Review: Home of the Giants DVD

STUDIO: Screen Media Films | DIRECTOR: Rusty Gorman | STARS: Haley Joel Osmet, Ryan Merriman, Danielle Panabaker 

RELEASE DATE: 4/6/2010 | PRICE: DVD $24.98 

BONUSES: none
SPECS: PG-13 | Thriller | 101 min. | AC-3 | Dolby Digital | English subtitles

RATINGS (out of 5): Movie | Audio | Video | Overall

Home of the Giants sets a very taut crime thriller against the backdrop of a high school basketball championship. The combination of the genres works superbly thanks to a cast and crew that realized they had something special on their hands. In short, this movie is a terrific debut for writer-director Rusty Gorman.

Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense), who is ripening very nicely into his teenhood (compared to many child actors who crash instead of mature), stars as Gar, the campus sports reporter who is also best friends with Matt (Ryan Merriman of TV’s Pretty Little Liars, showing young Tom Cruise-like energy and charisma), the star player who will likely lead the Giants into the state championship game, a very big deal in small town Indiana.

Trouble arises when Matt’s ex-con brother (Kenneth Mitchell, who steals his scenes by virtue of sheer menace) brings Matt and Gar into a botched burglary of a redneck drug dealer whose fiendishly cruel idea of revenge will cause havoc and ruin lives. It’s a pretty nifty twist on the sports-movie formula, and then there’s another little fillip that puts it over the top. High-five to Gorman for putting a new spin on a familiar formula. Danielle Panabaker (The Crazies) also stars in a role that highlights her natural charm.

The film’s production values are tops, particularly the convincing crowd scenes that defy the budget, as is the indie rock soundtrack.

Buy or Rent Home of the Giants
DVD | Instant Video		DVD