DVD Corner

Eight Men Out Blu-ray Review

“Eight Men Out” is one of the best baseball movies. 

Based on true events (and the novel by Eliot Asinof), 1988’s “Eight Men Out” revolves around the infamous Black Sox scandal in 1919 when members of the Chicago White Sox team threw the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds (which they should have easily won). The story covers all the bases (pun intended) with the gamblers involved, the obscenely cheap White Sox manager Charles Comiskey (whose low pay drove some players to opt for a big payday), the press, the drama on and off the field between the players, and the eventual trial.

Written and directed by John Sayles, “Eight Men” is not only one of the best sports dramas and baseball films, but it’s also one of Sayles best works. Not only is it a compelling jazz soaked period piece about a disgraceful and tragic moment in baseball history, but it also explores all aspects of the story in great depth. The only real downside here is that the story could have used a bit more on Shoeless Joe Jackson (who is nowhere to be seen in chunks of the film). Outside of that minor quibble, Sayles does a fine job in showcasing the inner conflicts of players like Eddie Cicotte and Buck Weaver (who is in many ways the heart of the film). The juxtaposition of the players and the innocent children fans who were eventually heartbroken by the downfall of their ideals also proved to be an effective element from a dramatic perspective. 

The baseball sequences are expertly done here as we really get to see how the fix was in, the division of the players on the field, and the stakes of the games.

You can’t ask for a better cast here which contains stars like John Cusack, D.B. Sweeney, Christopher Lloyd, John Mahoney, Charlie Sheen, David Strathairn, Michael Rooker, Clifton James, and even John Sayles himself. As mentioned above, Cusack is the heart of the film and gives arguably the best performance alongside Sayles staple David Strathairn as Eddie Cicotte. D.B. Sweeney (who really should have been a bigger star) impresses as Shoeless Joe Jackson (a talented baseball player who was unable to read). Really, the entire cast is on point here to be honest.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a solid hi-def transfer.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The audio fares well particularly in terms of the crisp soundtrack.

No extras.

May 4, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | 80's Movie, baseball, Baseball Movie, Charlie Sheen, Chicago White Sox, David Strathairn, Eight Men Out Blu-ray Review, John Cusack, John Sayles, Sports Drama