R.I.P. RAY LIOTTA...

You were a Jersey boy who made damn good, hitting stardom on a prestigious level, in particular in acclaimed, gangster/police stories like Goodfellas, The Many Saints of Newark and Copland.

And among other swell, movie adventures (both realistic and outlandish), you were just as renowned, with forceful appearances in Sin City: A Dame to Die For; Hannibal; Turbulence; Unlawful Entry; Something Wild; Unforgettable; Control; Narc; Identity; Blow; Slow Burn; Smokin' Aces; Killing Them Softly; The Rat Pack; Bee Movie; John Q; Revolver; Wild Hogs; The Place Beyond the Pines; and the underrated, action gem, No Escape.

However, my favorite of your performances resides in Phil Alden Robinson's movie adaptation of W.P. Kinsella's Shoeless Joe, where you brought great poignancy to a real-life character wrought by long-term woe through a redeeming Field of Dreams.

If the truth be known, Mr. Liotta, you should still be with us, but you managed to stack up a lifetime of artistic worth that will entertain well beyond your brief but valuable visit on Earth. 

FIELD OF DREAMS: REDEMPTION RETURNS

It's hard to believe that thirty years have passed since I first viewed "Field of Dreams". I was inspired to see writer/director Phil Alden Robinson's adaptation of W.P. Kinsella's novel, "Shoeless Joe" after catching a wee "making of", which conveyed a right-up-my-alley, "Twilight Zone"/Frank Capra tease. I sure wasn't disappointment. In fact, "Field of Dreams" rivaled my expectations and remains one of my all-time favorite films.

There's no point in rehashing the plot.  (Has any one not yet seen this wondrous creation?)  Still, for that select few who may be out of the loop, it's suffice to say that the fable features ghosts, time travel, Noah's Ark-ish faith and a tenderhearted, James Horner score, bracketed by a father-son, baseball motif that references the woebegone Black Sox Scandal. 

Its cast is an all-star dream come true: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, Frank Whaley, Burt Lancaster, Timothy Busfield, Dwier Brown, James Earl Jones, Gaby Hoffman and a slew of stand-out, supporting players, each lending empathy and depth to a heaven-on-earth concept, where redemption is the magnificent reward. 

The movie's big line, "If you build it, they will come" has become one of the most quoted in popular culture and epitomizes the main characters' quests for forgiveness, love and the precious basics of life. 

Thanks to TCM, "Field of Dreams" will return to the big screen on June 16 and 18 in honor of Father's Day.  What a wonderful way to commemorate the occasion. 

Go on, now.  Listen to that voice. Buy your ticket. Replenish your dreams.