‘The Boys In The Boat’ Blu-Ray Review – Crowd-Pleasing Underdog Tale Plays It Safe

The Boys in the Boat is a sports drama based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction book written by Daniel James Brown. The film, directed by George Clooney, is about the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight and take on elite rivals from around the world.

For in-depth thoughts on The Boys in the Boat, please see my colleague Phoenix Clouden’s review from its original theatrical release here. 

Video Quality

The Boys in the Boat comes to Blu-Ray with an exceptional 1080p transfer in 2.39:1 which translates the film with care. Subtle details on faces are distinctly clear and textures such as perspiration and fine lines hold up impeccably in close-ups and long shots. The amount of resolute clarity and detail present on this Blu-Ray makes for a vital viewing experience. The color palette is warm throughout most of the film which captures the period aesthetic without being distracting. There are splashes of color in elements of the clothing, production design, and locales. Black levels hold up enviably with no obnoxious instances of black crush present. Digital noise and banding crop up as a minor issue with this release. This presentation holds its own on the format.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a tremendous Dolby Atmos presentation that allows this world to feel as expansive as it deserves. The terrific score from Alexandre Desplat establishes the mood of this film which emanates with nice fidelity. The sound design of this film is not the most complex, but the distribution of environmental sounds is key to its effectiveness. Sounds are keenly rendered with focused directionality from the more intensive scenes to the dialogue-driven scenes filled with overlapping voices.  

Dialogue is presented crisply and clearly without ever being drowned out by any of the competing sonic elements. There are details in this track that are truly immersive even though this story is far from an action-packed one. The height channels complement the soundscape with some overheard activity that makes the film feel that much more grandiose. The low end is utilized well with certain sequences standing out. The mix brings this film to life with pristine engagement of all the channels. Warner Bros. has treated this with the utmost respect. Optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this disc. 

Final Thoughts

The Boys in the Boat gets points right away since we are sucker for a good sports drama. It gets further points for being directed by George Clooney, a performer we love who showed promise behind the camera in his early directorial efforts. Unfortunately, this continues a trend for him of not harnessing the qualities that made him so special in the beginning. This is not a bad movie, it just is not particularly unique in the world of underdog stories. Most of the main characters are given just enough surface-level development to gain recognition, and it would be understandable if you confused a character or two on the team. This is a safe execution of the material that gets the job done, yet not in a way that will have you returning to it over and over. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation but nothing in the way of special features. If you like sports movies in general, it is worth at least one watch. 

The Boys in the Boat is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital. 

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

Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment 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.