Search - Sneakers on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1992 DVD Release: 03/31/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 5 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Comedy, Crime, Action Thriller, Comedy Thriller See Also: Sneakers [Collector's Edition], Sneakers [HD DVD]

In this tech-thriller from director Phil Alden Robinson, a group of five renegade computer hackers, led by Martin Bishop (Robert Redford), are hired by the government to steal a black box, containing a code-breaking machine, from the mathematician who invented the device. The government is able to persuade Martin to take the job by convincing him that they will drop a decades-old federal warrant for his involvement in computer fraud. Martin agrees and he takes his team on the mission, eventually taking the box. Shortly after the hackers have stolen the device, the mathematician turns up dead. Before long, the quintet realize that they've gotten themselves into more than they'd originally bargained for, as Bishop's old rival Cosmo (Ben Kingsley) enters into the fold. The eclectic ensemble also includes River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, and James Earl Jones. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Robert Redford - Martin Bishop
Sidney Poitier - Donald Crease
Ben Kingsley - Cosmo
Dan Aykroyd - Mother
Mary McDonnell - Liz
River Phoenix - Carl Arbogast
David Strathairn - Erwin "Whistler" Emory

A mostly overlooked film in theaters, Sneakers was also overlooked by Universal Studios when it was released on DVD. Besides the usual basics, such as production notes, cast/crew bios, and theatrical trailer, there's nothing of real note on the disc. Director Phil Alden Robinson's film about a gang of renegade computer hackers is presented in 1:85 widescreen and the transfer looks much darker and muddier than the theatrical release. There's no definition in the black areas in the frame. Perhaps the best thing that can be said about the release is that the English, French, and Spanish language options are all in Dolby Surround or Dolby Digital 5:1 Surround. Released during the 1998 push to get a library of titles on DVD, Sneakers suffers from studio neglect, and as a result, the demand for it will likely be very low. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide