Hoop Dreams (1994)

[Oscar Rothman]

Hoop Dreams Blu-ray

Hoop Dreams

Two ordinary inner-city Chicago kids dare to reach for the impossible—professional basketball glory—in this epic chronicle of hope and faith. Filmed over a five-year period, Hoop Dreams, by Steve James, Frederick Marx, and Peter Gilbert follows young Arthur Agee and William Gates as they navigate the complex, competitive world of scholastic athletics while dealing with the intense pressures of their home lives and neighborhoods. This landmark film, which documents the journeys of two remarkable families, continues to educate and inspire viewers, and it is widely considered one of the great works of American nonfiction cinema.

Special Features:

New digital restoration, with 4.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
Two audio commentaries: one by filmmakers Peter Gilbert, Steve James, and Frederick Marx, and one by the film's subjects, Arthur Agee and William Gates
Life After "Hoop Dreams," a new documentary catching up with Agee, Gates, and their families
Additional scenes
Collection of excerpts from Siskel & Ebert tracking the acclaim for Hoop Dreams
Original music video for the film's theme song from 1994
Trailers
PLUS: Essays by author John Edgar Wideman and filmmaker and critic Robert Greene