Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

When the Game Stands Tall Blu-ray Movie Review

Perfect effort.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 9, 2014

Most movies in the "uplifting sports film" category don't start at the top. Rather, they climb up to it and along the way show character growth through struggle and loss rather than ease of advancement. They use setbacks and defeat, not victory, to build character and togetherness or emphasize incredible individual or team ascendancy to a peak. That's not When the Game Stands Tall. It's in many ways the antithesis, beginning at the top and picking up the pieces after a hard fall from grace. It's most similar, then, to a movie like We Are Marshall where the larger story isn't so much about success defined by wins and losses -- and there are many of the former and few of the latter in When the Game Stands Tall -- but rather by the way the team grows stronger together and, by extension, then, individually. Obviously, this film isn't centered on life-and-death like We Are Marshall, at least not in the physical realm of the meaning, though it certainly builds on the idea of crushed spirits and the importance of both humility and determination, not simply raw skill, to regain one's footing in life and find success in endeavors beyond the individual level. The film's peak-valley-peak structure, distinct from the usual valley-peak progression, allows the story to take on a more complete meaning, to better define what it means to respect individuals, to value the things that matter in life beyond the scoreboard, the stat sheet, or the bank account. The film offers many metaphors to this effect along the way, embodied in a moving sequence in which the team, on the down-and-out physically, emotionally, and spiritually, visits a hospital and tends to people in far worse condition, but nevertheless in much higher spirits, than they.

Bigger than the game.

The De La Salle Trojans football team has won 151 games in a row, a high school record that will probably never be broken and that even the streakiest professional (New England Patriots -- 21 wins straight) and college (Oklahoma Sooners -- 47 wins straight) teams cannot even reach. The team, coached by the softly spoken Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel), a man who routinely discards high profile coaching offers in order to keep molding young minds and preaching humility even in the harsh spotlight of unfathomable success, runs afoul of trouble when the offseason becomes a challenge greater than anything it has ever encountered on the field. A beloved teammate is killed. One player's father only cares that his son is in-line to break a school scoring record. Ladouceur himself suffers a major heart attack that nearly costs him his life and prevents him from maintaining his coaching schedule. With the coming season, the Trojans will face the ultimate test, a test the team cannot pass with wins and losses but rather by understanding that it has always been more than talent that has carried them to the highest highs and that will see them through the lowest lows.

There's a strongly beating heart in the film's chest that helps it to overcome some of the core superficialities that exist within the story, though there frankly aren't a whole heaping lot of them. In fact, the movie is, in many ways, the antithesis of the classic Football or Inspirational Sports film. It's not about the individual but the team, and it's not about winning or losing but finding the deeper strengths in the concepts of team and togetherness. It's less about the rah-rah and more about the deeper spiritual needs that define a man and a team well beyond the record books. The film's spirt centers on Coach Ladouceur's insistence on drilling humility into his team, on feeding them concepts and ideas that will improve their lives and translate onto the football field, not vice versa. The movie, in essence, does everything in reverse, taking off-the-field life lessons and applying them to on-the-field excellence rather than take football drills and translate them into real life. That's the magic and beauty here. It's not simply an idea but a philosophy, not something the movie does to turn the tables but rather to make a much more satisfying story and more meaningful motion picture that is sure to resonate for a long time.

Even so, sports fans will find some strongly choreographed football sequences that capture the speed and spirit of the game. It takes audiences into the trenches and shows some of the game nuance while still capturing plenty of hard hits, great catches, and quick runs. The more superficial aspects are very well done, but again it's the story off the field where the movie shines, and the cast captures that more important element with commendable ease and understanding of what the film wants to do and how each player can contribute to that end goal. Jim Caviezel is unsurprisingly fantastic in the lead. He doesn't play a yelling and screaming coach in the tradition of a Coach Kilmer. That trope is left to the character Mickey (Clancy Brown), a father who can't see through the self-created veil of "football, football, football" and the vicarious life he lives through his son, making him easily the film's most stereotypical genre character but an important anchor that solidifies the full-circle finale. Caviezel, instead, portrays Ladouceur as an humble man, a soft-spoken leader who is not without his flaws but who has come to understand what it truly means to lead and mold. He uses football as a tool to better lives, not pad his record and set himself up for a better job. The character is a true hero of right living and right teaching, someone whose approach should not be the exception to the rule. The student athletes are collectively wonderful as well, each one showing tangible growth throughout the film that, to a man, all demonstrate the peak of that growth in the aforementioned critical hospital sequence that hammers home every key point and helps set up the film's exciting final act and moving finale.

