Blu-ray Review: The Greatest Game Ever Played

Release Date: June 16th, 2009
Running Time: 120 minutes

The Film

I’ve never followed golf, not because I have anything against the game, but I was simply never exposed to it in any serious capacity. I can certainly respect the level of skill and determination needed to compete at the elite level, but a golf-centric film wouldn’t be the first thing I’d pick up at the rental store. The Greatest Game Ever Played defied my expectations, offering both a comprehensive, engaging story as well as a top-notch Blu-ray effort.

The film is the story of Francis Oiumet (Shia LaBeouf), a lower class boy that grows up with aspirations of being a golfer despite his father’s (Elias Koteas) vehement objections. Due to Francis’ status in society, he is forced to be a caddy as golf was seen as a game for members of high society. That doesn’t stop him from practicing and becoming a very talented golfer. Unfortunately a poor performance in the qualifiers for the Amateur National Championships derails his dreams, and he agrees to give up the game. But a year later Francis’ luck changes when his local country club hosts the 1913 U.S. Open. Francis is chosen to represent the town and ends up earning himself a place in the tournament, once again defying his father.

Also in the tournament is Francis’ hero, Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane), one of the best in the world who comes from similar lower class roots. Vardon still struggles with his status in society, and is largely being backed by the English aristocracy only because he has a chance to bring the title back to Britain. Like Francis with his father, Vardon is fighting for acceptance despite his immense talent. Thus with Francis facing off against Harry and the biggest names in golf, the immense underdog has his work cut out for him.

The Greatest Game Ever Played defies convention by giving both Harry and Francis equal hero status—neither are villains. Rather it is an epic meeting of two talented individuals that face off in a battle of respect and skill, with both hoping that their talents will silence their critics (Francis’ father and the English aristocracy for Vardon). Essentially Francis is facing off against an older version of himself—someone who came from nothing to excel in an unlikely sport. Directed by Bill Paxton with a unique visual style that heightens the excitement of the game, this is an underdog tale for the ages.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 1.85:1, 1080p High Definition transfer. The quality is stunning, particularly considering the period piece nature of the film. Colors are gorgeous, especially the all-important greens of the golf course. Black levels are consistent with impressive shadow detail. Fine detail is impeccable in the fairways as well as the meticulous props and costumes. Depth is solid, as seen in the foliage on the courses. It is the very rare shot that is soft. Compression artifacts and video noise are not an issue, rounding out another winning Blu-ray transfer by Disney.

The audio is offered in an English DTS HD 5.1 Master Lossless audio track and French/Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with English/French/Spanish subtitles. The track is consistently mixed to place you in the middle of the action. Sound effects are well placed across the front channels with more than a few noteworthy pans. Atmosphere is abundant and particularly effective at portraying crowd scenes. Both the dialogue and score are flawless and balanced as well.

The Extras

Though none of the special features are exclusive to the Blu-ray release, the spread of extra content is still more informative than promotional.

Two Commentary tracks are offered. Director Bill Paxton delivers an intelligent, production-heavy discussion while Producer/Author/Screenwriter Mark Frost focuses more on the adaptation process and real life background information. Both tracks are interesting in their own right, but I couldn’t help but feel like they should have been combined into one track.

“A View from the Gallery: On the Set of The Greatest Game Ever Played” is a 15-minute featurette that straddles the line between being an EPK and a production featurette. While quick snippets are given about topics such as the costumes, cinematography, and score, just as much time is spent with the standard back patting.

“Two Legends and the Greatest Game” is a 6-minute biographical piece on Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet, but unfortunately it is too short to amount to anything substantial.

“From Caddie to Champion: Francis Ouimet” (24 minutes) is the best special feature on the set. It is a 1963 PBS documentary interviewing an elderly Ouimet who takes the viewers to the actual course that launched him into fame and recounts his experiences. It is a candid, well-made piece that should not be missed.

Lastly, HD Previews are offered.

Final Thoughts

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, The Greatest Game Ever Played is yet another Disney-produced sports film that defies the stereotypes of the genre. Another strong Blu-ray effort by the mouse, Disney continues to churn out impressive HD releases for its catalog titles.