The Boys In The Boat Blu-ray Review
“The Boys In The Boat” is a perfectly watchable underdog story.
Based on real events and the book of the same name, the 1936 set “The Boys In The Boat” revolves around the University Of Washington 8 man Junior Varsity rowing team. Unlike the more elite schools, many of the team members are struggling to survive. Joe (who lives in the slums and has been on his own since the age of 14) joins the team with the hopes of securing a room and a job. He achieves his goal and so much more when his underdog team defies the odds by winning Regattas, being chosen over the Varsity team, qualifying for the Olympics and securing funding to travel to the Olympics, and competing in the 1936 Olympics in Germany. The rest, as they say, is history.
Having helmed the football centric “Leatherheads,” director George Clooney (he does not act in this project) returns to the world of sports with this biographical drama about rowing. It may seem like an odd and risky film for this current film climate, but with the 2024 Summer Olympics approaching, it is appropriately timed. As a sports biodrama, Clooney’s movie is successful in what it sets out to do. It’s the type of inspiring underdog story that will have viewers cheering in the end. It’s an undemanding crowd-pleaser that flies by in 2 hours.
At the same time, Mark L. Smith’s script is entirely guilty of treading water (pun intended). Everything you’ve seen in sports dramas before is present here. The shoehorned romance (between Joe and fellow student Joyce), the minimal characterization, the wise old sage (in this case a boat maker), the journalistic reporter whose word carries weight, the literal photo finish, and, of course, the real life figures showcased in the end credits. It’s all familiar material, but sometimes a safe and predictable movie can be comforting. “The Boys In The Boat” definitely fits that bill.
Cast wise, the movie isn’t exactly an acting showcase as it’s much more about the story. With that said, Joel Edgerton gives the film’s best performance as Coach Al. Callum Turner (Joe), Peter Guinness (George), Hadley Robinson (Joyce), Jack Mulhern (Don), and Luke Slattery (Bobby) also turn in quality performances.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? The color tone looks sharp in this hi-def transfer.
Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? From the splash of the water to Alexandre Desplat’s score, this Atmos track packs a punch.
The lone extra is a Digital Copy.
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