The Greatest Game Ever Played Blu-ray delivers stunning video and great audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
Francis Ouimet was a working-class immigrant kid who--flanked by a 10-year-old caddie
smaller than his golf bag--started with nothing and came out of nowhere to break down the
barriers and become America's first golf hero nearly a century before Tiger Woods. In a
world where it was believed only the wealthy and privileged could play, and win, at golf, it
took an outsider to change the rules forever and prove that anyone with enough courage,
grit and faith could achieve greatness. It all came to a head at the 1913 U.S. Open.
Suddenly, Francis found himself in an ultimate showdown of skill and spirit--he, the
unknown upstart American, facing off against Harry Vardon, a U.S. Open winner and six-
time British Open champion (a record that still stands today) who was the sport's undisputed
champion. One was a towering idol, the other an impossible underdog--and their legendary
battle would transcend sport to become an illustration of human determination at its best.
Even in our darkest hour, we must always remember: never despair.
Eighteen holes. Three players. Two pros. One Championship. The true-life story of the 1913 U.S.
Open is one of the greats in all of sports and a fitting legend worthy of dramatized portrayal through
the magic of cinema.
Leave it to Disney to produce another first-rate picture that captures the drama of sport and the
uplifting tale of those who made history; The Greatest Game Ever Played marks another
splendid entry into the Inspirational Sports picture genre, joining Disney's Miracle and The Rookie as three of
the best of their kind. Not to be satisfied with the mere translation of story to film, The
Greatest Game Ever Played boasts enormous talent on either side of the camera, the entire
experience one of grandeur and heartwarming simplicity, the film coming together with a splendid
efficiency and playing out as emotionally powerful and dramatically exciting as any movie of its kind.
You! Sitting in front of the monitor! Go buy 'The Greatest Game Ever Played' on Blu-ray!
Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf, Transformers) is a
Massachusetts nobody who has idolized the world's greatest golfer, Harry Vardon (Stephen
Dillane, King Arthur), his
entire life. Through years of practice in his bedroom and backyard and caddying for the well-to-do
at the country club across the street, Francis has become quite the golfer himself, taking up the
sport much to the chagrin of his blue-collar father, Arthur (Elias Koteas, Shooter). When
Francis is given the opportunity of a lifetime to qualify for the Amateur National Championships,
he falls one stroke short and, living up to a promise he made his father to quit the sport should
he fail to make the cut, retires his clubs and his dreams in favor of a job at a local sporting goods
store. A year later, Francis is once again given a shot at his dream when his local country club is
set to host the 1913 U.S. Open tournament, and he's been selected to represent his hometown
as an amateur player. Facing his boyhood hero, Harry Vardon, and also squaring off against the
talented English phenomenon Ted Ray (Stephen Marcus) and the only American to ever win the
U.S. Open, John McDermott (Michael Weaver), Francis and his last-minute 10-year-old caddy,
Eddie Lowery (Josh Flitter, License to Wed)
seem to have their work cut out for them should they hope to compete in, let alone win, the
Open.
The Greatest Game Ever Played thrives on the emotion of the story, a true underdog tale
of
a nobody coming to prominence in a world still ruled by a class system that props up the
well-to-do's
and shuns those of humble backgrounds, no matter the promise or potential a "lesser" individual
may show. Francis deals with this backhanded prejudice from several sides, most prominently
and,
most disappointingly from his father. Not one to rattle the system, Arthur Ouimet is a
tried-and-true blue
collar
man who wants for his son only to follow in his footsteps as an honest laborer that earns enough
to
provide for a family. Francis' father does all he can to destroy his boy's dreams of
not only
greatness
but even the opportunity to prove himself in the same class as the best golfers in the world.
Francis strives not to surpass them in
stature, family name, or origin, but rather in raw skill and determination. This tension between
Francis
and his father adds a strong dynamic to the film, at every turn one can only hope to see his
father's face in the U.S. Open crowd, showing not just his acceptance of his son's gift and wish,
but his
approval and support for Francis' continued success and development. Elias Koteas delivers a
first-rate performance in the role. Both his physical appearance as a hard-working,
set-in-his-ways man, and his mental and emotional steadfastness as he deals with his rebellious
son, sees the character through the film and helps shape the story's fundamental core of
persistence,
hard work, and belief in ability and in a dream.
On the other end of the spectrum and easily the film's most intriguing character, is English golf
pro Harry Varden, a man who, like Francis, came from nothing to be something special,
motivated to excel at the sport out of a desire to conquer it the same way it conquered his
meager existence when his childhood home was demolished in favor of a new golf course.
Haunted by the
memories of a quartet of gentlemen in black top hats that led the effort to construct the course,
Varden has seemingly vanquished his demons by becoming the best player the sport had ever
seen. Still, Harry Varden is seen only as a commodity to his aristocratic English brethren, his
meager origins a greater hindrance to his societal promotion than his legendary play on the links
is an asset. Though not the main character or the primary rooting interest, it's hard not to cheer
for Vardon, anyway. Depicted as a good man who golfs not for country, money, or the
satisfaction of others but rather for himself and to prove that he's the best, Vardon's background
and shunning of the sport's set-in-stone ways gives an almost heroic aura to the character and
no matter his fate in the U.S. Open -- win or lose -- his own history will allow him and, by
extension,
the audience, to further appreciate Francis' accomplishments. Stephen Dillane plays the
character splendidly; his every glance in Francis' direction seems one of quiet respect for the
amateur's own story that in many ways parallels his own.
