Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Bad Company Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 15, 2024

For his screenwriting debut, Robert Benton made waves with his work on 1967’s “Bonnie and Clyde,” going deep into psychology, relationships, and violence to help detail the recklessness of criminals on the run. For his directorial debut, Benton sticks with the formula for 1972’s “Bad Company,” which also explores troubled people trying to escape from all sorts of dangers. Going the western route, Benton (joined by “Bonnie and Clyde” collaborator David Newman) looks to explore the ways of survival and perceived freedom in the open world, using the pressurized experience of the Civil War to examine men on the move to a better life, not fully realizing the dangers and labor of such a vision. In a career that would eventually turn to more defined acts of dramatic engagement (including “Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Places in the Heart”), Benton shows some level of grit and surprise with “Bad Company,” which is always interested in the impulsive ways of inexperienced men taking on an incredible challenge of self-preservation.

After his brother is killed in the Civil War, Drew (Barry Brown) is looking to survive, working with his mother to avoid conscription, as she can’t bear to lose another child. His plan is to go west, trying to catch the silver rush in Virginia City, initially making his way to Missouri with some cash gifted to him and his Methodist upbringing to provide comfort. What he finds is crime, with Jake (Jeff Bridges) the leader of a small-time gang aiming to lift whatever they can from targets, taking cash from Drew. Instead of accepting his fate, Drew fights back, impressing Jake, who invites the stranger to join Loney (John Savage), Jim Bob (Damon Douglas), Arthur (Jerry Houser), and young Boog (Joshua Hill Lewis) as they make plans to head west, hunting for fresh opportunities to cause trouble. What the men find is a hard road to follow, filled with danger and desperation, including interactions with another gang led by Big Joe (David Huddleston), and they don’t take it easy on their victims. Struggling to survive in a harsh land, Jake and Drew form an uneasy alliance, with the educated man of morals getting a taste of the outlaw life, finding some thrill in all the danger.

“Bad Company” is set in 1863, with America in the throes of the Civil War, putting extraordinary stress on the nation. The military machine needs soldiers, but Drew is opting out of service, hid well in his home by his mother, who’s determined to preserve the life of her remaining son. Benton and Newman provide a distinct sense of desperation for their opening sequence, as Drew eventually emerges from his hiding spot, handed a wad of cash and offered reminders of Methodist generosity before he escapes to a better life. It’s the beginning of a journey for Drew, who keeps his sibling’s pocket watch close as a reminder of what awaits him on the battlefield.

What Drew actually receives in Missouri isn’t the sweet air of freedom, but a head wound, as Jake rolls the new arrival almost immediately, joined by a gang doing similar acts of criminal intimidation around town. “Bad Company” creates a divide between the main characters, as Drew has religious training and book smarts, while Jake is a feral creature assigning himself some nobility as a way to secure authority. They’re young men in a wild world, and the screenplay develops their relationship, which is forged in fighting, but soon finds a level of understanding as survival is a common goal. We meet the “rough types,” with Jake’s gang a collection of children and scared men playing the part of outlaws, and a plot forms with travel into the west, backed gracefully by Harvey Schmidt’s piano-based score, which creates an evocative sense of time and place. Cinematography by the legendary Gordon Willis also contributes to the austere mood of the picture, offering a dark look at the challenges of relocation.

“Bad Company” is episodic, with Jake’s men often finding themselves in all kinds of trouble. More interesting than direct confrontations are tests of character, including procurement of meals, with the youngsters encountering the gruesome reality of hunting as Jake takes command of preparing a rabbit for dinner. The gang also comes across a husband pimping out his wife for discount dollars, exciting everyone but Drew, who declines to join the group activity. Along the way, character insight is provided by Drew’s diary entries, and criminal actions are detailed as the travelers try their luck robbing a stagecoach. They also steal chickens and pies when hunger pains are too much. These acts of desperation begin to corrode the group dynamic, leading to some compelling confrontations and unexpected turns, keeping the viewing experience lively as the reality of what Jake and Drew are attempting becomes crystal clear to the men.

Bad Company Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative." There's an extremely film-like look for "Bad Company," which retains heavy, well-resolved grain. Detail does well with such cinematography, providing an appreciation of rough skin particulars and period costuming, especially with heavier cold-weather gear. Exteriors retain deep distances, providing a sense of the open world, and periodic interiors deliver an appreciation of decorative additions and woodsy construction. Color is intentionally drained to deliver an evocative sense of the west, with the look of the movie secured, doing especially well with greenery and cooler hues on clothing. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory, working with deep blacks. Source is in good condition.

Bad Company Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a crisp understanding of scoring cues, with the piano moods of the feature distinct throughout the listening experience. Dialogue exchanges are as clear as the original recording allows, maintaining emotionality. Sound effects are understood.

Bad Company Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features movie critic Walter Chaw.

• Radio Spots (1:56) offers three commercials for "Bad Company," and film stills are displayed during the presentation.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:42, HD) is included.

Bad Company Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

More direct trouble emerges in the form of Big Joe and his team of brutes, with the seasoned man of crime working to make sure Jake doesn't become a threat to his livelihood. "Bad Company" loses some focus as it enters its final act, with Newman and Benton running out of steam when it comes to dealing with Drew and Jake's combustible relationship, which weaves in and out of partnership. There's not much of an ending to the movie, but the ride to a conclusion is plenty compelling, especially with strong turns from the cast. Bridges is especially alert as Jake, portraying a complicated man of impulse and idiocy striving to achieve ill-defined dreams. "Bad Company" is a revisionist western, detailing the harshness of outlaw glory and the fatigue of travel, with Benton capably handling an arc of disillusionment, which eventually explodes into more traditional acts of genre violence. Some potent stuff remains in the endeavor, keeping viewers involved in a display of increasing danger sold with a defined cinematic approach, retaining a distinct mood from the filmmaking era.