‘Field of Dreams’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Mallory Rubin
April 19, 2019 · Field of Dreams (1989) · Drama · Family · Fantasy · 1:48:10
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsWhen Ray goes to see Terrence Mann for the first time and the James Earl Jones speech where all the ghosts stop playing to watch him▶ 39:04
Chris RyanWhen Ray goes to Boston to see Terrence Mann because of their great chemistry and the evocative portrayal of the reclusive icon▶ 38:16
Mallory RubinMoonlight crossing the line to save Karen and Ray saying 'oh my God, you can't go back'▶ 39:50
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsBaseball as the American pastime - the James Earl Jones speech about baseball being the one constant doesn't hold true anymore because we spend most time talking about what's wrong with baseball rather than loving it▶ 50:33
Chris RyanAgrees that the Field of Dreams style of thinking about baseball peaked with Sosa/McGuire then was destroyed, and that baseball has always had stains but the pastoral ideal is what's been lost▶ 53:13
Mallory RubinFirst 20 minutes being a little slow, concussion protocol when Karen falls from bleachers, and Newsweek cover being cited as proof of celebrity relevance▶ 56:46
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsTom Hanks — Discussed Tom Hanks allegedly being offered Ray Kinsella role, Costner not originally considered, Jimmy Stewart as original choice for Moonlight Graham, and Burt Lancaster turning down then accepting a role▶ 58:23
Chris RyanConnected the movie to late 80s Hollywood throwback films made by Castle Rock, comparing to Capra-style movies▶ 59:00
Mallory RubinJames Stewart — Noted Jimmy Stewart connections and strands in the movie, particularly referencing Harvey▶ 58:53
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsExtensive trivia including original title was Shoeless Joe, voice mystery (thinks Ray Liotta), Matt Damon/Ben Affleck as extras, corn growth issues with Costner's height, farm ownership details, tourist statistics, accidental line drive scene▶ 1:01:34
Chris RyanW.P. Kinsella found filming boring but his daughter had romance with Ray Liotta on set▶ 1:05:05
Mallory RubinRay Kinsella character named after two Salinger characters (Richard Kinsella from Catcher in the Rye, Ray Kinsella from A Young Girl in 1941), Don Buford coaching connection▶ 1:05:23
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsKevin Costner — Yes for Costner - this movie, not Dances with Wolves. This sets up Dances with Wolves and makes him the biggest star. Also yes for Amy Madigan, yes for baseball as a whole, yes for Iowa▶ 1:07:58
Chris RyanKevin Costner — Agrees on Costner but sees it as a combo of this movie plus Bull Durham (88-89 pair) plus No Way Out. Yes for Timothy Busfield.▶ 1:08:35
Mallory RubinContributes to discussion about Iowa ('hard to top literally being a stand-in for heaven') and Shoeless Joe as sympathetic figure, but doesn't give clear definitive picks▶ 1:10:48
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsRay Liotta batted righty but Shoeless Joe was a lefty - indefensible error; Fenway scoreboard shows 10:30 PM in third inning with no rain delay; movie ignores pre-1947 Black baseball players despite being about second chances; Ray doesn't recognize his dad during the scrimmage; brother-in-law Mark disappears after seeing ghosts and never returns▶ 1:17:09
Chris RyanHas anyone's wife ever been this understanding in the history of mankind - Annie's support of Ray's field-building after hearing voices is unrealistically accommodating▶ 1:14:35
Mallory RubinWhere did Ray get professional-grade stadium lights and how did he construct a perfect field while building unsafe wooden bleachers; Mark should have been kicked off the property immediately after grabbing their child, not invited for water▶ 1:19:53
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsHow Archie Graham was off the field to begin with, why Terence Mann can walk into the cornfield but Ray can't try the same thing, and questioning the physics of the magical realm▶ 1:26:26
Chris RyanWhat happens to fielders who chase fly balls into the cornfield and disappear, and how the reserved seating logistics would work when people come to watch games▶ 1:28:15
Mallory RubinWhether Shoeless Joe is dead when he disappears, the rules of the magic system, why players can't leave the field but Archie Graham could exist off it, ground rules for balls hit into the cornfield, and why only one person opposed the book banning at the town hall▶ 1:25:50
Best Quote
Chris RyanDiscussed various quotes but didn't make a definitive final pick, focused on emotional impact of father-son reconciliation theme▶ 1:34:32
Mallory RubinMultiple quotes including 'Is this heaven? It's Iowa' and the ghost/reality exchange between Shoeless Joe and Karen▶ 1:32:36
Movies Referenced (41)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moonlight (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 19 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin, Chris Ryan | ▶ 33:08 |
| Dances with Wolves (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 3:45 |
| Driving Miss Daisy (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:26 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 29:40 |
| Identity (2003) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Mallory Rubin | ▶ 26:27 |
| American Pie (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | ▶ 1:06:11 |
| It's a Wonderful Life (1946) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 58:45 |
| Moneyball (2011) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 10:05 |
| Noah (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:07:14 |
| The Untouchables (1987) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 3:35 |
| Aliens (1986) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 9:33 |
| Dead Poets Society (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 18:26 |
Directors Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Costner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | Dances with Wolves, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | ▶ 1:56 |
| Clint Eastwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven | ▶ 7:01 |
| Phil Alden Robinson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Field of Dreams, Sneakers, The Sum of All Fears | ▶ 18:04 |
| Ridley Scott | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | The Martian, Blade Runner | ▶ 6:45 |
Actors Referenced (43)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Earl Jones | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Mallory Rubin | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Field of Dreams | ▶ 1:59 |
| Terrence Mann | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 15:27 | |
| Ray Liotta | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Goodfellas, Field of Dreams | ▶ 2:01 |
| Frank Whaley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin | Broken Arrow, Pulp Fiction | ▶ 33:38 |
| Amy Madigan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Weapons, Field of Dreams | ▶ 1:58 |
| Beulah Koale | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Thank You for Your Service | ▶ 35:02 |
| Denzel Washington | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 11:42 | |
| Luke Wilson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan | Old School, The Royal Tenenbaums | ▶ 13:00 |
| Robin Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Mrs. Doubtfire | ▶ 18:44 |
| Charlie Sheen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Wall Street | ▶ 4:53 |
| DJ Premier | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Inside Man | ▶ 19:48 |
| Harrison Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, The Fugitive | ▶ 12:55 |
Writers Referenced (8)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Dinner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Mallory Rubin, Bill Simmons | ▶ 43:51 | |
| W.P. Kinsella | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Field of Dreams | ▶ 10:12 |
| Bill Dubuque | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Accountant | ▶ 32:31 |
| Bruce Springsteen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Wrestler, Philadelphia | ▶ 25:30 |
| James Baldwin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 45:27 | |
| James Jones | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Thin Red Line, From Here to Eternity | ▶ 1:04:23 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 19:34 | |
| William Blake | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Mallory Rubin | ▶ 3:23 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 9:00 |