Bend it Like Beckham (Widescreen)
Picture: B- Sound: B- Extras: B+ Film: B+
Bend it Like Beckham is a sports movie quite unlike many of the other
films you might find in the genre. Set
in modern-day England, the film’s main protagonist is a teenaged, female
soccer player named Jessminder “Jess” Bharma (beautifully portrayed by Parminder K. Nagra). Jess happens to be a truly dynamic talent on
the soccer field, but she also comes from a traditional Indian home, and it is
the clash of Jess’ desire to compete and earn a soccer scholarship abroad and
her parents’ longing to one day see her married to a traditional Indian man
that creates the film’s dramatic tension. It isn’t until Jess is discovered by a young
and handsome Irish summer league coach (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers)
that she realizes her talents can provide her an escape from a domestic life
that she does not want. Misunderstood
romance between Jess, her coach, and fast friend Jules Paxton (Keira Knightley)
complicates matters, while Jules parents provide excellent comic relief.
This film looks nearly as good on DVD
as it did in the theater, sporting a crisp Anamorphic Widescreen transfer and solid-enough
5.1 Dolby Surround sound. Too bad the
colors seem too subdued throughout, possibly the telecine operator
miscalculating the type of stock used.
Also, the sound does not have a DTS option, meaning that despite an
often dialogue-based sound design, the soccer matches and locations do not have
the warmth that could have really paid off.
This is packed with extras that
include audio commentaries, a behind the scenes featurette (The Making of “Bend It Like Beckham”), traditional Indian recipes, and more, Bend it Like Beckham
is sure to please dogged fans and casual viewers alike. Colorful menus and screen prompts make
navigating the DVD’s many special features a breeze, and the film and
individual performances are solid enough to stand up to repeated viewings. Bend it Like
Beckham is one of those rare films that succeeds on many
levels, managing to explore the nature of sport and competition, the sometimes
uneasy co-existence between traditional Indian culture and western societal
mores, and the comedic nature of human misunderstanding.
-
Scott R. Pyle
