Field Of Dreams Analysis Essay
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
Analysis and Reflection
Jennifer Wilson
ENG225: Introduction to Film (GSK1434B)
Instructor: Ryan Ogrodnik
September 22, 2014
1
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
2
Field of Dreams
“If you build it, he will come”, One of the most famous quotes from the 1989 movie Field of
Dreams, directed by Phil Alden Robinson. Starring Kevin Costner(Ray Kinsella), Amy Madigan(Annie
Kinsella), James Earl Jones(Terence Mann), Burt Lancaster(“Moonlight” Graham), Ray Liotta
(Shoeless Joe Jackson), and cinematographer for the movie was John Lindley. This magical, inspiring, baseball movie reminds viewers that it is never too late for second chances or reconciliation.
In this fantasy film, Ray (Kevin Costner) and his wife Annie (Amy …show more content…
Madigan) own a farm in
Iowa. Ray begins hearing a voice “If you build it he will come.” Not knowing what the voice is asking him, he sees a vision of building a baseball field over his corn fields. He later realizes the voice to be right, because Shoeless Joe Jackson and the seven other players from the 1919 World Series emerge from the corn field surrounding the baseball field. Ray thinks his work is done when he hears the voice tell him to “ease his pain” again not knowing what he is supposed to do, Ray discovers that it is a famous writer Terence Mann (James Earl Jones), whose pain he is to ease. His road trip takes him to
Boston, where he reaches out to Terence Mann, only to have another turn of events happen. The voice is now asking him to “go the distance” referring to a baseball player named Archibald "Moonlight"
Graham, who played in only one major league game, but was never given a chance at bat. Ray and
Terence Mann travel to Minnesota hoping to learn more about “going the distance” and Archibald
Graham. There they discover what a kind and gentle man Archibald Graham was, unfortunately they were told he died in 1972. In a twist of events, Ray meets Doc Graham on the streets which happens to be in 1972. After learning about his time playing baseball, Ray asks Doc Graham if he could have one wish what would it be? Doc Graham replies, “batting against a major league pitcher.” Ray tries to persuade Doc Graham to come to Iowa, but he refuses. More than ever Ray is confused about what he
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
3
is to do, so he is planning to return home. Ray and Terence are returning to Iowa, when they discover a young kid needing a ride, who turns out to be Archibald Graham. On the long drive back to Iowa Ray and Terence have a heart to heart about Ray’s father and what drove the two apart. Ray wishes he could take back what he said to his father, which was “I can never respect a man whose hero was a criminal”. After returning to Iowa, Ray discovers what all the messages were truly about. Shoeless Joe
Jackson reminds Ray of the reason he built the baseball field, “If you build it he will come”, “ease his pain”, “go the distance”. “It’s my father…My God! I’d only seen him years later when he was worn down by life. Look at him. He’s got his whole life in front of him and I’m not even a glint in his eye.”
(Field of Dreams, 1989).
One of the best elements about the movie is the set design. Most of the movie is filmed in a small town in Iowa, with the natural beauty and the wide open spaces, made it a perfect set for the famous field to go. A part in the movie when, Ray and his father were playing catch, the sun is just fading and Ray’s wife Annie turns the lights to the field on, at that part the viewer gets a wonderful view of the beauty of the baseball field with Ray and his father playing catch, with the other perspective of the line of cars driving up to the farm, it is magical.
A particular scene in the movie is when Ray travels to Minnesota and meets Doc Graham. As the two are having a conversation, Ray asks Doc Graham if he could have any wish, one wish what would it be? When your watching and listening to Doc Graham speak of how he just wants one time to hit against a major league pitcher and the description he gives, it connects the audience to Doc Graham in that moment. “This style of acting doesn 't draw attention to itself but instead gives the impression of genuine human action and reaction.” (sec. 3.7, para. 2).
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
4
Cinematography determines exactly how we see the images that the camera sees. There are many details that go into cinematography; framing, lighting, shots are a few that a cinematographer uses to make that perfect image come across the screen. An example in the movie would be when Ray and
Terence Mann (James Earl Jones), are at the baseball game in Boston and the voice tells Ray to “go the distance”. The camera fades in to a close up so that we only focus on Ray’s reaction and then immediately jumps to the scoreboard where it shows the stats of a ball player names Moonlight
Graham.
The camera does another close up as Ray quickly writes down what he saw on the scoreboard. The camera then catches a reaction shot, which is how Terrence Mann is reacting to Ray at that particular moment.
The mise-en-scene includes all the elements from the setting, props, costumes, and more. The baseball field built in the middle of an Iowa corn field established the perfect mise-en-scene for the movie Field of Dreams. All of the elements flowed perfectly together from the set designs to the lighting, sound, cinematography, the style of acting and the theme.
