Search - Radio on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Suitable for Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 2003 DVD Release: 01/27/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 49 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Total Copies: 153 Genres: Drama, Sports Drama

Hollywood filmmaker Michael Tollin directs the sports drama Radio, based on a true story and adapted for the screen by Mike Rich (The Rookie). Set in a small South Carolina town during the '60s, the film stars Ed Harris as Harold Jones, a high school football coach who barely has time to spend with his daughter, Mary Helen (Sarah Drew), or his wife, Linda (Debra Winger). When Coach Jones meets the mentally challenged student who goes by the name of Radio (Cuba Gooding Jr.), he allows him to help out with his football team. While the townsfolk just aren't sure about Radio hanging around the team, the star player Johnny Clay (Riley Smith) is downright mean about it. Nevertheless, Radio continues to support the team for the next three decades. Also starring Alfre Woodard as the principal. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Cuba Gooding, Jr. - James Robert "Radio" Kennedy
Ed Harris - Coach Harold Jones
Alfre Woodard - Principal Reynolds
S. Epatha Merkerson - Maggie Kennedy
Brent Sexton - Honeycutt
Debra Winger - Linda Jones

Radio is one of those heartwarming, "based on a true story" films that is hard not to like. In many ways, the same can be said about the DVD from Columbia/TriStar, since everything indicates this project was a labor of love. This is never more clear than in the supplements included on this disc, especially in the three featurettes: "Tuning in on Radio," with cast and crew interviews, which is far better than most making-of pieces; "Writing Radio," a discussion with screenwriter Mike Rich and others on what went into creating the screenplay; and "The 12-Hour Football Games of Radio," with the highly enthusiastic sports coordinator Mark Ellis. Not to be outdone, director Mike Tollin provides a scene-specific commentary track. Often monotonic and repetitive from the featurettes, he still offers plenty of insight about this production. The remainder of the supplements include six decent deleted scenes, generic filmographies, the original Sports Illustrated article on DVD-ROM, and the trailers for this film, 50 First Dates, Big Fish, Mona Lisa Smile, Something's Gotta Give, Spellbound, and Rudy. As for the picture and sound, they aren't half bad either. The 1.85:1 image is really as good as it gets. Colors are realistic and never flashy, so they don't overshadow the point of the film, and this transfers perfectly to the digital medium. Skin tones are immediately noticeable, as well, and they come across very naturally. The 5.1 Dolby Digital track isn't spectacular, as it's by and large limited to a type of low-key approach, but there is still plenty of depth to the overall sound scheme. The sound levels occasionally aren't blended adequately, though, and the balance between higher and lower volumes creates a problem. Still, even with some minor faults, this is an exceptional package. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide