Winter Brothers [DVD] [2017]

Fight to survive against your brothers who have turned against you

The Boxer appears in an impressive collector's edition that offers an array of interesting features. "Fighting for Peace: Inside the Boxer" provides a worthwhile overview of the production and writer/director Jim Sheridan's thoughts on the project. It runs for 23 minutes and also includes comments from Barry McGuigan, the real-life boxer who was an inspiration for the story. Daniel Day-Lewis and the other actors also discuss their experiences and display an honest and genuine passion for the material. The disc also includes 16 minutes of deleted scenes, which appear with a lesser-quality transfer. They give the characters more depth and make the environment appear even harsher. A one-minute alternate ending also exists and provides a slightly more upbeat conclusion. The remaining supplements include feature-length commentaries from Sheridan and producer Arthur Lappin, production notes, cast and crew biographies, and the original theatrical trailer. The Boxer utilizes a decent 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that nicely conveys the bleak, cold atmosphere. Little grain and few defects exist on the picture. The 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio track is also solid but falls a bit short of the premier level. The dialogue is easily understandable, and the sound effects do spring well from the entire sound field.