It's quiet, slow-moving, and unpretentious--all of which really make this real-life story feel authentic.
The closest we come to melodrama and cliché is the situation between Morris and his father, played here by Brian Cox. But stock characters and clichés are such because they really are common, and it turns out that the real-life Morris was indeed feeling like he could never please his father, whose own dreams of a major league career were scuttled by injury. But Rachel Griffiths hits just the right tone as Lori Morris, and little Angus T. Jones as the Morris's "little man" comes across as endearing and not some overly cutesy kid. Again, I think you have to credit Hancock's direction and Mike Rich's script, which stays clear of overselling anything and just gives you a product that makes you want to buy. "The Rookie" is rated G, and that's another thing that sets it apart. How many G-rated movies for adults are out there these days? This quiet little gem has full family appeal, but again, be warned that the littlest members might squirm a bit because of the leisurely pace.
Video:
This paean to Texas small-town life was filmed near Austin, where we learn on the commentary track the original oil derrick from the first strike is now located. Though the film has a dusty palette, it looks very good in 1080p HD. There's plenty of detail, which you can really see and appreciate when light streams in from a single source and you can see dust particles. Black levels seem strong, and there's detail even in shadows. As for color saturation, let's just say that the colors look natural. But that's another baseball film, isn't it? "The Rookie" is presented in 2.35:1 aspect ratio.
Audio:
Though this isn't much of a film for effects, the rear speakers do come to life when there's a crowd scene at a baseball game. Otherwise, this dialogue-driven movie stays front and center, with a decent balance between treble/bass and dialogue/music. The featured soundtrack is a hefty English PCM 5.1 uncompressed audio (48kHz/24-bit), with additional options in English, French, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and subtitles in English SDH, French, and Spanish. The PCM is probably more audio than a film like this needs, but the clarity and purity of sound is a nice complement to the video.
Extras:
A few carryovers from the DVD: An audio commentary with director John Lee Hancock and actor Dennis Quaid (another native Texan!) is low-key but as "real" as the film. The two men chat about a wide range of subjects, including locations, the real Morris story, and filming decisions. Two featurettes are also included, one for the kiddies on "Spring Training: Baseball Tips from the Pros" which offers some abbreviated how-to advice on gripping baseballs for different pitches and other position tips. It's awfully basic and superficial, but kids who don't know this already might find it useful. The same shallow treatment applies to "The Inspirational Story of Jim Morris," where I expected more details about his failed dream than I got. It too felt like a fluff treatment, light on information and details. If you want to learn things like how younger teammates called him "The Unnatural," you have to get it from Morris's biography, co-written by Joel Engel.
The only other bonus features are seven deleted scenes, each with an extensive introduction. I have to say that Hancock's introductions are heartfelt and informative, some of the most substantial I've ever seen. As a result, these deleted scenes feel more substantial as well, and we can almost feel for Hancock when he talks about why he couldn't include them in the film. This isn't crap on the cutting room floor. There are scenes here where he felt he really accomplished something, but had to let it go anyway, for a variety of reasons . . . all of which are explained in detail. It's a really nice bonus feature.
Bottom Line:
As Morris and his wife sit on the porch, he takes a sip and says, "Ahh, nothin' like wine bought on a Chevron credit card." "The Rookie" is a screw-top kind of film, not a pop-the-cork affair. It's quiet, slow-moving, and unpretentious--all of which really make this real-life story feel authentic. And it sure looks good in Blu-ray.
Video:
This paean to Texas small-town life was filmed near Austin, where we learn on the commentary track the original oil derrick from the first strike is now located. Though the film has a dusty palette, it looks very good in 1080p HD. There's plenty of detail, which you can really see and appreciate when light streams in from a single source and you can see dust particles. Black levels seem strong, and there's detail even in shadows. As for color saturation, let's just say that the colors look natural. But that's another baseball film, isn't it? "The Rookie" is presented in 2.35:1 aspect ratio.
Audio:
Though this isn't much of a film for effects, the rear speakers do come to life when there's a crowd scene at a baseball game. Otherwise, this dialogue-driven movie stays front and center, with a decent balance between treble/bass and dialogue/music. The featured soundtrack is a hefty English PCM 5.1 uncompressed audio (48kHz/24-bit), with additional options in English, French, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and subtitles in English SDH, French, and Spanish. The PCM is probably more audio than a film like this needs, but the clarity and purity of sound is a nice complement to the video.
Extras:
A few carryovers from the DVD: An audio commentary with director John Lee Hancock and actor Dennis Quaid (another native Texan!) is low-key but as "real" as the film. The two men chat about a wide range of subjects, including locations, the real Morris story, and filming decisions. Two featurettes are also included, one for the kiddies on "Spring Training: Baseball Tips from the Pros" which offers some abbreviated how-to advice on gripping baseballs for different pitches and other position tips. It's awfully basic and superficial, but kids who don't know this already might find it useful. The same shallow treatment applies to "The Inspirational Story of Jim Morris," where I expected more details about his failed dream than I got. It too felt like a fluff treatment, light on information and details. If you want to learn things like how younger teammates called him "The Unnatural," you have to get it from Morris's biography, co-written by Joel Engel.
The only other bonus features are seven deleted scenes, each with an extensive introduction. I have to say that Hancock's introductions are heartfelt and informative, some of the most substantial I've ever seen. As a result, these deleted scenes feel more substantial as well, and we can almost feel for Hancock when he talks about why he couldn't include them in the film. This isn't crap on the cutting room floor. There are scenes here where he felt he really accomplished something, but had to let it go anyway, for a variety of reasons . . . all of which are explained in detail. It's a really nice bonus feature.
Bottom Line:
As Morris and his wife sit on the porch, he takes a sip and says, "Ahh, nothin' like wine bought on a Chevron credit card." "The Rookie" is a screw-top kind of film, not a pop-the-cork affair. It's quiet, slow-moving, and unpretentious--all of which really make this real-life story feel authentic. And it sure looks good in Blu-ray.
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