Plot: What’s it about?
Luke Abbate (Stefan Guy) is a teenager with a bright future, to say the least. In addition to loving parents and a devoted brother, Luke has turned into quite the rising star in the football world. But when he is killed in a tragic accident, those he left behind begin to spiral out of control. His parents Steven (Aidan Quinn) and Maryanne (Andie MacDowell) are stricken with grief and begin to grow apart, while his brother Jon (Ryan Merriman) turns to alcohol to drown his intense depression. Jon’s own future as a football player at Wake Forest seems to be slipping away, but he soon finds inspiration where he once only saw grief. In an effort to pay tribute to his brother’s memory, he fights off the inner turmoil and is determined to shine on the field. Soon he is leading Wake Forest to a chain of come from behind victories, spurred on by his brother’s inspirational life. As those who loved Luke attempt to put their lives back in order, will they overcome the grief and live on, or remain mired in the past?
This premise is of course well worn, but The 5th Quarter tries to stand out by incorporating a strong Christian message and other moral undercurrents. This wouldn’t limit the film’s appeal if it were a great movie, but as The 5th Quarter is content to rehash the usual genre conventions, that isn’t the case. The script isn’t shy about the moral messages either, as it hits them hard and often, so you’ll be well aware of the intent involved. I don’t mind a religious or moral element in cinema, but build a competent story and give me a reason to be interested, even if I am not an active participant in the film’s religion of choice. But most of the plot threads here that are of interest, happen off screen. We’re told certain things, like about marriage problems and inspirational leadership, but we never see these elements for ourselves. That makes it feel like we’re missing out on the good stuff and that in turns makes a lot of the content here come off as filler. The 5th Quarter doesn’t break new ground and even for an inspirational religious sports movie, seems melodramatic and cliched. But if you’re looking for Christian faith based cinema, The 5th Quarter delivers that and while flawed, I am sure the film will find that audience.
Video: How does it look?
The 5th Quarter is presented in 1.85:1 widescreen. This is a great transfer. The image is clean and clear, with a detail level we’ve come to expect from high definition. Close-ups reveal ample depth, but the entire movie shows off quite good detail as well. No concerns with contrast, as even the darkest scenes look good, while colors are natural and warm. Not much else to say, this is just a great looking visual effort.
Audio: How does it sound?
This DTS HD 5.1 option won’t stand out from the crowd, but it handles the basics well enough. The movie is mostly driven by dialogue, which sounds clear and clean throughout. The musical soundtrack provides some presence, but this is still not all that active of a soundtrack. A few specific scenes do ramp up the audio intensity, but don’t expect the world from this mix. Even so, it sounds good and never disappoints. This disc also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a brief look behind the scenes in a promotional featurette.
