The Greatest Game Ever Played Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Greatest Game Ever Played Blu-ray Movie Review

Another great Inspirational Sports movie from Disney comes to Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 22, 2009

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 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

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.

The Greatest Game Ever Played Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.