Welcome to Indiana in 1951. A “simpler” time when agriculture was still king, particularly in the midwest. But this still didn’t save small farm towns from struggling with identity, worth, and future. Enter Hickory High School, seen as the “end of the road” in terms of education, hopes, and dreams for most. However, the one activity these folks wear on their sleeves as a badge of honor is basketball. They live for those few months in the winter. But extended success in the spring’s post season has still eluded the Huskers for quite some time. With the passing of the “old ball coach,” Principal Cletus (Sheb Wooley) tracks down an old friend to offer him the position. Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) accepts the task.
With ten years of experience as a college coach in New York, Dale has spent the past ten as a member of the U.S. Navy, and hasn’t “blown a whistle for 12.” Worse yet, the town does not offer him any support from the start. The “good ole boy” system in Hickory feels it should have decided who got to lead a veteran team returning all starters from a 15-10 record a season ago. To add to the trouble, star player Jimmy Chitwood (Maris Valanis) is refusing to play for any new bench leader. And this decision is being fully supported by his current guardian, and fellow faculty member, Ms. Myra Fleener (Barbara Hershey). With all the odds stacked against the new patriarch, he is steadfast in his no nonsense approach with the help of former local legend-turned town drunk Shooter (Dennis Hooper). But Norman is also running from a murky past that might be his eventual downfall. What follows is a classically crafted, character driven piece that showcases how persistence against unrelenting resistance has the potential to yield not only unexpected athletic results, but offer a better understanding of place, opportunity, and self.
This film came out in 1986, and resonated as extremely powerful and inspirational. Although we have become desensitized to these notions in lieu of the seemingly endless sports movie offerings with the same motif, that doesn’t belittle this film in anyway. At times, it will feel a bit antiquated, as one would expect. All the generic conventions are present and accounted for: the new leader who will do whatever it takes to teach success on and off the court, a team comprised of “raw, but unfocused” talent, the reluctant star that can’t seem to get over some troubled experience. Even the “all good” slow-motion/musical montage takes center stage in the middle of the narrative. This is the kind of stuff that has (for better or worse) become fodder for every sports spoof to come out in the last 20 years. So in that mindset, this film doesn’t seem to pack the same punch as it did two decades ago. But the clean Hollywood style implemented by director David Auspaugh and writer Angelo Pizzo is unmistakably efficient and creates a good stage for the actors. Hoosiers features just enough story to make sense of what is happening week to week, game to game. But the journey really takes a backseat to the performances, and does enough to keep the characters perfectly intertwined.
I can’t say I’m necessarily a fan of Gene Hackman, and haven’t seen a ton of his work. But this is by far the best performance I’ve ever seen from him. The “take no crap/ old man coach” role is one that can be quite stagnant and unimaginative. But Hackman’s portrayal shows what any athlete knows about this type of leader: they are the way they are to grow disciplined/controlled/fearless players that would do anything for their teammates. When this consciousness is achieved, the player sees the coach as the father/mother figure type that you know, for a fact, would to anything for you, even after your “playing days.” This is a hard thing to relay on the screen, but the audience comes to know and love Coach Dale for who he is as a person. This makes all other characters work well in the film.
Dennis Hooper turns in awesome, Oscar nominated, work. The “drunk father” routine can become hokey and laughable without caution from the performer. Hooper understands he needs to be genuine at times, then foolish, then pitiful, then triumphant; all based on the position he’s in at the moment. Never a minute of his screen time is wasted or “out of place.” Thumbs up. Ms. Barbara Hershey belongs in the same discussion with the fellas. The tough skinned, good looking small town bachelorette is another “cookie cutter” piece that would fall to boring without real focus and intent. Hershey never over plays, or under plays her hand. The audience can always “see” why she says a particular line or makes the decisions she does throughout. To be a secondary character, Ms. Fleener is an awfully important one. And Hershey is more than up to the challenge.
The presentation was pretty solid, even surprisingly so in spots. The establishing shot follows Coach Dale on his drive to the school. The vibrant colors and nice tones really come through and place your right into that “sleepy town in late fall” mindset. The overall resolution is fair, but does consistently feature really good lighting. Which is able to offer a better feel of depth and object blocking than the original film stock. Hoosiers sports a DTS 5.1 track. Decent conversion upgrade, but don’t expect thrilling audio. It sounds just good enough, to be honest.
The Special Features section doesn’t offer a lot of stuff. But the items available are really good and support this great film.
-“Hoosier History: The Truth Behind the Legend”: A look into the real life inspiration behind the film, and testimonials about the passion of basketball in the state of Indiana with comments from director David Auspaugh, writer Angelo Pizzo, and real members from the 1954 Milan High School state championship team.
-“Milan vs. Muncie Central Championship Game”: State record footage of the contest between the two schools complete with accompanying radio “play-by-play.”
There is also director/writer commentary, deleted scenes, and a theatrical trailer.