Rarely does a film come along that the director commits to so completely for such a long period of time as Hoop Dreams. This documentary, which plays more like a fiction film, chronicles the lives of two inner city youth who dream of playing professional basketball in the NBA. The filmmakers (Steve James, Frederick Marx and Peter Gilbert) followed these two young men throughout their daily lives for five straight years. Adding to the drama was the fact that the players actually had a very realistic chance of f…lfilling their dreams. This is a documentary that was committed to so completely, it is almost more of a sociology study than a documentary film. The results are completely engrossing, and the near-three hour running time passes by quickly.

Audio

The audio track on this disc is typical of most documentary productions. Stereo is an acceptable format for this film, as the filmmakers main concern is not creating dynamic audio, but capturing the best possible story. The track that is here is completely acceptable for this film, providing dialog that is clear and easily understandable, and an adequate level of ambient sound. The minimalist saxophone score also reproduces nicely, creating a audio track that, while not at the same high level of quality as many Hollywood blockbusters, is perfectly suited for this outstanding documentary film.

Video

The aspect ratio of this film is an interesting one. The film was shot on many different types of video cameras, all of which were formated to widescreen for the film’s theatrical release. This disc presents the film in it’s original source full screen format, however, under the advisement of the filmmakers.

The quality of the video itself is varied. It is clear that the footage was shot on video instead of on film, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, the image quality is a little fuzzy, and colors are a bit on the red side, but in a strange way these imperfections make the film even more dynamic. It helps to make the story more real, almost as if the viewer is watching home videos of the lives of these families.

Special Features

There are two commentaries on this set, and they are both fascinating. The first is with the filmmakers, and is an interesting track that covers all aspects of the filming, as well as some inside information on the lives of these two families. The second is with the stars themselves, and it is really something special to get to hear these two men make comments as their lives flash before their eyes. A nice touch is the device of putting Arthur’s voice entirely in the left channel, and William’s in the right. Times like this are when commentary tracks are at their best, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

Also included is an amazingly-lame music video, three clips from Siskel and Ebert that discuss their adoration for the film and demonstrate their influence on getting the film seen, two trailers (one for the white folks, and one for the black folks), and a 40-page booklet with several excellent essays.

Final Thoughts

As Criterion so often does, this is another top-shelf release of an excellent film with real significance in the history of movie making. In addition to being both one of the best sports films and one of the best documentary films ever make, Hoop Dreams is also one of the first feature films shot entirely on video, and it is the film that changed the way the Academy votes on documentary films… a change that is easily perceivable in many of today’s most popular film and TV styles. Sports fans, documentary fans and film students will all find plenty to adore with this film, and the presentation is, as always, first rate.

Special Features List

• Two audio commentaries with stars Arthur Agee and William Gates, and filmmakers Peter Gilbert, Steve James, and Frederick Marx
• Segments from Siskel and Ebert tracking their acclaim for Hoop Dreams
• 40-page booklet of essays about the film
• Original Music Video
• Theatrical Trailers