7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Three outlaws come to the aid of a young girl after her father is killed.
Starring: George O'Brien, Olive Borden, Lou Tellegen, Tom Santschi, J. Farrell MacDonaldWestern | 100% |
Romance | 46% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Music: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Near the end of his career in silent cinema, director John Ford crafted “3 Bad Men,” a western with all the emotionality and sweep that would come to define his career. A tale of moral choices and Wild West antagonisms, the picture plays to Ford’s filmmaking interests, adding a sense of gravity to a routine of restless cowboys, fiendish villainy, and open expanse aching to be explored. It’s a simple feature in design, but there are human textures presented here that keep it away from routine, with Ford interested in contrasting intimate moments with big screen chaos.
The AVC encoded image (1.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation isn't the result of an exhaustive, expensive restoration, but the 90 year old movie looks acceptable on Blu-ray. Damage is unavoidable, and the viewing experience encounters constant scratches, warping, and skipped frames. However, it's not a deal-breaker, as detail manages to emerge despite softness, adequate with facial reactions and expansive locations. Delineation is also acceptable. Grain is patchy but filmic.
The 2.0 LPCM sound mix comes through crystal clear, also showing a little extra heft in the volume department to secure mood. Leading with acoustic guitars and piano, the score (recorded in 2007) sounds very modern, but it's also never disrupted, carrying through confidently from start to finish. Instrumentation is precise.
"3 Bad Men" works its way to a sincere finale, though one peppered with a few surprises and tragedy. Ford has all the opportunity to make something cold-blooded, emphasizing lawlessness and betrayal, but he always returns to character soulfulness, finding heart inside these leathered men. It's unexpected tenderness, and it works superbly, allowing "3 Bad Men" to engage on a more humane level. The bigness of cinema remains, but don't be surprised if Ford extracts a few tears along the way.
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