Hoosiers (Blu-ray)

 

Picture: B+     Sound: B+     Extras: C-     Film: B

 

 

The sports film that really gets into the game is still an elusive thing despite the great recent cycle of sports team and individual athlete dream-come-true stories, even extending to some great documentaries.  However, no matter how good or based in reality, most still do not get down and gritty in their subject.  David Anspaugh’s Hoosiers (1986) is one of the few that does, telling its believable tale of a coach (Gene Hackman in another great performance) taking a last place team and try to take them to victory.

 

Though this story sounds like it has been done a thousand times, Angelo Pizzo’s screenplay is not loaded with hype or outright energy, but takes its time to go through its tale the long and hard way.  Instead of the bandwagon feel of many of the films in the new cycle, you are transported to the time this happens with its many moments of thoughtful silence and a deep understanding of basketball and in effect, all sports.

 

Though now in MGM’s hands, this was one of the few cinematic victories for Hemdale, a company that made smaller films that could dust most of their overproduced competitors and with Orion distributing at the time, also had hits like James Cameron’s first Terminator film.  For an even more enthusiastic review of this film, check out our fellow critic’s Special Edition DVD review at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/1963/Hoosiers+Special+Edition+(MGM+Set)

 

 

The 1080p 1.85 X 1 MPEG-2 @ 21 MBPS digital High Definition image is better than that recent DVD release, but the print still has some limits along with the transfer.  Fred Murphy’s work is consistent and has a fell unique to the film, something no HD shoot can offer yet.  You get two English soundtracks for a change, a Dolby Digital 4.0 Surround a little different than the DVD’s 5.1 and (finally) a DTS version, which happens to be DTS HD 192kHz/24-Bit Master Audio lossless.  It may show the age of the Dolby A-type analog theatrical sound, but audiophiles will love how good the Jerry Goldsmith score is.  Unlike all the extras on that recent DVD set, this 25GB disc only offers a low-def theatrical trailer.  Fans who have not seen this in 35mm or for a long time that way will definitely want to see this version.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo