Invincible (Br)
Inspired by the True Story.
INVINCIBLE (BLU-RAY DISC)
"It has grit." Kyle Smith, New York Post
"Another surefire sports biography from Disney." Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer
"...believable and touching." Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Editor's Note
The story of the misfit outsider who rises through the ranks of a professional sport to enjoy inexplicable success has been stamped into celluloid more times than most folks can remember. INVINCIBLE tells the tale of bartender Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a down-on-his-luck former teacher who decides to answer an open tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles. It doesn't take a genius to work out what happens next, but the twist here is that Vince Papale is a real person, and the story is based on his eyebrow-raising memoir of the same name.
Papale's call-up to the Eagles occurred in 1976, so the flowery fashions and long flowing locks worn by both men and women of the era are all immaculately replicated by director Ericson Core's carefully styled cast. When Eagles coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) throws his last, desperate roll of the dice and recruits Papale, he faces open hostility from his team of professionals. Papale also has to catch a few jibes at his expense, especially as he's a little old to be a professional football player. As the ill-fitting future star jostles with his teammates and strives to prove himself in the team, a host of '70s hits rip through the soundtrack, and subplots about a jealous friend (Dov Davidoff) and a lover (Elizabeth Banks) are utilized to lure in non-sports fans. Wahlberg is well cast, drawing on his experience in the similarly themed ROCK STAR, and once again proving his chops as a leading man. INVINCIBLE is a Disney film and follows firmly in the footsteps the company has imprinted upon the movie industry, with its wholesome tale closely resembling two other flicks the company has produced--REMEMBER THE TITANS and THE ROOKIE.
Features Audio Commentary With Director Ericson Core & Editor Jerry Greenberg
Audio Commentary With Vince Papale, Producer Mark Ciardi & Writer Brad Gann
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
INVINCIBLE (BLU-RAY DISC)
"It has grit." Kyle Smith, New York Post
"Another surefire sports biography from Disney." Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer
"...believable and touching." Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Editor's Note
The story of the misfit outsider who rises through the ranks of a professional sport to enjoy inexplicable success has been stamped into celluloid more times than most folks can remember. INVINCIBLE tells the tale of bartender Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), a down-on-his-luck former teacher who decides to answer an open tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles. It doesn't take a genius to work out what happens next, but the twist here is that Vince Papale is a real person, and the story is based on his eyebrow-raising memoir of the same name.
Papale's call-up to the Eagles occurred in 1976, so the flowery fashions and long flowing locks worn by both men and women of the era are all immaculately replicated by director Ericson Core's carefully styled cast. When Eagles coach Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear) throws his last, desperate roll of the dice and recruits Papale, he faces open hostility from his team of professionals. Papale also has to catch a few jibes at his expense, especially as he's a little old to be a professional football player. As the ill-fitting future star jostles with his teammates and strives to prove himself in the team, a host of '70s hits rip through the soundtrack, and subplots about a jealous friend (Dov Davidoff) and a lover (Elizabeth Banks) are utilized to lure in non-sports fans. Wahlberg is well cast, drawing on his experience in the similarly themed ROCK STAR, and once again proving his chops as a leading man. INVINCIBLE is a Disney film and follows firmly in the footsteps the company has imprinted upon the movie industry, with its wholesome tale closely resembling two other flicks the company has produced--REMEMBER THE TITANS and THE ROOKIE.
Features Audio Commentary With Director Ericson Core & Editor Jerry Greenberg
Audio Commentary With Vince Papale, Producer Mark Ciardi & Writer Brad Gann
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Buena Vista
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Review
By: Scott Gwin - Cinema Blend DVD Reviews
In 1976 Vince Papale was barely scraping together an existence. Trying desperately to make a living in South Philadelphia as a bartender and part-time school teacher, he struggled just to pay the rent. He wasn't the only one. Many people in the city were careworn, trying to get by. Even the city's football team was in a miserable situation. The Eagles were coming off a long string of losing seasons, offering their fans little joy or escape from their strained lives.
The new head coach of the Eagles, Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear), faces a tough situation of his own. In hopes of generating some renewed excitement in the city he announces an NFL first, open tryouts for the next season. Trying to generate some renewed excitement of his own, Papale (Mark Wahlberg), at the urging of his friends, decides to try out. Much to his surprise, he gets an invitation to training camp and a long shot opportunity to make the team. His hopes, the hopes of his friends, his team and his entire city hang in the balance, all depending on him to lead them to a victory, on the field and in the heart.
The fact that it's based on a true story isn't what makes the film inspirational, and the sports angle isn't what does the trick either. This is good old-fashioned film storytelling at its finest. More than a story about a man trying to become a professional football player, it's one of an entire city looking for a reason to make it through a difficult time in its history. Kinnear and Wahlberg turn in stellar dramatic performances, but as the leads they're only part of the picture. The movie is much more of an ensemble film than it might appear in the credits, and it's the full cast that really makes the movie sparkle.
While the acting and storytelling make the movie great, it's the fine points that make it fantastic. A perfectly blended mix of seventies music with a brilliantly understated score by Mark Isham create a wonderful audio backdrop. The cinematography has a classic muted color tone characteristic of seventies photography. Every shot has a story to tell and a mood to convey, making it easy to loose yourself in the superb craftsmanship of the film.
Best of all, each moment in the movie feels genuine. There's no stooping for pity or cheap ploys for excitement. You feel the heaviness of each personal defeat and every victory elicits an authentic desire to stand up and cheer. On nearly every level Invincible is easily one of the better films made this year, even if the fact that its about football keeps it out of contention for any major awards.
The new head coach of the Eagles, Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear), faces a tough situation of his own. In hopes of generating some renewed excitement in the city he announces an NFL first, open tryouts for the next season. Trying to generate some renewed excitement of his own, Papale (Mark Wahlberg), at the urging of his friends, decides to try out. Much to his surprise, he gets an invitation to training camp and a long shot opportunity to make the team. His hopes, the hopes of his friends, his team and his entire city hang in the balance, all depending on him to lead them to a victory, on the field and in the heart.
The fact that it's based on a true story isn't what makes the film inspirational, and the sports angle isn't what does the trick either. This is good old-fashioned film storytelling at its finest. More than a story about a man trying to become a professional football player, it's one of an entire city looking for a reason to make it through a difficult time in its history. Kinnear and Wahlberg turn in stellar dramatic performances, but as the leads they're only part of the picture. The movie is much more of an ensemble film than it might appear in the credits, and it's the full cast that really makes the movie sparkle.
While the acting and storytelling make the movie great, it's the fine points that make it fantastic. A perfectly blended mix of seventies music with a brilliantly understated score by Mark Isham create a wonderful audio backdrop. The cinematography has a classic muted color tone characteristic of seventies photography. Every shot has a story to tell and a mood to convey, making it easy to loose yourself in the superb craftsmanship of the film.
Best of all, each moment in the movie feels genuine. There's no stooping for pity or cheap ploys for excitement. You feel the heaviness of each personal defeat and every victory elicits an authentic desire to stand up and cheer. On nearly every level Invincible is easily one of the better films made this year, even if the fact that its about football keeps it out of contention for any major awards.
