John Cusack and Charlie Sheen deliver stellar performances in this true story about the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox scandal, one of the darkest chapters in the annals of professional sports, when the team throws the World Series.

For thoughts on Eight Men Out, please check out my colleague’s op-ed here.

Video Quality

Eight Men Out returns to Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 courtesy of MGM. There is no indication that this transfer is derived from a new master, but this film was previously released on Blu-Ray courtesy of Olive Films in 2015. We do not have that release to compare, but this is likely derived from the same one utilized for that release based on reviews we have read. The biggest indication that this has not received a new master is that the issue of abnormal stretching of the frame is still intact in this latest release. It is not so bad that it completely ruins the experience, but you cannot unsee it once you notice it. The title is crying out for a reputable boutique label to come in and give it a proper remaster with accurate framing.

Setting this major issue aside, the transfer does have some positive aspects. The source thankfully shows minimal signs of damage and digital tinkering. There are fleeting nicks and scratches, but they are toned down and unlikely to be the issue that sinks the presentation. Colors are faithfully saturated with a fine vibrancy to them. Black levels could be slightly stronger when it comes to depth, as some moments struggle with depth, delineation, and a chunky grain structure. The transfer looks mostly clear and detailed for the lion’s share of the runtime with only odd moments exhibiting notable density fluctuations in the grain field. Image quality is stable with some enjoyable detail in the environment and texture of outfits. If it were not for one significant issue, this would be a solid release, but this needs a refresh sooner rather than later.

Audio Quality

MGM brings us this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that fares better than the video side of the equation. The sounds of the crowd at the ballpark and other sounds such as the cracking of the bat bring some life to the mix. The score grounds you in the throwback time of the narrative, and you do not hear any weakness when it comes to fidelity. Dialogue holds up very well, coming through clearly without being clipped by the music or competing elements. The environmental effects are clearly defined, but this is a rather front-heavy affair. MGM has delivered a straightforward audio experience here. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

There are no special features provided on the disc.

Final Thoughts

Eight Men Out is an underrated baseball narrative that expands beyond the game to explore some fascinating real-life history of the sport. The film does an admirable job of getting you invested in all of these characters to the point of understanding why they are willing to go along with certain criminal behavior. There is not a major weak spot in the ensemble, as each performer brings something special to their role. If you are looking for something a little different from the subgenre, you shouldn’t miss out. MGM has brought this film to Blu-Ray with a passable but flawed A/V presentation and no special features.

Eight Men Out can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: MGM has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.