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HOOSIERS
Collector's Edition
Review by Norm Kelsey
Stars:
Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper
Director: David Anspaugh
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Studio: MGM
Features: Audio Commentary,
Documentary, Deleted Scene, Archival Footage, Trailers
Length: 114 Minutes
Release Date: March 1, 2005
"Team!"
Film ***1/2
Indiana
Basketball is a religion, a way of life.
Based loosely on real events, Hoosiers
follows a season in the life of fictitious coach Norman Dale. Banished from his
previous job in college hoops, he's hired to coach at rural Hickory High School,
enrollment 64. The school and town are as reluctant to embrace this outsider as
Dale is to being warm and fuzzy. The locals are dogmatic when it comes to
basketball, insisting that the Hickory Huskers continue to play zone defense
because...well, they always have. Norman has his own plans (he prefers ball
control play over run-and-gun basketball) much to their chagrin.
As Norman Dale, Gene Hackman is superb as the quasi-Bobby Knight, the volatile
new coach with skeletons in the locker room. He's brooding as his own worst
enemy and motivating as the team's task master. He manages to shade the
character with enough regret and longing for acceptance that you still root for
him through his most boorish moments.
Cletus (Sheb Wooley), the school's principal, is skeptical about giving his old
friend his only opportunity to coach again. More doubtful is teacher Myra
Fleener (Barbara Hershey), the custodian of the town's basketball savior Jimmy
Chitwood. After the previous coach's passing, the orphaned Jimmy refuses to play
again and Myra is happy to keep him off the court. The sole character with faith
in Dale is the town drunk, "Shooter" Flatch (Dennis Hopper). Shooter is a
walking basketball encyclopedia who wallows in alcohol and the memory of a
missed shot. His estranged son is one of the Huskers' starters. Myra,
Cletus and Shooter know why coach Dale's championship-filled career came to a
violent halt. And only Myra weighs the opportunity to use the knowledge against
Norman as her dislike of him grows.
(Much like legendary coach Bobby Knight finally being run out of Indiana on a
rail for repeatedly abusing his student athletes, Dale has demolished a lifetime's
work in a single blow. Coach Knight's most notorious episode occurred around the
time of Hoosiers'
release. He infamously blew up during a game against state rival Purdue and
flung a plastic chair across the court nearly inciting a riot. But, Knight is
also a highly regarded coach, the last to run the table and lead his team to a
perfect record.)
The Huskers' season progresses under Dale's strict hand. Stakes are raised when
Norman hires Shooter to be assistant coach under condition that Shooter comes to
games sober. When Dale is ejected leaving Flatch in charge, the pressure leads
to dire consequences for Shooter when he is unable to control his drinking.
For Dennis Hopper, Hoosiers was a
major comeback. After overcoming alcohol and drug addiction, Hopper didn't need
to dig far to conjure up the character of Shooter. But this is no caricature of
a drunk. Hopper turns Shooter into a sympathetic human being. It's a
heartbreaking performance. This is the soul most in need of second chance in
Hickory. It's impossible not to choke up during the scenes where Shooter is left
run the team or when he stumbles onto the court midgame in a drunken stupor. The
emotional and physical investment won Hopper an Oscar nomination and revitalized
a valuable actor's career.
Over time, the team becomes a cohesive unit, learning to respect Coach Dale. But
after ejections and on-court brawls, the townspeople are furious and want Dale's
head. Norman won't defend himself beyond declaring his pride for his players.
Finally, Jimmy Chitwood emerges in Norman's defense, proclaiming he'll play if
the coach is allowed to remain. Everyone, including Myra, is forced to relent.
With Jimmy's prolific play, Coach Dale steers his teams to the finals. The
championship takes them to the metropolis of Indianapolis to face an urban
powerhouse in a classic David versus Goliath match-up. The size of the field
house overwhelms the kids. Norman has the team measure the court's dimensions.
Lo and behold, the floor is the same size as home. It's the most cinematic
example of the coach's ability to motivate and teach his players. He has made
believers of the team, the townspeople and Myra, with whom he has developed a
romantic relationship. While Dale basks in the limelight and press, his team's
selfless play humbles him. His last words before the team takes the court are "I
love you guys."
Yes, the Final ends as it did in real life, on a last second shot. Of course,
the outcome of the game is moot. Hoosiers
is about the value of teamwork and making good on second chances: redemption for
Coach Dale, rehabilitation for Shooter and the revival of a small town's spirit.
As a basketball fan, I can tell you action is true and well choreographed. The
most ingenious casting for Hoosiers
was the team itself. They are actually kids from Indiana. Amateur athletes were
cast for their playing ability first, acting chops second, they exude a 1950's
innocence while avoiding the ironic self-awareness of most teen actors. You can't
help but feel good about this bunch.
The costumes and art direction put you in the musty gym and the pep rally.
Filmed entirely on location in Indiana, this movie is packed with Autumnal
backdrops and Midwestern faces. Director David Anspaugh has made a well crafted
piece. Hoosiers is sentimental without
being sappy or preachy. It's a winning film filled with valuable lessons and
timeless storytelling.
Hoosiers only stumbles in its efforts
to weave a love story into the plot. Many of Barbara Hershey's best moments are
in the extras. The relationship is given little time to develop, which is
discussed by the filmmakers in intros to the deleted scenes.
You can count on one hand the most outstanding modern sports films: The
Natural, Breaking Away, Bad News Bears, & Hoop Dreams. But none of them
has the heart of Hoosiers. No wonder
coaches use this stirring film as a teaching tool. Competition and hardship are
part of sports, they are part of everyday life. This wonderful film reminds us
how to conduct ourselves with dignity despite the odds.
Video ***
Overall, the film
looks crisp. The satiny uniforms of the teams come across in vivid colors. The
scenes in the various gyms are vibrant. However in some of the early outdoor
scenes there are artifacts and light noise. This however doesn't detract from
the the film.
Audio ***
The audio is sharp. You can hear the bounce of the ball and the squeak of sneakers on hardwood in 5.1. The Oscar nominated score of Jerry Goldsmith with highlight reel fanfares and post game reveries springs from the speakers without overwhelming.
Features: For
Sports Fanatics ****
For everyone else ***
This is the major improvement over the initial DVD release of Hoosiers.
There is insightful audio commentary from writer Angelo Pizzo and director
Anspaugh on disc one and a second full disc of extras.
"Hoosier History: The Truth Behind the Legend" focuses on the film and
the actual game that inspired it, with contemporary interviews with the cast
& crew, NBA luminaries (although no Larry Bird), and members of the 1953-4
Milan High School basketball team. It's fun to hear Hackman and Hopper talk
about their roles and the kids who were cast as the ball players.
Casting trivia: Jack Nicholson was originally tabbed to play Norman Dale.
The extensive deleted scenes particularly flesh out the relationship between
Myra and Norman. And one resolves how a player mysteriously returned to the team
after being thrown off by Dale. The quality of the deleted scenes is middling,
but hey, they are on the disc.
The ultimate extra on this two-disc set is the 1954 Indiana State Championship
offered in its entirety. I suspect only confirmed sports-aholics like myself
will watch the whole Milan/Muncie title game, but it is fun viewing. The rules
are the same, but the style of play is so genteel. No shot clock. All lay ups,
set shots and jumpers. No dunks, alley-oops or no-look passes. No Pacers running
into the stands to pummel the patrons. Just pure basketball.
The DVD package is textured to feel like a basketball.
Summary:
Simply the best basketball movie ever. For hoops fans, it's required viewing. For everyone else, it's a moving tale of a team of underdogs. Even if you aren't from Indiana, you'll cheer for Hoosiers.