Sporting film of the day – Bull Durham
The film focuses on the relationship between a rising pitcher and his mentor in minor league baseball.
From robo-heavyweights to angry ice-skaters, sports movies occupy a peculiar and often frankly unwatchable place in the annals of Hollywood history.
Amid global lockdown, the PA news agency runs a daily rule over some of the films that might provide that much-needed sporting fix – and those that absolutely shouldn’t.
BULL DURHAM (1988)
Summary
Cast
Kevin Costner is at his charming best as the intelligent Crash, a player with enough ability to make a career from baseball but one who lacks that God-given natural talent to make it to the very top. Cast by director Ron Shelton – a former minor league player himself – for his athletic ability, Costner would go on to star in another of Shelton’s sports films, playing golfer Roy McAvoy in Tin Cup. Tim Robbins provides plenty of laughs as the pitcher with “a million-dollar arm but a five-cent head,” no doubt enjoying the sex scenes with Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon). The pair met on set and were in a relationship for 11 years.
Review
Did you know?
Actor Trey Wilson, who played Durham Bulls’ manager Joe Riggins, died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 40, seven months after the film’s release.
