Tropic Sprockets / Bull Durham

By Ian Brockway

“Bull Durham” is the 1988 romantic comedy by Director Ron Shelton. The film has genuinely funny moments and strong performances by Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins. It also boasts spontaneity, and refreshing authenticity given that Shelton himself was a former baseball player. [Showtimes and trailer at Tropiccinema.com.]

At times it feels cartoonish with its emphasis on sex and its blue streaks of dialogue, but the film is so grounded by its roles that any camp or kitsch seems to fall by the wayside.

Ebby Calvin (Tim Robbins) is a talented but undisciplined pitcher and Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) is the arrogant pitcher hired to revitalize the losing team. Annie (Susan Sarandon) is the spiritual baseball enthusiast who believes that team success is related to sexual health.

A rivalry ignites between Ebby and Crash for Annie’s affection.

Tim Robbins has never been funnier as the lackadaisical pitcher with a host of odd gestures. Costner is solid here to as the macho man. His usual persona is so wholesome that it is bizarre to hear him swear like a truck driver. Sarandon is terrific as a kind of therapist: half Betty Boop, half sorcerer.

This film hits all the notes. Players swear spit and goof around. Parts of the film are very much a Popeye cartoon. All things are overlarge and bold, but the main characters have spirit. This is a classic of a sports film, a kind of “Bad News Bears” for adults.

With the eccentric and odd Max Patkin as a baseball clown, “Bull Durham” is a time capsule of American sports.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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