The Greatest Game Ever Played features several additional strong performances; Shia
LaBeouf turns in the best effort of his young career and Stephen Marcus as the hefty English
golfer Ted Ray, too, delivers a strong roller-coaster of a performance, at one minute playing
the character with a teddy bear softness and the next a relentless athlete that wills himself to
victory at any cost. Stealing the show, however, is young Josh Flitter as Francis' 10-year-old
caddy, Eddie Lowery. Every scene he appears in turns to gold, the young star chewing up the
scenery but doing so as a crucial cog and hero in the story. Not only a calming
influence on Francis and an advisor wise beyond his years, the character also delivers hearty
doses of comic relief throughout, Josh Flitter breathing a tremendous amount of life into every
scene
he's in. Behind the camera, Director Bill Paxton (Frailty) brings everything together with
an obvious passion for the material and a keen sense of camera placement and movement,
almost every shot adding to rather than detracting from the power of the story and the
performances of the cast. The Greatest Game Ever Played also features fine
cinematography courtesy of Shane Hurlbut (Swing Vote) and a
rousing score from Brian Tyler (Rambo).
The Greatest Game Ever Played drives onto Blu-ray with a pleasant 1080p,
1.85:1-framed
transfer. Although flesh tones sometimes veer towards the red end of the spectrum and the
occasional
shot takes on a slightly blurry appearance, this transfer generally appears well-done and film-like
throughout. Detail impresses, particularly in the old-style heavy clothing that
reveals every thread and bit of texture in appropriately close-up shots. Also impressive are many
facial close-ups; while the occasional face appears a bit smooth, many reveal pores and fine hairs
that
lend to the image a realistic appearance. The montage as seen during the soggy third round of
the
U.S. Open showcases impressive imagery, the drops of rain on clothing and faces drench the
screen
and appear incredibly lifelike as they fall relentlessly from the sky above. Colors pop in many
cases,
particularly in clothing, while the greens of the golf course look nice but not as overbearing as one
might expect. A subtle layer of film grain adds the finishing touches to a very good transfer. This
one isn't quite on the same level as The International,
but it
still impresses on every level and delivers a high quality viewing experience that plays terrifically
on
large displays where viewers will most certainly get the most out of the visual experience.
The Greatest Game Ever Played enters the clubhouse with a fine DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless
surround sound mix. The track is primarily driven by dialogue, music, and the occasional sound
effect, and each play nicely across the front. Most impressive is the film's score, every note heard
distinctly and the entire range playing clearly, the experience recalling a live performance. The
soundtrack also features a nice array of environmental effects that play across the front; whether
crowd applause during the golf sequences or the buzzing of insects heard in the distance of the early
Massachusetts mornings, the track creates a believable atmosphere across the front half of the
soundstage, but doesn't offer all that much presence in the rears. A few directional effects impress,
too; a golf ball that rolls across a wooden floor from right to left and left to right flows across the
front three speakers precisely and realistically with no interruption of the ball's audible path. Also
featuring strong dialogue reproduction, The Greatest Game Ever Played sounds just fine.
It's not a soundtrack to blow out the eardrums or turn heads at distinctive sounds scattered all over
the back channels, but it supports the material nicely.
The Greatest Game Ever Played chips onto Blu-ray with several bonus features,
headlined
by a pair of commentary tracks. Track number one features Director Bill Paxton speaking on a
plethora of subjects, including his influences on particular shots, scenes, sequences, and themes
throughout the film. He also speaks on the look of the film, the score, the actors, and more.
Paxton offers a strong commentary, delivering intelligent comments and keeping up the pace
as
he reinforces the look, feel, and themes of the film superbly. This is a must-listen track. Also
included is a track with Author/Screenwriter/Producer Mark Frost, author of The Greatest
Game
Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf. Frost,
unsurprisingly, speaks on the translation from page to screen and reports in detail on some of
the
background information of the characters and the true-life story that are only alluded to in the
film.
Another superb track, fans of the
sport, the book, and the film should definitely give this one a listen. A View From the Gallery:
On the Set of 'The Greatest Game Ever Played' (480p, 15:22) features Director Bill Paxton
and others
speaking on the film's unique style, the assemblage of the cast and crew, sets, costumes, the
performances of the actors, and more. Two Legends and the Great Game (480p, 6:51)
takes a closer look at the true stories of the characters that inspired the film. From Caddy to
Champion: Francis Ouimet (480p, 25:18) is a vintage 1963 piece that features an elder
Francis Ouimet discussing a broad range of golf-related topics. Concluding the special features are
1080p trailers for Race to Witch
Mountain, Hannah Montana: The
Movie, Earth, "Disney XD,"
G-Force, and Morning Light.
Featuring a fantastic story wrapped up in a fine cinematic technical achievement, The Greatest
Game Ever
Played
makes for one of the best films of its kind, a truly moving and heroic picture that manages to retain
plenty of drama and emotion despite the foreknowledge of the story's resolution. A rare picture
that enjoys standout performances from every cast member and plenty of technical know-how
behind the camera to take full advantage of the powerful story and fantastic acting, The
Greatest Game Ever Played enthralls from beginning to end across the entire spectrum of
cinematic delight. Disney has once again released a winning Blu-ray, this one delivering a strong,
film-like transfer, a good lossless soundtrack, and a few quality bonus materials. For sports fans and
Blu-ray collectors alike, The Greatest Game Ever Played earns a strong recommendation.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'Sling Blade', 'Miracle', and 'The Greatest Game Ever Played' to Blu-ray on June 16th. Technical specs have not been revealed at this time, but you can expect to see 1080p AVC video accompanied ...
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