For Love of the Game (film)
| For Love of the Game | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Sam Raimi |
| Produced by | Amy Robinson |
| Screenplay by | Dana Stevens |
| Based on |
For Love of the Game by Michael Shaara |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Basil Poledouris |
| Cinematography | John Bailey |
| Edited by |
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Production
companies |
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| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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138 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $80 million |
| Box office | $46.1 million |
For Love of the Game (sometimes misconstrued as For the Love of the Game) is a 1999 American sport drama film directed by Sam Raimi and written by Dana Stevens based on Michael Shaara's novel of the same title.
The film follows the perfect game performance of an aging star baseball pitcher, Billy Chapel, as he deals with the pressures of pitching in Yankee Stadium in his final outing by calming himself with memories about a long term relationship with Jane Aubrey.
The play-by-play of the game is announced by longtime Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers baseball broadcaster Vin Scully, who himself has called four perfect games in his career, and Steve Lyons.
The Detroit Tigers travel to New York to play a season-ending series against the New York Yankees. At 63–97, the team has long since been eliminated from playoff contention and are playing for nothing but pride against the Yankees, who have a chance to clinch the American League East with a win. For 40-year-old pitcher Billy Chapel, however, this may end up being the most significant 24 hours of his life.
In his Manhattan hotel suite, Billy awaits his girlfriend Jane Aubrey, but she doesn't show. The next morning, Billy is told by Tigers' owner Gary Wheeler that the team has been sold and that the new owners' first move will be to end Billy's 19-year tenure with the Tigers by trading him to the San Francisco Giants. Billy also learns from Jane that she is leaving that same day to accept a job offer in London.
Billy is a famous, accomplished pitcher, but has a losing record this season, is near the end of his career and is also recovering from a hand injury. Wheeler hints that Billy should consider retiring rather than join another team. As he goes to Yankee Stadium to make his last start of the year, Billy begins reflecting about Jane, detailing how they met five years prior. These flashbacks are interspersed within the game, along with glimpses of Jane watching the game on a television at the airport.
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Wikipedia