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Curse of the Bambino, The
Warner Bros. // Unrated // June 1, 2004
List Price: $19.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
THE MOVIE
The Boston Red Sox almost made it back to the World Series again in 2003, but somehow you knew they would find a way to blow it. For myself, I knew doom was headed their way when I saw that Fenway Park (the Sox were playing in New York) was having the field painted with a World Series logo, even though Boston had one more game to win. Sure enough, after having a 4-0 lead, and a three run lead in the 8th inning, the Red Sox found a way to lose another heartbreaker. In Boston, they don't call this "bad luck," they call it "destiny."
The Curse of the Bambino was completed before it could chronicle this latest chapter in the Red Sox's history, but we get a good look at the history of the team since 1918 – the year that Red Sox owner Harry Frazee traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees after winning their fifth World Series. At the time of the trade, the Yankees had never won a championship. Since 1918, the Yankees have won the World Series 26 times. I probably don't have to tell you how many time the Red Sox have won.
To this documentary's credit, it doesn't try to place all the blame on some kind of mystic curse. Instead, it looks at all the mistakes the franchise has made over the years, including a period in the 1950's when the organization was the most racist in Major League Baseball – thanks to owner Tom Yawkey. Not only did the Red Sox pass on signing players like Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays, but they were the last Major League Baseball team to sign a black player to their roster. The legacy of racism for this franchise is so strong, that current major league players like Barry Bonds have come out publicly and said "Boston is too racist for me. I couldn't play there." Yes, there does seem to be a curse in Boston…but it's more real and more deep than the ghost of The Babe.
The heroes of The Curse of the Bambino are the long suffering Red Sox fans. Through pictures and words (many of them by famous Bostonians like comedian Denis Leary and movie critic Jeffery Lyons) we re-live the moments of franchise history that they had to suffer through – including the painful sixth game of the 1986 World Series, when the Sox were up by two runs and only needed one out to "reverse the curse."
The viewer's reaction to this documentary is going to depend on one's interest in baseball and what part of the country you are from. I don't feel, for example, that Yankees fans will be too sympathetic toward the Red Sox's continuing suffering. However, as both a baseball lover and someone whose favorite team happens to be the Pittsburgh Pirates, not only do I relate to the fans in Boston...I feel your pain!
THE DVD
Video:
The Curse of the Bambino is presented in the full frame format at a 4:3 aspect ratio. The overall quality of the picture is good, but keep in mind that a lot of older footage is used here, so many scenes have an aged and grainy look to them.
Audio:
The audio is presented in 2.0 Dolby, which is more than enough for this documentary, and sounds good. A 2.0 Spanish track is also available as an option.
Extras:
There are no extras on this DVD, although HBO Video has included a Chapter Selection.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Although the lack of extras seems to indicate that this DVD was intended basically for the rental market, I'm giving The Curse of the Bambino a recommendation. Baseball fans should enjoy the history of the Red Sox quite a bit, and the comments provided by fans – famous and non-famous – really enhance the enjoyment of the program.
The Boston Red Sox almost made it back to the World Series again in 2003, but somehow you knew they would find a way to blow it. For myself, I knew doom was headed their way when I saw that Fenway Park (the Sox were playing in New York) was having the field painted with a World Series logo, even though Boston had one more game to win. Sure enough, after having a 4-0 lead, and a three run lead in the 8th inning, the Red Sox found a way to lose another heartbreaker. In Boston, they don't call this "bad luck," they call it "destiny."
The Curse of the Bambino was completed before it could chronicle this latest chapter in the Red Sox's history, but we get a good look at the history of the team since 1918 – the year that Red Sox owner Harry Frazee traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees after winning their fifth World Series. At the time of the trade, the Yankees had never won a championship. Since 1918, the Yankees have won the World Series 26 times. I probably don't have to tell you how many time the Red Sox have won.
To this documentary's credit, it doesn't try to place all the blame on some kind of mystic curse. Instead, it looks at all the mistakes the franchise has made over the years, including a period in the 1950's when the organization was the most racist in Major League Baseball – thanks to owner Tom Yawkey. Not only did the Red Sox pass on signing players like Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays, but they were the last Major League Baseball team to sign a black player to their roster. The legacy of racism for this franchise is so strong, that current major league players like Barry Bonds have come out publicly and said "Boston is too racist for me. I couldn't play there." Yes, there does seem to be a curse in Boston…but it's more real and more deep than the ghost of The Babe.
The heroes of The Curse of the Bambino are the long suffering Red Sox fans. Through pictures and words (many of them by famous Bostonians like comedian Denis Leary and movie critic Jeffery Lyons) we re-live the moments of franchise history that they had to suffer through – including the painful sixth game of the 1986 World Series, when the Sox were up by two runs and only needed one out to "reverse the curse."
The viewer's reaction to this documentary is going to depend on one's interest in baseball and what part of the country you are from. I don't feel, for example, that Yankees fans will be too sympathetic toward the Red Sox's continuing suffering. However, as both a baseball lover and someone whose favorite team happens to be the Pittsburgh Pirates, not only do I relate to the fans in Boston...I feel your pain!
THE DVD
Video:
The Curse of the Bambino is presented in the full frame format at a 4:3 aspect ratio. The overall quality of the picture is good, but keep in mind that a lot of older footage is used here, so many scenes have an aged and grainy look to them.
Audio:
The audio is presented in 2.0 Dolby, which is more than enough for this documentary, and sounds good. A 2.0 Spanish track is also available as an option.
Extras:
There are no extras on this DVD, although HBO Video has included a Chapter Selection.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Although the lack of extras seems to indicate that this DVD was intended basically for the rental market, I'm giving The Curse of the Bambino a recommendation. Baseball fans should enjoy the history of the Red Sox quite a bit, and the comments provided by fans – famous and non-famous – really enhance the enjoyment of the program.
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