Field of Dreams will have a different impact on each viewer, but that is what makes it a great movie. It allows viewers to pursue a dream, have faith that things can and will work out, follow your heart, never too late for second chances, and reminds us how blessed we are. Field of Dreams is a magical, inspiring movie for all who love baseball or just enjoy a good supernatural fantasy film. The movie was warm and inspiring and I believe leaves a feeling, that it is okay to have faith and pursue one’s dream. “Is this Heaven?”, “NO, it’s Iowa!” The film leaves you with a little piece of heaven on earth! RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
5
“Analyzing levels of meaning below the surface story can greatly enhance enjoyment as well as understanding of a film.” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, sec. 10.3, para. 1). Analyzing from a variety of approaches can help the viewer realize just what the film is trying to do, and to appreciate the film whether we like it or not. There are a variety of theories and approaches used to help analyze films and there are a number of combinations that a viewer can interpret what a director is trying to say by his work. As a viewer we can not use every approach when analyzing a film, so it is really about narrowing it down and finding out what strikes us most about the film we are analyzing and what is most rewarding to us, and really what we want to share and discuss with others. When we use an analysis approach, we determine how the film actually uses various cinematic techniques and elements of film or narrative form to make a viewer react in a certain way and why it makes viewers come away with certain opinions about it. One thing I have learned from this class is that all films tell stories about characters going through different experiences, but analyzing films is digging much deeper into the film to find out what they are really about. I will have a whole new outlook on how I view movies. In just the past few weeks
I find myself reflecting on what the movies I watched were really about, instead of from the “purely entertainment” perspective. I find myself looking at the editing and cinematography aspects of the movies which I never did before. I know that now when I watch the Oscars or Academy Awards I will have a better understanding and importance of areas like cinematography, screenwriting, and directing. I will for sure have an interest in who wins this time around. Introduction to Film has put a new twist on viewing films. It is different, fun, and really makes me think about what the meaning of the movie is about. “Movies can help viewers temporarily escape from the real world. But they are also a true art form, an expression of writers, directors, and actors, who come together to create a single film.”
(Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, Intro, para. 2).
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
References
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA:
Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Internet Movie Database –IMDB (www.imdb.com)
Movieclips (www.movieclips.com)
6
Analysis and Reflection
Jennifer Wilson
ENG225: Introduction to Film (GSK1434B)
Instructor: Ryan Ogrodnik
September 22, 2014
1
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
2
Field of Dreams
“If you build it, he will come”, One of the most famous quotes from the 1989 movie Field of
Dreams, directed by Phil Alden Robinson. Starring Kevin Costner(Ray Kinsella), Amy Madigan(Annie
Kinsella), James Earl Jones(Terence Mann), Burt Lancaster(“Moonlight” Graham), Ray Liotta
(Shoeless Joe Jackson), and cinematographer for the movie was John Lindley. This magical, inspiring, baseball movie reminds viewers that it is never too late for second chances or reconciliation.
In this fantasy film, Ray (Kevin Costner) and his wife Annie (Amy …show more content…
Madigan) own a farm in
Iowa. Ray begins hearing a voice “If you build it he will come.” Not knowing what the voice is asking him, he sees a vision of building a baseball field over his corn fields. He later realizes the voice to be right, because Shoeless Joe Jackson and the seven other players from the 1919 World Series emerge from the corn field surrounding the baseball field. Ray thinks his work is done when he hears the voice tell him to “ease his pain” again not knowing what he is supposed to do, Ray discovers that it is a famous writer Terence Mann (James Earl Jones), whose pain he is to ease. His road trip takes him to
Boston, where he reaches out to Terence Mann, only to have another turn of events happen. The voice is now asking him to “go the distance” referring to a baseball player named Archibald "Moonlight"
Graham, who played in only one major league game, but was never given a chance at bat. Ray and
Terence Mann travel to Minnesota hoping to learn more about “going the distance” and Archibald
Graham. There they discover what a kind and gentle man Archibald Graham was, unfortunately they were told he died in 1972. In a twist of events, Ray meets Doc Graham on the streets which happens to be in 1972. After learning about his time playing baseball, Ray asks Doc Graham if he could have one wish what would it be? Doc Graham replies, “batting against a major league pitcher.” Ray tries to persuade Doc Graham to come to Iowa, but he refuses. More than ever Ray is confused about what he
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
3
is to do, so he is planning to return home. Ray and Terence are returning to Iowa, when they discover a young kid needing a ride, who turns out to be Archibald Graham. On the long drive back to Iowa Ray and Terence have a heart to heart about Ray’s father and what drove the two apart. Ray wishes he could take back what he said to his father, which was “I can never respect a man whose hero was a criminal”. After returning to Iowa, Ray discovers what all the messages were truly about. Shoeless Joe
Jackson reminds Ray of the reason he built the baseball field, “If you build it he will come”, “ease his pain”, “go the distance”. “It’s my father…My God! I’d only seen him years later when he was worn down by life. Look at him. He’s got his whole life in front of him and I’m not even a glint in his eye.”
