am
Neither was a perfect movie, but Robert Redford vs. Kevin Costner? No contest.
Comment by MCQ — March 2, 2009 @ 10:48 am
Field of Dreams by a mile. It perfectly captures why I love baseball so much. Also, it was made by people who actually understand how the game works.
Comment by kwk — March 2, 2009 @ 11:10 am
I cast a write in vote for Bang the Drum Slowly, a much more realistic movie about baseball
Comment by john willis — March 2, 2009 @ 11:24 am
In execution and talent I go with The Natural. In watchability I go with Field of Dreams.
Comment by Jettboy — March 2, 2009 @ 11:46 am
Jettboy,
That’s pretty much exactly how I feel about this one.
Comment by Rusty — March 2, 2009 @ 11:51 am
I haven’t watched either one for a long, long time, but I remember Field of Dreams as being sappy schmaltz and The Natural as having some cinematic virtuous (even if it was a tad too long).
Comment by BTD Greg — March 2, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
Perhaps it is the age at which I saw the films, but The Natural is emblazoned in my childhood consciousness in a way that few others are. I remember watching it 2 or 3 times, and while not particularly influential in the way goonies/star wars/indiana jones were, its still lodged there.
Field of Dreams I didn’t see til later, and while I enjoyed the movie, it was a little too Hippie to lodge in my mind. That said, I almost cried when Doc stepped off the field. Plus James Earl Jones? He could read the phone book and be interesting.
Comment by Ola Senor — March 2, 2009 @ 12:31 pm
Tough call. Two of my favorites. But James Earl Jones’ monologue is perfect.
Field of Dreams captures the feelings that many have for the sport.
And the part with Moonlight Graham walking off into the cornfield after having given up his dream in order to save Ray’s daughter, and Shoeless Joe calling out to him, “Hey Rookie!…You were good.” It kills me everytime.
Comment by Tim J — March 2, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
A League of Their Own.
Comment by danithew — March 2, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
Neither one of these movies is about baseball. Field of Dreams.
Comment by John C. — March 2, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
The Natural has the better “chill moment” — few scenes in any movie can beat those exploding lights — but Field of Dreams makes grown men weep.
Comment by kuri — March 2, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
Field of Dreams captures my deep love of the game, but The Natural is a beautiful film, and Robert Redford just is that much better than Costner.
Comment by Tracy M — March 2, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
If you build it they will come…
Comment by Clark — March 2, 2009 @ 3:15 pm
#14 : Oh, and didn’t you say Friday Night Lights wasn’t about football, too?
I’m not a fan of baseball, but I enjoyed the Natural more. (Although to pick a favorite baseball movie, I’d have to go with Pride of the Yankees.)
Comment by FHL — March 2, 2009 @ 3:16 pm
Both movies are wonderful. Both are fairy tales that channel the spirituality of baseball, the idea of baseball as metaphor for life. It’s a somewhat cliche metaphor, but one that is executed with great skill in both The Natural and Field of Dreams.
And yes, both Redford and Costner are somewhat limited as actors — both owe their careers to looks more than ability — but in each of these films both actors are perfectly cast as somewhat archetypal all-American, corn-fed, farm-raised golden boys. And each is far “prettier” than their wife/girlfriend in each film: Amy Madigan (Field/Dreams) and Glenn Close (Natural).
And both Costner and Redford are good athletes, especially Costner. They both look good throwing, catching, and swinging a bat. (Very important if you’ve seen Tim Robbins in Bull Durham.
Finally, both films feature wonderful, iconic scores. The Natural by Randy Newman, and Field of Dreams by James Horner. I own both.
Tough call, but if forced to choose, I’d pick Field of Dreams by a kernal of corn.
Comment by Matt Thurston — March 2, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
Also, great supporting cast of older, experienced actors in both films:
James Earl Jones and Burt Lancaster in Field of Dreams.
Wilford Brimley, Richard Farnsworth, and Robert Duvall in The Natural.
Early glimpses of Ray Liotta and Frank Whaley in Dreams, and Michael Madsen in Natural.
Bull Durham has the most quotable lines of any baseball movie (any sports movie, actually), but “Hey Dad… wanna have a catch,” from Field of Dreams, has got to be one of the “dustiest” lines in film history. “Dusty” as in “guaranteed to make your eyes water.”
Comment by Matt Thurston — March 2, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
The fact that Field of Dreams is currently winning makes me question my participation at this blog. What is wrong with you people? What’s next, The Sting or Dances With Wolves? If so, it’s The Sting, people, The Sting.
Comment by Jacob J — March 2, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
I’ll grant you The Sting.
I like Field of Dreams just because it had so many more cliches I liked. Especially sayings. Both are solid good movies but hardly amazing ones. To be honest it’s not a dualism I feel strongly about.
Comment by Clark — March 2, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
As a kid, i loved the Natural. I watched it a few years ago, however, and it just seemed a vehicle to showcase Redford. And, it was too long.
Is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa.
Comment by Hayes — March 2, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
Neither is a 4 star movie. But I prefer the mythos of “The Natural” over the new agey-ness of “Field of Dreams.”
