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Bull Durham
1988 108 min United States of America R 18+
★7.6
Comedy, Romance
Director: Ron Shelton
Trailers
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Description
Veteran catcher Crash Davis is brought to the minor league Durham Bulls to help their up and coming pitching prospect, "Nuke" Laloosh. Their relationship gets off to a rocky start and is further complicated when baseball groupie Annie Savoy sets her sights on the two men.
Budget:
$7M
US Gross:
$50.89M
Worldwide:
$50.89M
Starring
Kevin Costner
Actor
Susan Sarandon
Actor
Tim Robbins
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1989
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
Academy Awards 1989
— Best Original Screenplay
Golden Globe 1989
— Best Original Song
Key opinion
Bull Durham is widely regarded as a quintessential sports film that elevates the baseball genre through sharp wit and genuine character studies. While some viewers criticize the simplistic plot and the pacing of its sports sequences, the strong performances and nostalgic atmosphere solidify its status as a classic of 1980s cinema.
| Acting | The cast delivers standout performances, with Tim Robbins providing a breakout turn as a youthful talent and Susan Sarandon bringing immense charm and complexity to her role. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is elevated by witty, memorable dialogue and ironic, sharp observations about the nature of professional sports. | |
| Theme | The film succeeds as a character-driven work, effectively using the backdrop of minor-league baseball to explore themes of mentorship, adulthood, and romantic connection. | |
| Acting | Kevin Costner’s portrayal of a seasoned catcher resonates as a definitive, career-best performance, though some find his 'tough guy' persona to be occasionally overacted. | |
| Pacing | The focus on baseball provides depth for some, but others find the sport-heavy segments repetitive and a drag on the film's overall pacing. |