List Price: $14.94You Pay Only: $9.49 You Save: $5.45 (36%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: Sony
EAN: 9780767886925
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0767886925
Label: Sony Pictures
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Region Code: 99
Release Date: January 22, 2002
Running Time: 89 minutes
Sales Rank: 30737
Studio: Sony Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: December 02, 2001
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Editorial Review:
Product Description: Based on the real-life relationship between teammates brian piccolo and gales sayers and the bond established when piccolo discovers that his dying. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 10/03/2006 Starring: Sean Maher Mekhi Phifer Run time: 87 minutes Rating: Nr Director: John Gray
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - RE-MAKE IS EQUAL TO THE ORIGINAL: UNLESS YOU ARE MADE OF STONE, YOU WILL CRY!!!
Audiences, quite understandably, have deep affection for, and an emotional connection to, the original 1971 "Brian's Song" starring James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. The TV film was so successful it was subsequently shown in motion picture theatres.
While taking nothing away from the emotional power of the 1971 original film, this 2001 Remake is that rare exception that proves to be the equal, at least, to the original. The film dramatizes the unlikely friendship and bond between soft-spoken, shy Gayle Sayers (his football team-mates initially considered Sayers aloof and "uppity") and the cocky, joking, smiling, vibrant Brian Piccolo. Mekhi Phifer and Sean Maher give superb performances.
When Sayers badly injures his knee and thinks his football career is over, Piccolo insists he undergo a rigorous routine of training/physical therapy and never give up. Shortly afterward, Piccolo is tragically stricken with cancer. John Gray directs with restraint and an admirable lack of sentimentality. This remake offers a much more graphic depiction of the physical toll that cancer took on Piccolo. Cancer may have destroyed Piccolo physically, but it never destroyed his ambition or spirit. The movie earns our tears honestly and naturally. And, unless you are made of stone, you will cry buckets over this 90 minute movie. My eyes were red and swollen with tears long before the end. I started out laughing and smiling, and then I just couldn't stop crying; so I do recommend plentiful ... Read More
Rating: - Just Not the Original
This version of the movie was such a huge disappointment. If you have never seen this movie, do yourself a favor and watch the original. There was no chemistry between any of the actors in this newer version, so it was hard to be pulled into the emotion of this tragic story. The original ripped me to shreds when I watched it years ago, but this version does not give justice to the true story. I remember when this all happened, as I am sure all of the actors in the original version did as well. Maybe thats what made the original so real and heart felt.
Rating: - Pretty Darned Good for a Remake
I have seen both the 1971 and the 2001 versions of Brian's Song and I believe that each movie has its strengths and weaknesses. Certainly, a few of the strenghts of the 1971 version include the remarkable musical score, the obvious chemistry between Billy Dee Williams and James Caan, and the use of real footage of Piccolo and Sayers playing football. The original's weaknesses include the simplistic and inaccurate portrayal of Piccolo's illness and the fact that Pic and Sayers' wives are little more than "window dressing" and have very little depth to them.
As far as the remake is concerned, I will admit, the chemistry between Maher (who plays Piccolo) and Phifer (who plays Sayers) is nowhere near as good as in the original. I never felt as if these characters were really comfortable with one another. Also, the football scenes are pretty contrived, but considering this is meant to be a movie about guys who happen to play football, rather than a football movie, I let that one slide.
What makes this movie worth seeing above all else is the relationship between Piccolo and his wife Joy and the very realistic way they portray his illness. I remember when this remake first came out watching the scene where the Dr. tells Brian and Joy that they have to perform a mastectomy. I thought back to the original version and I said to myself, "A mastectomy? I thought he had his right lung removed. . ." Little did I realize then that the remake stays very true-to-life regarding the particulars ... Read More
Rating: - This is a poor remake
It really looks like it was done on a shoe string budget. The football scenes are lame. Sean's Maher's Brian Piccolo was not well done...and not beleivable. GET THE ORIGINAL...it is worth it
Rating: - The New Version Will Make You Cry.
I first seen the remake of Brian's Song on ABC's Wonderful World Of Disney broadcast and at the ending of the film,I was reminded of the death of Walter Payton, another Chicago Bears legend. I am surprised this made-for-TV movie had not won an Emmy for best TV film. I would recommend this film to all Bears fans. For those who would prefer the original version starring Billy Dee Williams and James Caan, that is okay as well.
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