(Field of Dreams, 1989).
One of the best elements about the movie is the set design. Most of the movie is filmed in a small town in Iowa, with the natural beauty and the wide open spaces, made it a perfect set for the famous field to go. A part in the movie when, Ray and his father were playing catch, the sun is just fading and Ray’s wife Annie turns the lights to the field on, at that part the viewer gets a wonderful view of the beauty of the baseball field with Ray and his father playing catch, with the other perspective of the line of cars driving up to the farm, it is magical.
A particular scene in the movie is when Ray travels to Minnesota and meets Doc Graham. As the two are having a conversation, Ray asks Doc Graham if he could have any wish, one wish what would it be? When your watching and listening to Doc Graham speak of how he just wants one time to hit against a major league pitcher and the description he gives, it connects the audience to Doc Graham in that moment. “This style of acting doesn 't draw attention to itself but instead gives the impression of genuine human action and reaction.” (sec. 3.7, para. 2).
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
4
Cinematography determines exactly how we see the images that the camera sees. There are many details that go into cinematography; framing, lighting, shots are a few that a cinematographer uses to make that perfect image come across the screen. An example in the movie would be when Ray and
Terence Mann (James Earl Jones), are at the baseball game in Boston and the voice tells Ray to “go the distance”. The camera fades in to a close up so that we only focus on Ray’s reaction and then immediately jumps to the scoreboard where it shows the stats of a ball player names Moonlight
Graham.
The camera does another close up as Ray quickly writes down what he saw on the scoreboard. The camera then catches a reaction shot, which is how Terrence Mann is reacting to Ray at that particular moment.
The mise-en-scene includes all the elements from the setting, props, costumes, and more. The baseball field built in the middle of an Iowa corn field established the perfect mise-en-scene for the movie Field of Dreams. All of the elements flowed perfectly together from the set designs to the lighting, sound, cinematography, the style of acting and the theme.
Field of Dreams will have a different impact on each viewer, but that is what makes it a great movie. It allows viewers to pursue a dream, have faith that things can and will work out, follow your heart, never too late for second chances, and reminds us how blessed we are. Field of Dreams is a magical, inspiring movie for all who love baseball or just enjoy a good supernatural fantasy film. The movie was warm and inspiring and I believe leaves a feeling, that it is okay to have faith and pursue one’s dream. “Is this Heaven?”, “NO, it’s Iowa!” The film leaves you with a little piece of heaven on earth! RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
5
“Analyzing levels of meaning below the surface story can greatly enhance enjoyment as well as understanding of a film.” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, sec. 10.3, para. 1). Analyzing from a variety of approaches can help the viewer realize just what the film is trying to do, and to appreciate the film whether we like it or not. There are a variety of theories and approaches used to help analyze films and there are a number of combinations that a viewer can interpret what a director is trying to say by his work. As a viewer we can not use every approach when analyzing a film, so it is really about narrowing it down and finding out what strikes us most about the film we are analyzing and what is most rewarding to us, and really what we want to share and discuss with others. When we use an analysis approach, we determine how the film actually uses various cinematic techniques and elements of film or narrative form to make a viewer react in a certain way and why it makes viewers come away with certain opinions about it. One thing I have learned from this class is that all films tell stories about characters going through different experiences, but analyzing films is digging much deeper into the film to find out what they are really about. I will have a whole new outlook on how I view movies. In just the past few weeks
I find myself reflecting on what the movies I watched were really about, instead of from the “purely entertainment” perspective. I find myself looking at the editing and cinematography aspects of the movies which I never did before. I know that now when I watch the Oscars or Academy Awards I will have a better understanding and importance of areas like cinematography, screenwriting, and directing. I will for sure have an interest in who wins this time around. Introduction to Film has put a new twist on viewing films. It is different, fun, and really makes me think about what the meaning of the movie is about. “Movies can help viewers temporarily escape from the real world. But they are also a true art form, an expression of writers, directors, and actors, who come together to create a single film.”
(Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011, Intro, para. 2).
RUNNING HEAD: ANALYSIS AND REFLECTION
References
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From watching to seeing. San Diego, CA:
Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Internet Movie Database –IMDB (www.imdb.com)
Movieclips (www.movieclips.com)
6