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From:Gene Hackman , Barbara Hershey , Dennis Hopper , Sheb Wooley , Fern Persons , TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT , David Anspaugh , MGM (Video & DVD) ,
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Last Chance at Redemption, 2008-11-10
Hoosier is a great sports movie and great storytelling. Shot in 1986 as a early 50s period piece, it will remain timeless. Hoosiers is the standard underdog sports movie, but a carefully crafted script with complex characters, great acting, and a superb music score lift it far above most of the other films in the genre.
Hoosiers is also the story of two men's struggle for redemption. A mature aspect of the script is that Coach Dale is not portrayed as wrongly accused or even justified in his prior actions. He really did do something dreadful as a coach a decade previously and he continues to struggle against the same impulses that threaten to destroy his life. This makes him sympathetic to one of the player's father who is wrecking all the lives around him with a different self-destructive compulsion.
Beyond a wonderful small town story of victory against all odds, Jerry Goldsmith wrote an outstanding uplifting musical score. Goldsmith was nominated for an academy award, but didn't win. I haven't looked up what beat him out, but I suspect the Academy made a mistake.
The Shut Mouth Society
The Shopkeeper
The king of all sports movies..., 2008-09-26
I often lament about the fact that sports movies in general are repetitive and clichéd and that there are rarely any truly inspirational and or original attempts at the genre. In fact, aside from `Friday Night Lights' I have yet to be truly impressed with a sports movie really. That was all until I saw `Hoosiers' last night, a film that I had avoided because of the whole `sports movie' stigmata and just really felt it was going to be yet another sappy true story with all the same dynamics as every other sappy true story.
I was wrong.
Yes, `Hoosiers' follows a familiar formula when it comes to telling the story of the Hickory Huskers, and Indiana high school basketball team that rises to greatness under the wing of their new coach Norman Dale. What sets the film apart though are the wonderfully fleshed out characters that add weight and depth to the film. It flows the same as most sports films do, but this film has heart whereas most sports movies do not. The brilliant performances also aid in this regard, adding layers of emotional attachment to the people involved and causing the audience to invest themselves fully into the film.
Norman Dale is an ex-college basketball coach who has spent that last ten years in the navy after being fired for punching a player in the face. This single mistake has plagued Dale for years and it still hangs over his head as he attempts to move forward and coach this high school team. The problem is that the town of Hickory is a very emotionally invested town, each and every individual taking a special interest in the basketball team, and so the insertion of new blood sends the town in a frenzy. They immediately attack Dale for his unconventional coaching techniques, and when the team doesn't perform too well on the court the town tries to get Dale fired. Still, Dale presses forward, trying his best to move his team in the right direction, and he soon begins to make friends out of a few influential townsfolk, most importantly Jimmy, the towns basketball star who refused to play after his previous coach died.
The film, like almost every other sports themed drama, makes a point to be an inspirational and moving film about overcoming obstacles to attain greatness, and in that respect it works much grander than most other films thanks to the wonderful performances by the cast. Gene Hackman (one of our greatest working actors) is a joy as Norman Dale, giving his character so much warmth and undeniable charm. He is the outcast, he is the rebel but he is so comfortable and charismatic that you want to rally beside him every step of the way. Barbara Hershey is also wonderful as Myra Fleener, the young teacher who is initially turned off by Dale but soon falls for him. She does a beautiful job of fleshing out her characters real drive and motivations.
The real star here is Dennis Hopper, who thankfully earned an Oscar nomination for his performance. He really sinks deep into his character, giving him such a believable arch. As Shooter, the town drunk, Hopper plays on our sympathies, but never leaves us without reason to sympathize. He isn't lazy with his portrayal but really works at building layers around this man.
So, if you are a sports fan, or a fan of sports films, then no doubt you've already seen this film. If you are not a fan of either (like myself) then I urge you to consider this one, because it is far from your average cliché. This movie really has heart and soul, and it really raises the bar for all other sports related dramas to try and reach.
1 of 5 customers found the following review helpful:
 BLU-RAY REVIEWS?, 2008-06-30
WHO TO BELIEVE?
Hoosiers{Blu-Ray Version}, April 18, 2008
By Sam - See all my reviews
GREAT SPORTS MOVIE! INSTEAD OF REVIEWING MOVIE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS A GREAT SPORTS MOVIE, JUST WANTED TO SAY THE BLU-RAY PICTURE IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT OVER MY OLD DVD. I'M ONLY REPLACING MY OLD MOVIES THAT I LOVE BUT LOOK BAD ON MY NEW HDTV. WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE PICTURE QUALITY ON THIS. THE ONLY DRAWBACK TO THIS BLU-RAY IS THERE AREN'T ANY EXTRAS EXCEPT FOR A TRAILER. BUT IF YOUR LOOKING FOR BETTER PICTURE QUALITY, YOU WON'T BE DISSAPOINTED.
Hoosiers good movie but not enough., May 6, 2007
By J. J. Esquivel Becerra "Charolin" (Mexico City) - See all my reviews
It's a good movie but a poor transfer to Bluray.
6 of 7 customers found the following review helpful:
One of the Best (Sports) Movies Ever!, 2008-06-26
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RE4QP7865FH67 'Hoosiers' is a super sports' tale
About headstrong coach Norman Dale,
Who Comes to Indiana's Hickory,
A tiny town set on victory.
Norman's way comes first and foremost.
No wins for him to brag or to boast.
Warming a cold shoulder from icy Myra Fleener.
Chilly stares and curt comments couldn't be keener.
Jimmy's the town basketball hero.
Opting out brings success down to zero.
With help from Shooter, the village drunk.
The prospects get higher with every slam dunk.
Jimmy's the hero in every way.
Can he help Norman save the day?
Watch 'Hoosiers' if you haven't seen.
One of the greatest sports' movies there's ever been.
Collectible item, 2008-05-24
I found the piece I was looking after trying to download stupid copies from the internet. It is worth! buying originals from amazon.
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