Plot: What’s it about?
Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) has a checkered past, as his temper is fiery and sometimes gets beyond his control. In a moment that would become infamous, Dale struck a player on his basketball team, an incident that would brand him for life. A gifted coach with the potential to be a power in the sport, Dale now faces a future that has none of that promise. He still manages to find a position as a coach, but not at a well known school or even at a school with skilled players. At his new job, Dale won’t face the pressures he once did, but that won’t stop him from pushing his team to be their best. Hickory High is his new home, where he replaces a beloved coach who passed on. The grief of his death has driven the team’s best player off the court, but if Dale wants to even field a team, he will need to bring him back. The school yields a weak crop of players at best, thanks to a small enrollment and few volunteers to be part of the squad. When Dale makes changes to the system used, he upsets the players and their parents, causing more of a distraction. His reputation is brought up and parents even demand he be removed, but Dale keeps his position. All the while, his team struggles with his intense practices and in games, the team is often quite overmatched. But Dale remains confident in his boys and no matter what happens, he continues to push them and try to guide them to victories. But when Dale is faced with an assistant coach with an alcohol problem, mounting pressure from the parents, and doubts from within his own team, can he lead his boys to a respectable season?
The greatest sports movie of all time? That topic could be debated until the end of time, but without question, one of the movies brought up in any discussion of that kind is Hoosiers. The film is pure formula, like most sports movies are, with an underdog team that seems to have the odds stacked so high, no one could overcome them, especially a ragtag band of nobodies. But Hoosiers is more than formula, more than a by the numbers sports movie, a lot more. The storyline is formulaic, as I said before, but we’re drawn in all the same, thanks to some incredible performances. Gene Hackman is dynamic here, not in an over the top sense, but in a sense that his role is full of passion. The role of head coach is often overplayed, even by skilled actors, but Hackman is able to balance the passion and the fury with realism. So yes, he gets mad and even delivers that expected pep talk, but it all seems natural here, down to the subtle details. Also in excellent form is Dennis Hopper, who doesn’t have a lead, but is crucial to the picture. The team itself isn’t an all star lineup of characters, unlike more recent films of this kind, a decision that clinches this is a masterpiece of sports cinema. The unknown actors ensure the unknown players seem like normal kids, just as the film demands. I have to admit, I am not one for these “against all odds” sports movies, but Hoosiers is an exception. I am thrilled to see this new Collector’s Edition, as the film finally gets the treatment it deserves. In the end, this film garners a high recommendation, not as a great sports movie, but as a great movie, period.
Video: How does it look?
Hoosiers is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a brand new visual treatment, one that is sure to delight fans. The two previous discs shared the same standard letterbox transfer, one which was in dire need of improvement. The visuals were hindered by edge enhancement, as well as some compression woes, all of which brought down the experience. But not this time, as this new version has all those issues ironed out and the movie looks better than ever. The print looks excellent, with a clean overall presence that is much more refined than the prior treatments. The image has a more crisp look, though as expected, not to the same level as a new release. The colors look solid and contrast is spot on also, so after two failures, this third trip to the well has come through with a wonderful presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The same Dolby Digital 5.1 surround option is ported over, which isn’t bad news, but there is some definite room for improvement. The surrounds don’t have much to do, aside from the in game scenes, but even then, the overall presence is thin. Then again, this movie doesn’t need heavy surround presence and as such, I can’t be that hard on this soundtrack. Yes, the game scenes could use a boost in terms of atmosphere, but the rest of the movie sounds as it should. As before, the dialogue is mixed in a little on the low side, but not to the extent where you’ll have to strain to hear the vocals. This release also includes French and Spanish language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary track wins the tip off, as director David Anspaugh and writer Angelo Pizzo talk about the production. This is a laid back, candid session that follows the movie from conception to completion, with all the in between filled in. A lot of time is spent on the writing process, as well as the real life events that inspired the movie. So you’ll learn what was changed for dramatic purposes, plus what drew the talent to the project and of course, general behind the scenes anecdotes. The two men also provide an introduction to half an hour of deleted scenes, which turn out to be better out than in, but are still worth a look. Hoosier History guides us through the real life events that inspired Hoosiers. A lot of times, truth can be more dramatic than fiction, but in this case, that turns out not to be so true. This release also includes the real life Indiana State Championship game, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