When the Game Stands Tall Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

When the Game Stands Tall snaps onto Blu-ray with a handsome 1080p transfer. The digital photography often leaves the movie looking a little too smooth and squeaky-clean for this reviewer's liking, but at the same time is presents viewers with some extraordinary colors and details that push the movie along in terms of critical visual support. Facial features are adequately complex, a touch pasty in spots but showcasing sufficiently complex facial lines and hair along the way. Clothing — whether baseball style caps, polo shirts, mesh football jerseys, or more heavily textured varsity jackets — reveals precision nuance in every close-up shot. Colors are bold and accurate. Daytime scenes are particularly brilliant with green grass under blue skies pulling the viewer into the moment. Football jerseys and other garments are likewise stable and natural throughout. Black levels rarely push too bright, and flesh tones likewise never stray too far from natural shades. The image sports only cursory banding and no perceptible occurrences of excess noise or blockiness. Overall, this is a top-end Blu-ray transfer from Sony.

When the Game Stands Tall Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

When the Game Stands Tall features a robust and enveloping DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is aggressive in posture and commendable in clarity. It's well spaced and enjoys the fruits of a healthy, but not overpowering, surround support element. Additionally, the track captures a good, hefty, tight low end during some Hip Hop tunes as well as some particularly potent hits and crunches on the football field. Indeed, game time is big sound time when yells, collisions, crowd cheers and other intense elements spring the track to full-bodied life. Listeners will feel like at least a sideline participant when it matters most, if not actually on the field with the players or up in the bleachers amongst frenzied fans. Light background sound effects are also nicely integrated. Ambient sounds in a hospital that include vital sign monitoring beeps, hallway footfalls, and staff and patient chatter all fill the stage with a lifelike replication of the real location. Dialogue is center-focused and always clear and natural, rounding a top audio performer into final shape.

When the Game Stands Tall Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

When the Game Stands Tall contains a commentary, a second "half movie" commentary, a collection deleted and extended scenes, and a few featurettes. In the Blu-ray case, buyers will also find a DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV digital copy.

• Audio Commentary: Director Thomas Carter discusses the De La Salle football program's real life successes on and off the field, finding inspiration in real Trojan football highlights, dramatic challenges in making the movie, shooting the football sequences, character qualities in real life and in the film, story and film evolution through the filmmaking process, cast and performances, themes, and more. Fans will find a good bit of value in this track.
• Audio Commentary (1080p, 50:37): Director Thomas Carter and the real Coach Bob Ladouceur discuss key football scenes from the film, edited together into one continuous string. The commentary is focused primarily on the real-life history behind the football games depicted in the film.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes (1080p): Cam Rips Up Card (2:07), Not Coaching (3:41), Food Fight (2:07), Bev Talks to Danny (1:34), Landrin Visits T.K.'s Room (1:05), and Coach Ladouceur's Speech to His Team -- Extended (4:24).
• Undefeated: The Making of When the Game Stands Tall (1080p, 12:49): This piece's first half isn't so much about the making of the movie but instead the real story behind it. It does eventually delve into Director Thomas Carter's work and cast and performances.
• Gridiron Action (1080p, 7:43): A closer look at crafting the film's football sequences, including cast training and the technical details behind making it look as realistic as possible.
• The Heart and Soul of a Program: Bob Ladouceur (1080p, 11:50): This supplement examines the real Bob Ladouceur in greater detail.
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.

When the Game Stands Tall Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

When the Game Stands Tall proves that even in today's me-first culture, there are still heroes out there who understand the value of something bigger than themselves, that personal growth and individual accomplishment can be a product of humility and a growth within a broader world, not just the individual bubble. The film shows that while there's nothing wrong with personal success -- that's a good thing -- there is something even greater in camaraderie, love, understanding, and friendship. The film's basis for much of this comes from light spiritual undertones and Biblical teachings that help better define key plot points that bring the team together, that make it bigger than its success. In total, this is a wonderful addition to an admittedly crowded genre and one of the most meaningful and moving of them all. Sony's Blu-ray release of When the Game Stands Tall features top-tier picture and sound. A fair bit of extra content rounds out a strong package. Highly recommended.