McFarland USA

Bless Kevin Costner's heart. He really has had success playing a white savior in his movies: The Caucasian man who swoops into the lives of people of color to rescue them from their plight (and who learns a little bit about himself in the process). The actor won both of his Academy Awards for "Dances with Wolves," and he returns to some of those same themes in his new film.

"McFarland, USA," produced by Walt Disney Pictures, is the kind of sports movie that Americans love. Jim White (Costner) can't hold down a job as a high school football coach. And after he loses his temper and injures a student in Boise, Idaho, he goes to the only institution that will take him, a predominantly Latino school in McFarland, California.

The main industry in McFarland is harvesting. Even young children work for long hours in the hot sun doing back-breaking manual labor. But White discovers that this occupation also makes a group of boys good at the endurance sport of cross country running. Due to their commitment, hard work and the power of family, White is able to transform these economically deprived young men into state champions.

Director Niki Caro ("Whale Rider") knows how to push all the right emotional buttons without letting race relations get too realistic or sticky. And sincere performances from actors like Carlos Pratts ("Out of the Fire"), Michael Aguero and Johnny Ortiz make us optimistic that Hollywood will find a way to put some more color on the screen -- hopefully in a way that isn't just to make the white stand out.

The short (under 10 minute) feature "McFarland Reflections" explains the story from the point of view of the real Jim White and the McFarland alumni who inspired the script. The Blu-ray disc also includes the music video "Juntos" by Juanes and deleted and extended scenes.

"McFarland, USA"
Blu-ray or DVD
Rated PG | 129 minutes
movies.disney.com/mcfarland-usa