It Ain't Over Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

It Ain't Over Blu-ray Movie Review

"I'd be pretty dumb if all of a sudden I started being something I'm not."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown August 20, 2023

Born Lorenzo Pietro Berra (Lawrence Peter), Italian American baseball superstar Yogi Berra exploded into the American consciousness in 1943 and quickly became an All Star of All Stars, rising to the top of the game over eighteen seasons as the New York Yankees' power-hitting, record-breaking catcher. Even after an illustrious career any player would kill for, Yogi didn't retire. Not exactly. The three-time MVP winner laid down his bat in 1963 (picking it up again for a bit in 1965) but went on to coach the Yankees, Mets and Astros, all while leaning into and (somehow simultaneously) playing against his folk legend status. A character and a local hero, he became known for his endless string of quotable "Yogi-isms" which have entered the cultural lexicon time and time again, immortalized for decades by celebrities, billionaire entrepreneurs and U.S. presidents. But who was the real Yogi Berra? Who was the man wearing the jersey? Who was the player behind all the World Series rings, records, home runs, RBI's and shutout catches? It Ain't Over struggles to answer such looming questions but provides a suitably entertaining, often intimate glimpse into the family man, witty wordsmith and baseball purist who changed the game forever.

“It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” “It’s deja vu all over again.” "In baseball, you don't know nuthin." “I want to thank you for making this day necessary.”' “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” “The future ain’t what it used to be.” “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” “You can observe a lot by watching.” “I usually take a two-hour nap from one to four.” "I wish I had an answer to that, because I'm tired of answering that question." "Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." "We agree different." "All pitchers are liars or crybabies." "Always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, they won't come to yours." “Never answer an anonymous letter.” “We were overwhelming underdogs.” And, of course, “I didn’t really say everything I said...”

Catcher is a thankless position; one that casual baseball fans tend to overlook. But catchers are at the center of the action. Calling pitches, weaving strategies, knowing each hitter inside and out, guarding the plate, toying with batters, controlling the flow of the game, and still stepping up and taking their turn at bat, swinging for the fences. And Yogi was among the best of 'em, mastering all defensive and strategic aspects of the position while also proving himself to be a fearsome offensive force when stepping up to the plate. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972, his entrance was a no-brainer. And yet his name frequently goes unmentioned in the 21st century, an odd development that baffles all the talking heads in It Ain't Over. They never quite come to a conclusion as to why Berra is so easily forgotten but they do a fine job trying to ensure it stops happening. The only downside is the drive to highlight Yogi's impressive career stats turns the documentary into a bit of a fluff piece at times. Not that it isn't warranted. But more time is spent glorifying Berra's performance on the field than peeling back the layers of who he was off the field.

It Ain't Over suggests Yogi's bobbling between sports sensation and cartoon character (sometimes literally, to his dismay) is perhaps the origin of the confusion over who Berra really was at his core. His image often suffered from this duality, and neither fans nor the press seemed to know how to spot the nuances that made him such a memorable and likable cultural icon in the first place. He was even heavily criticized (and worse, mocked) as a coach, as the sports media tried to label him with any dismissive title that might simplify the man who consistently defied expectations and proved his antagonists wrong. Thankfully the film doesn't shy away from hard losses and personal setbacks, outlining some key trials and tribulations Berra was forced to overcome (including his son's drug addiction).

The documentary trots out a who's who of interview subjects to discuss Berra, his career, his personal life and his twilight years. His careers as player and coach get the most attention naturally, resulting in an abundance of classic baseball anecdotes that walk through the years of his time behind the plate and in the dugout. It's an excellent collection of stories, even if there's little to be gleaned beyond the particulars of each tale, but it paints a picture of a man who was determined to outmaneuver anyone that thought less of him. As a player he earned laughs and respect. As a coach, he found a tougher road but still pushed toward success and, yes, more respect. Rather than walk well-trod roads, he focused on mentoring young players, reclaiming the purity of the game, and turning losing teams into winners. He allowed the results of his work (and the love of his players) to speak louder than his words, ignoring the detractors and critics who questioned his intelligence and worthiness as a coach, nabbing pennants and claiming World Series rings to silence each one.

I walked away from It Ain't Over with a big ol' smile, admiring the player that shattered expectations, the coach who fought hard just to fight harder, and the man who enjoyed life so much that he wanted to share that joy wherever he went. Do I understand his inner-workings any better? No. But watching interview bits with Berra, I don't know that he knew who he was. A lovable legend, a wiser than wise myth, and arguably a humble everyman-genius, Yogi deserves to be remembered and lauded.

It Ain't Over Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony's 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer looks ever bit as good as it could, especially seeing as how much of it is comprised of vintage film clips and upscaled standard definition TV footage. No one should expect much more from a documentary that traverses the decades, and the real measure of the presentation's quality comes in its interview segments. Crisp, clean and free of unsightly issues, the interviews boast natural skintones, strong colors and notable fine detail. Black levels are deep and contrast is dialed in nicely and consistently too, without any glaring crush or banding to report. Again, the variety of video sources make for an uneven HD image (brace for all manner of spots, specks, lines, judder and other anomalies) but that shouldn't be a surprise. It Ain't Over couldn't feasibly look any better than it does here.

It Ain't Over Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

It Ain't Over also features a solid lossless track, although it's an extremely front-heavy experience. Voices are crystal clear and precisely prioritized in the mix, and there are a few moments where the rear speakers deliver bursts of cheers from crowded stadiums. Such moments are engaging and convincing, infrequent as they are, but again, it's the nature of a talking heads documentary full of archive SD-sourced clips that offer, at most, antiquated stereo sound sonics. Will anyone be disappointed? I doubt it. You'd have to stretch your expectations to expect much more of It Ain't Over than Sony delivers.

It Ain't Over Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There's no bonus content other than a series of Sony previews.

It Ain't Over Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It Ain't Over isn't the greatest or most inspiring baseball documentary I've come across, but it certainly brings Yogi Berra back to life, even if just for a moment, with all his wit, wisdom and professional prowess. Sony's Blu-ray release features a strong AV presentation (or as strong a presentation as a documentary of this sort could offer), although a suite of special features would have only enriched the deep-dive into Berra's life. Bottom line? Baseball fans can't go wrong with this one, even if (at the time of this review) it strikes me as a bit pricey.