American Flyers Blu-ray Review

Warner Archive's Blu-ray release of "American Flyers" showcases the film with a 1080p transfer that both preserves and enhances its original 35mm essence, delivering a visual experience that's faithful yet flawed in places. The restoration, reportedly sourced from a new 2K scan of the interpositive, successfully navigates the balance between cleaning up the print and maintaining its authentic, filmic texture. The result is a presentation that excels in color saturation—primaries pop with clarity and brightness, particularly noticeable in the vibrant jerseys of the cyclists and the stunning natural backdrops of the race sequences. Despite a generally impressive clarity and depth, especially in well-lit outdoor scenes and during the dynamic Coors Classic race footage, there are moments where fine detail is lost in darker scenes, accompanied by an inherent graininess that occasionally detracts from the overall sharpness.

The encoding, executed in MPEG-4 AVC on a BD-50 disc, manages to avoid common pitfalls such as banding or aliasing, presenting an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 that captures the panoramic grandeur intended by director of photography Don Peterman. Although contrast levels are commendable with deep blacks that add a rich depth to night scenes—such as a particularly memorable campfire sequence—the black levels sometimes reveal more pronounced grain, which, while not undermining the viewing experience significantly, suggests the limitations of the source material. Details in facial features, clothing textures, and the scenic red rock mountains are generally well-rendered, albeit with fluctuating success in lower-light conditions.

Overall, Warner Archive's endeavor to bring "American Flyers" to Blu-ray respects the original film's aesthetic while addressing the challenges of its age and medium. The transfer shines brightest in its depiction of outdoor daylight scenes where the film's color palette bursts to life against the dramatic racing backdrops, offering a viewing experience that is compellingly vivid yet occasionally marred by the technical realities of its 35mm origins. The meticulous cleanup effort ensures a clean visual presentation that represents a faithful homage to the era and essence of this mid-1980s classic.

The Blu-ray release of "American Flyers" features an English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack that preserves the film's original auditory experience with clarity and fidelity. Dialogue throughout is exceptionally clear, ensuring that every word is easy to understand, which is essential for immersing in the narrative's emotional depth. The soundtrack shines brightest during the highly anticipated cycling sequences, where the audio mix expands to fill the soundstage with a dynamic array of effects—from the whir of bicycle wheels to the enthusiastic cheers of onlookers. The mix, while staying true to a two-channel format, provides a simulated surround sound experience that, although not fully discrete, adds a satisfying layer of sonic envelopment in select scenes, particularly when paired with a correctly set receiver.

The inclusion of optional English SDH subtitles offers accessibility without intruding on the viewing experience. The audio track's strength largely lies in its balance and dynamic range during key moments, such as the cycling races, where the score and sound effects combine to elevate the excitement and intensity of the competition. Despite the limitations inherent in a 2.0 mix, such as a relatively light low end that misses some opportunities for added intensity, the overall presentation is commendable for its clean and well-separated soundscape. The dialogue's crisp reproduction stands out, ensuring that vocals are front and center, further proving that a carefully crafted stereo mix can still provide an engaging and immersive audio experience for viewers.

The Blu-ray release of "American Flyers" presents itself in a standard keepcase adorned with the memorable red, white, and blue poster-themed cover artwork, sticking to the aesthetic roots of its original cinematic release. While the extra features appear notably sparse, mirroring the minimalistic approach observed in previous DVD editions, the inclusion of the theatrical trailer offers a concise yet stirring glimpse into the film's essence. This trailer, presented in high definition, encapsulates the movie's spirit within a brief 1:32-minute runtime, standing as the lone extra amidst an otherwise barebones offering. Its quality and sharpness in HD do, however, provide a modern touch to this nostalgic piece, offering fans a crisp look back at the film's promotional efforts.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: High-definition version of the original movie trailer.

American Flyers," directed by John Badham and featuring a young Kevin Costner, presents a captivating narrative centered around the themes of reconciliation, competition, and the profound bonds of family. It diverges significantly from Badham's same-year release "Fandango," offering a more universally appealing story. This film weaves the tale of the Sommers brothers, Marcus and David, whose estrangement ends as they embark on an emotional and literal journey through the grueling "Hell of the West" bike race in the picturesque Rocky Mountains. Despite the distracting instances of McDonald's product placement and some narrative detours, "American Flyers" delivers on its premise of a heartwarming sports drama, underpinned by the complex dynamics within the Sommers family and their confrontation with a hereditary health scare.

Technical elements of "American Flyers" contribute significantly to its charm. The movie benefits from the enthusiastic application of a synth-driven score by Greg Mathieson and Lee Ritenour, alongside memorable pop hits that enhance its vibrant 80s essence. Moreover, the cinematography capturing the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains offers a compelling backdrop to the intense cycling competition, which occupies much of the film’s second half. These visual and auditory elements are nicely supported by the Blu-ray presentation from Warner Archive, despite a notable shortage of additional features.

The performances, particularly by Kevin Costner as Marcus Sommers, anchor the film's emotional weight and are pivotal in navigating its various thematic currents. The interpersonal conflicts, set amidst the backdrop of competitive cycling, are portrayed with a blend of intensity and sensitivity. While "American Flyers" occasionally veers into melodramatic territory and is hampered by some underdeveloped subplots, its core narrative of family reconciliation through shared passion and adversity remains compelling. This film, despite its imperfections and overt product placements, stands as a testament to the enduring allure of sports dramas that resonate with themes of redemption, love, and overcoming barriers.

John Badham’s "American Flyers" offers a rather middling addition to Kevin Costner’s filmography, presenting the actor in one of his earlier, more earnest roles. While the film showcases Costner’s ability to carry a movie, its narrative is bogged down by an overstuffed supporting cast and a script that eagerly veers into the overly sentimental, hindering its potential to stand alongside Badham’s more critically acclaimed works. The portrayal of bicycle racing, paired with the picturesque setting of the Rocky Mountains, however, brings a level of excitement and visual appeal to the film, capturing the spirit of sports cinema despite its narrative shortcomings. The Warner Archive's Blu-ray release provides a commendable visual and audio transfer that keenly elevates these aspects, albeit at the cost of a richer, more immersive home viewing experience due to a notable lack of supplementary content.

Critically, "American Flyers" struggles to peddle beyond the movie's overtly campy execution and thinly written characters, failing to achieve the kind of distinct storytelling that marked John Badham’s more memorable projects. The film, nuanced with themes of family and redemption set against the backdrop of competitive cycling, does offer a measure of charm thanks largely to committed performances from Costner and the ensemble cast. However, it falls short of evoking the compelling drama and synergy found in Badham’s iconic films. Furthermore, the Blu-ray’s scant extras—a sore spot for collectors and cinephiles—add little value to understanding or appreciating the film's production and legacy, leaving much to be desired for those looking for an in-depth home cinema experience.

Conclusively, while "American Flyers" retains a certain appeal for sports movie aficionados and loyal fans of Kevin Costner's extensive body of work, its transition to Blu-ray by Warner Archive is somewhat underwhelming. The solid video and audio presentation notwithstanding, the release is markedly hampered by its scant offering of special features, making it a difficult sell for those outside its niche audience. This lack reflects a missed opportunity to reintroduce or reevaluate Badham’s film within a contemporary context or for a new audience. For enthusiasts and collectors interested in the visual and auditory improvements of classic cinema on modern formats, "American Flyers" may warrant attention; yet for those seeking a comprehensive package that includes insightful extras and behind-the-scenes content, this release might not fulfill expectations.