DVD
REVIEW:
THE EXPRESS
01/17/09
Witness the journey of how one
determined player and his dedicated coach changed the game
of football forever. Starring Dennis Quaid and based on the
inspirational true story of an American hero who beat the
odds to become the first African-American to win the Heisman
Trophy, The Express will have you cheering over and over
again.
SYNOPSIS: The Express follows the
inspirational life of college football hero Ernie Davis (Rob
Brown), the first African-American to win the Heisman
Trophy. Following his draft by the NFL, tragedy struck the
star athlete and he was never able to take the professional
field. But his tale would forever change the face of
professional sports. Raised in poverty in Pennsylvania
coal-mining country, Davis overcame seemingly insurmountable
obstacles to become an unstoppable running back for the
Syracuse Orangemen. Under the guidance of coach Ben
Schwartzwalder (Dennis Quaid)—a hard-nosed surrogate father
with an obsession for winning a national championship—Davis
would develop from an impressive high-school athlete into a
legend. While everyone agreed Ernie Davis was a miracle
player, few thought this quiet young man would become an
icon for the burgeoning civil rights movement dividing
America in the early 1960s. Refusing to play by the unspoken
racist rules of the day, Davis broke through one barrier
after another to alter the way fans looked at men of his
color. Though leukemia struck the player a terrible blow in
the prime of his life, his spirit soared when most would
crumble. Forcing his bull-headed coach to re-examine a life
lived in color-based privilege, Davis would join the ranks
of black pioneers who inspired a movement that smashed
barriers on and off the playing field.
VIDEO:
Anamorphic (2.40:1) Widescreen
AUDIO:
Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround - English Spanish Francais
Subtitles - English, Spanish,
Francais
BONUS FEATURES:
DELETED SCENES WITH OPTIONAL
COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR GARY FLEDER
MAKING OF THE EXPRESS:
Director Gary Fleder, 2nd Unit Director Alan Graf,
Production Designer Nelson Coates Cinematographer Kramer
Morganthau along with cast Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown and
Charles Dutton discuss how they created the look of this
film set in 1959.
MAKING HISTORY: THE STORY OF ERNIE
DAVIS: Director Gary Fleder, actors Rob Brown,
Charles Dutton, and football hall of fame legend Jim Brown
discuss the impact of Ernie Davis’s life on and off the
field during the civil rights movement in the late 1950’s.
INSIDE THE PLAYBOOK: SHOOTING THE
FOOTBALL GAMES: Through graphics and audio
commentary, Director Gary Fleder and 2nd Unit Director Alan
Graf will break down three plays from the film
from a variety of different angles that they shot to show
the progression from start to finished film.
FROM HOLLYWOOD TO SYRACUSE: THE
LEGACY OF ERNIE DAVIS
FEATURE COMMENTARY With
Director Gary Fleder
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