'Glory Road'

By Norm Wilner, Zap2It.com | June 6, 2006

'Glory Road'

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"Glory Road," as its opening frames tell us, is "inspired by the true story of a team that changed the world," and how can you argue with that kind of statement?

It is indeed true that coach Don Haskins assembled an integrated team of white and black players for his 1965 Texas Western Miners, and led them to the NCAA championship, where the Miners started an all-black team against Adolph Rupp's unbeatable University of Kentucky Wildcats. The racially mixed Miners endured racist attacks, threats and even assaults from the people who were supposed to be their biggest boosters, and triumphed against overwhelming odds while -- yes -- learning a little something from one another.

This is their story, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer with his trademarked strident gravity (and a characteristic soundtrack budget blown on vintage R&B and soul) and acted by most of the cast with that odd certitude exclusive to movies where all the characters seem to know that they'll have a movie made about them some day.

Which isn't to say that "Glory Road" is bad. Just think of it as a hamburger -- a generic product that delivers precisely what it promises, and then kind of sits in your stomach for a while. This movie is exactly like all the others, with high production value and decent casting: Josh Lucas is fine as Haskins, Derek Luke and Al Shearer excel as players Bobby Joe Hill and Nevil Shed, and Jon Voight, under ridiculous makeup, puts in an easy cameo as the legendary Rupp.

Sports pictures are the new B-movie -- cheap to make, entirely dependent on formula (underdog coach whips ragtag team into shape, pursues championship against all odds, usually succeeds) and guaranteed an audience on opening weekend. "Remember the Titans," "The Rookie," "Miracle," "Coach Carter" . . . all big hits, all exactly the same story.

So, well, if you like uplifting sports pictures, "Glory Road" is an uplifting sports picture you will like. And if uplifting sports pictures are not your thing, well, at least it's not "Radio."

Walt Disney's enhanced-widescreen DVD is a stately special edition -- how can it not be, with all that uplifting music playing under the menus?

Click around and you'll find two audio commentaries (one from director James Gartner and producer Bruckheimer, and a second from writers Chris Cleveland and Bettina Gilois), four brief deleted scenes and a music video for Alicia Keys' "Sweet Music."

It's worthwhile stuff, but the real kick is in the three production featurettes that deal with the real personalities and history behind the film. Although it relies a little too heavily on footage from the movie, "Legend of the Bear" interviews Don Haskins' players and contemporaries to create a portrait of the revered coach. "Surviving Practice" takes a look at Haskins' training regimen, demonstrating that the film's exhausting practice sessions weren't exaggerated for dramatic effect.

Finally, there's "Remembering 1966," which lets the surviving Texas Western players discuss their victory in their own words. It's basically a much longer version of the interview montage that plays over the movie's end credits, but it's terrific.

STUDIO: Walt Disney Home Entertainment
RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2006
RATING: PG
PRICE: $29.99
TIME: 118 minutes
DVD EXTRAS: French and Spanish audio dubs; French and Spanish subtitles; audio commentaries; deleted scenes; production featurettes; music video.
INTERNET SITE: gloryroadondvd.com