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| Courtesy of Universal |
Each
year, the Carrollton community takes part in The Big Read, an initiative launched
by the National Endowment for the Arts to promote the joys of reading and
discussion. It’s a month-long experience filled with interesting exhibits,
visits from compelling speakers and – most exciting for me, obviously – a screening
of the book’s cinematic adaptation.
In
the past, I’ve enjoyed seeing people engage with Big Read texts like Harper
Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. This
year’s selection is Shoeless Joe, W.P. Kinsella’s modern fable about the
redemptive power of baseball. Even if you haven’t read the novel, you might’ve
heard of writer-director Phil Alden Robinson’s 1989 movie version, an obscure
little indie called Field of Dreams.
Kidding
aside, if you somehow haven’t seen the contemporary classic – or haven’t
experienced the pleasure of watching it with a crowd – The Big Read is offering
a rare opportunity to see it on the big screen. The event will take place at
the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center tomorrow night (Friday, March 4) at 6:30 p.m. A ticket is
required for entry, but you can pick one up for free at West Georgia Regional
Library, the Barker Book House or the CCAC box office. Plus, it comes with a
box of Cracker Jacks and a bottle of water.
The
story is a deceptively simple one, but isn’t that the case with all parables? What
seems like a basic “once upon a time” with a silly premise turns into something
much more complex and emotionally involving. Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner, in
one of two back-to-back baseball movies that made him a megastar during the
1980s-1990s) is an Iowa farmer who hears a ghostly whisper – “If you build it,
he will come.” – in his cornfield one day.
He
thinks he’s losing it at first (as anyone would), but he’s ultimately inspired
to build a gorgeous baseball diamond on his property. For a while, it seems
like boneheaded move; months pass with no change and he becomes the town
laughingstock. But then the ghost of disgraced White Sox outfielder Shoeless
Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) appears on the field, grateful for the chance to play
again.
Kinsella
thinks that’s the end of it, but more ghostly players start showing up and the
whispers keep returning with more messages. Soon, he’s tasked with tracking
down a reclusive writer (James Earl Jones) and a beloved doctor (Burt
Lancaster, in his final big screen role) to bring the magic into their lives.
Then, in the film’s most iconic scene, Kinsella finally learns the meaning of
“if you build it, he will come.” Let’s just say the whisper wasn’t referring to
Shoeless Joe.
Before
I rewatched Field of Dreams a couple of weeks ago, I probably hadn’t seen it in 20
years; it’s safe to say it was a jarring experience. Initially, I was shocked
at how much I’d forgotten. Everything I remembered about the plot (aside from
that final scene that reduces grown men to weeping babies) takes place in the
first 20 minutes. For the next hour and change, it was like I was watching the
movie for the first time.
I
love how unapologetic Robinson’s film is about its magical realism. The
important characters simply accept that this crazy situation is happening and
quickly get used to hanging out with baseball-playing ghosts. There’s not a
lengthy section of the plot where the hero refuses his mission or some other
tired trope that’s only there because it “has” to be. I imagine that quaint simplicity
probably wouldn’t fly if you tried to make Field of Dreams today.
Even
now, it’s clear why this role made Costner a superstar. Every aspect of Ray
Kinsella’s personality aligns with the actor’s most endearing traits. He’s
handsome, affable and ridiculously charming. The rest of the cast is fantastic
as well. Amy Madigan and the adorable Gaby Hoffman (who’s all grown up and
starring in Amazon’s Transparent) are wonderful as Kinsella’s supportive
family.
Liotta
– in a much different role than he’s known for – is magnetic as Jackson. He
only has a handful of lines, but his mere presence instills the character with
depth and intrigue. Jones and Lancaster are also terrific, and Timothy Busfield
manages to turn the thankless villain role into an entertaining performance.
Jaded
viewers will find plenty of elements to criticize or mock – it’s exceedingly cheesy,
the pacing is sluggish and the narrative has a few head-scratching logic
problems – but that’s kind of the point. The film wears its sentimentality as a
badge of honor. If you’re not on board with that from the start, you’re in for
a long 107 minutes. I’m guessing that won’t be an issue for most people.
Whether
you’ve seen it a dozen times or you’re looking forward to your first viewing,
make plans to see Field of Dreams at the CCAC tomorrow night. It should
be a blast. (Oh, and make sure to bring a tissue or two – you’ll need them.)
(For
more information on The Big Read’s Field of Dreams screening, contact Penny
Lewis at 770-838-1083 or plewis@carrollton-ga.gov.)
Field
of Dreams is rated PG.
Grade:
B+
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