Bergkamp At The Movies: Bull Durham

Happy Friday everyone. While it might be getting cold outside, I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside after watching "Bull Durham." And hey, I think it got a bit of a rise out of Bergkamp Jr., too. That might have something to do with the three back-to-back doing it scenes near the end of the film and the fact that Susan Sarandon was quite a piece of work back in the 80s -- and that you ALMOST see her nipple at one point (remember going over scenes like that with the slow motion function on your VCR when you were younger? Oh, you don't? Me neither). Um, but for those interested in seeing more, watch "Atlantic City." Apart from being a stellar movie, it contains scenes with Sarandon rinsing her body with lemons. Hot!

You can't blame me for the perverted start to this post, cause sex is what "Bull Durham" is all about. And baseball. I know what you're thinking, baseball AND sex? Where's the connection? Heyo!

Well, writer/director Ron Shelton seems to think they have quite a bit in common. Based on some of his own experiences as a former minor league baseball player, "Bull Durham" revolves essentially around the rise of talented young pitcher Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) and the struggles of "Crash" Davis (Kevin Costner), who's nearing the end of his career as he fights to keep playing. And also Annie (Sarandon), a groupie/mentor who they both really want to nail.

An older friend of mine who I play softball with recommended the film to me last summer. He called it one of the best baseball movies ever made. And there's a lot to like about it. I don't actually think it's very laugh-out-loud funny as it was credited upon release, but maybe that's cause I'm not a big fan of the romantic comedy genre. But then again, it's not unfunny and it's not a typical romantic comedy. And it's the use of baseball as a narrative device -- or my bias for liking movies that use baseball as a narrative device -- that makes it so good. I'd say it scores another triple on my retarded rating system.

As with "Bang the Drum Slowly," you get to follow a team on the road. And behind-the-scenes shit is always kinda awesome cause it tries to give you a glimpse of what the players are thinking and reacting to what happens on the field. (A highlight is Crash Davis' inner dialogue while at the plate.) Is it really like that in real life, though? Watching some of the interviews with former real-life Durham Bulls players (they are a real team and the movie was filmed at their actual stadium) in the bonus features, they said it was pretty accurate with the exception of the scene where LaLoosh is banging a groupie in the locker room before game time. That kinda stuff apparently never happened. Sure it didn't.

Sometimes I wonder about how setting the film in the Minor Leagues makes it any different. Could the story not have also worked had they set it in the Majors? Perhaps. But I the more I think about it, it's what makes the movie that much cooler. We all make jokes about seeing Jays getting sent to Syracuse to die. But is it really that bad? I figure, as long as you're playing baseball and making a bit of coin, life can't be all that terrible. I guess it depends on the situation, and that's what "Bull Durham" does so well. No one on the team seems terminally depressed about being there but as soon as Crash Davis talks about his short stint in the Majors, the other players lose their minds and want to know all the details.

It kinda makes me think of that story the National Post did on Josh Towers about his time in Syracuse. Players there said he was just obsessive about following the Jays while he played as a Chief. That always seemed like it might be somewhat of an insult to your teammates to be bemoaning the fact that you're stuck in the same situation as some dudes who might never play a Major League game in their life. Then again, I can fully appreciate that Russ Adams might not be the most cheerful of teammates. And that's where Kevin Costner's character really nails it. He thinks the Minor League is bullshit -- he's on pace to break the Minor League homerun record and doesn't seem to give a flying fuck -- but he loves baseball and if it means grinding it out in the Minors to play it, so be it.

And that's kinda the awesome thing about the film being based on a Minor League team and the Minor League in general for that matter. In some ways, there's more heart. True, supporters of a Minor League team might not have the option of watching a Major League team, but they still go for a love of the game. And they can get a decent seat for a decent price and probably buy decent beer at a decent price, too. I know jumbotrons must've been mind blowing when they first came out, but I think it'd be pretty fucking rad to watch a game without one in a modestly sized stadium. Now, I've only been to one Minor League game and that's when the Calgary Cannons existed. I don't remember being blown away, but it was a good time. And we've already addressed the fact that the Jays' farm teams seem to care about their fans more than the Jays do for Toronto (I swear these movie reviews aren't just an attempt for me to link to past posts I wrote). Basically, it's the players, the fans and even the managers and owners (the Durham Bulls' owner gave full access to the stadium and players for the film crew. ... OK, I know it's in his best interests on a promotional level but fuck, I'm trying not to be cynical here) who all bring the love to the game, despite being in a league that few people care about.

Not to get all fruity, but it's this feeling of love from all aspects of the game that resonate so strongly in every scene of "Bull Durham" and make it such a good flick. A love of baseball. And fucking.