Comment by Jack — March 2, 2009 @ 7:31 pm
You think it should easily be the other way around? Field of Dreams scores a 91% on RT while The Natural received 83%. Field of Dreams was also nominated for three Oscars including Best Picture and Best Screenplay. The Natural’s best Oscar nomination went to Glenn Close.
It usually breaks this way. People who love baseball, and by love I mean really love baseball, Field of Dreams tends to be the favorite. For those who merely like baseball, they tend to be bigger fans of The Natural.
Bull Durham is almost more chick flick than baseball movie. Though Crash Davis talking about making it to the show, “25 hits”, etc. was great.
Comment by Tim J — March 2, 2009 @ 11:22 pm
Never seen The Natural. Didn’t like Field of Dreams when I saw it in the theater and haven’t felt the need to revisit. What I really want to see is a baseball film analogous to Slapshot, something that is rude and bawdy and very funny. Kinda like if Major League had been good, or something that captures the energy of a book like Ball Four. Does anyone know of such a film?
Comment by Brian V — March 3, 2009 @ 5:49 am
So you’ve never seen Bull Durham, then?
Comment by BTD Greg — March 3, 2009 @ 8:46 am
It was a tough choice but I sided with Field of Dreams.
What about the original Bad News Bears?
Comment by TStevens — March 3, 2009 @ 9:22 am
Seen Bull Durham and the original Bad News Bears. Neither is what I’m looking for, though BNB is closer. The Tim Robbins character from Bull Durham and Matthau’s character from BNB could easily be a part of this fantasy project, though. In fact, Matthau could easily be the film’s Reggie Dunlop.
Comment by Brian V — March 3, 2009 @ 9:29 am
Eight Men Out might be my favorite baseball movie, although it’s really more of a movie about scandal than baseball.
Comment by BTD Greg — March 3, 2009 @ 9:31 am
I didn’t like Eight Men Out either. Generally fine performances but John Sayles can get a bit preachy and high-handed when there’s something really important he thinks you should know, and unfortunately this is one of those times.
Comment by Brian V — March 3, 2009 @ 9:32 am
I think I’ve seen the Natural on TV, but don’t remember it, really. Which tells you right there which movie I think is the best.
Comment by Susan M — March 3, 2009 @ 9:38 am
Tim, to be fair though Oscars don’t tell how good a film was.
Both films are saccharine. But despite the naysayers saccharine fluff pulling on your heartstrings can be great. Look at Shawshank Redemption.
Comment by Clark — March 3, 2009 @ 11:31 am
The Sandlot also had its moments.
Plus we can’t forget Angels in the Outfield
That kid who inherits the Twins
The one where due to a freak accident the kid can pitch 100mph fast ball
Tom Selleck in Japan one
Mr. 3000 with Bernie Mac
and a whole slew of animals playing (chimps and buddy the dog)
Comment by TStevens — March 3, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
Prison Rape equals Saccharine Fluff – I get your point but that thought makes me laugh
Comment by TStevens — March 3, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
How can you say Major League isn’t good? It’s brilliant! Up your butt Jobu!
Comment by Rusty — March 3, 2009 @ 12:59 pm
This thread sure took a weird turn.
Comment by MCQ — March 3, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
You’re telling me. Someone LIKES Major League???
Comment by Brian V — March 3, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
Mr. 3000 was actually pretty good.
Comment by Supergenius — March 3, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
Both had great feel good parts, but only The Natural had great feel bad parts (which makes sense since the novel doesn’t even have the feel good parts). The fiasco with Barbara Hershey. The owner in the dark room. Every time Gavin McCleod, the gambler, opens his mouth or glances at the camera.
Comment by John Mansfield — March 3, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
Field of Dreams is a smaller story. It’s ultimately about a small group of people and how they bond through baseball.
The Natural (in every iteration) is about Big Ideas. People aren’t people in the Natural, they are archetypes. It’s a fine film about Big Ideas, but I prefer a movie (smaltzy as it may be) about people.
Also, Major League is a darn fine movie; quite possibly the best movie ever made about sport.
Comment by John C. — March 3, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
#41: Clearly you are forgetting Necessary Roughness. =)
Comment by FHL — March 3, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
What about Mr. Destiny with Belushi and Michael Caine? Sure, Baseball only occupies the first and last ten minutes…but, at least it has a scantily clad Renee Rousseau.
Comment by Hayes — March 3, 2009 @ 6:40 pm
It’s a fair cop. I am not a lover of baseball.
Comment by Jacob J — March 3, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
A League of Their Own has to be my favorite baseball movie. Come on: Madonna, Tom Hanks, and the most quotable quote of all time: There’s no crying in baseball!
Comment by Susan M — March 3, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
I loved both movies for different reasons but one of my favorite baseball movies is “For love of the Game”.Costner reflects over his career and his lost love while pitching the game of his life and as a person who grew up listening to Vince Skully every summer’s eve what great ambience of him calling the game and at the end quoting himself from Sandy Koufax’s greatest game a 1- 0 perfect game where the opposing pitcher threw a one hitter and there were only 2 baserunners all game.
Comment by Steve J — March 3, 2009 @ 11:27 pm