Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video |  | 3.5 |
| Audio | | 3.0 |
| Extras |  | 2.5 |
| Overall | | 3.5 |
Billy Two Hats Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 16, 2015
1974’s “Billy Two Hats” is a western that’s primarily focused on the evolution of its characters, refusing most genre habits to retain dramatic intensity with three-dimensional personalities. Director Ted Kotcheff has a vision for the picture, sticking close to charged encounters and long stares, braiding hostilities with serene Israeli locations to give the effort considerable cinematic weight. “Billy Two Hats” looks terrific (shot wonderfully by Brian West) and it has all the ambition in the world to be the rare western that’s interested in intimate encounters, yet Kotcheff can’t find a pace to the feature that rewards time invested, making the movie feel endless when it actually quests to be profound.
There are lawmen (Jack Warden) and outlaws (Gregory Peck) at odds in “Billy Two Hats,” and a “half-breed” (Desi Arnaz Jr.) is in the mix as well, with the screenplay working through a story that details steps of survival and revenge, dealing with troubling issues of trust, bigotry, and honor along the way. Performances are invested, but momentum never arrives, with Kotcheff sustaining a stillness to the feature that’s meant to represent a type of meditation on western attitudes. Unfortunately, the quiet slows the effort to a crawl, weakening lasting impact as a chase into the expanse of America turns into a vaguely defined game of intimidation.
Billy Two Hats Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Billy Two Hats" deals with a degree of softness due to age and cinematographic limitations, though detail isn't completely wiped clean, with close-ups registering encouraging texture and vistas open for inspection. Colors look a little fatigued, with blue skies and greenery providing the most punch, though costumes are preserved. Skintones are natural. Grain is heavy but filmic, never overtly problematic. Delineation isn't strong, but it's passable, showing some signs of struggle with dense hair and low-lit scenes. Source is in adequate shape, with a few bursts of debris, scratches, and some speckling.
Billy Two Hats Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is on the quiet side, requiring a boost of volume to bring out its definition. Dialogue exchanges are sparse, but they register as intended, managing strange accents and violence intensity decently. Sloppy ADR work is easily detected. Scoring is crisp and clean, carrying the mood with confidence. Atmospherics are interesting, capturing environmental changes and group activity. A small degree of hiss is detected.
Billy Two Hats Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Interview (11:28, HD) with director Ted Kotcheff is a pleasant but brief conversation about "Billy Two Hats," with primary focus on the Israeli locations, gifting the production an unusual look for the picture. Specifics aren't shared, but Kotcheff is amiable, praising his stars and sharing feelings about his filmography, referring to his movies as "children."
- And a Theatrical Trailer (3:59, HD) is included.
Billy Two Hats Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
"Billy Two Hats" wins points for severity, with a few plot turns delivering unexpected harshness as suspense gasps for oxygen. There just isn't enough power to the feature to make it strike as hard as Kotcheff imagines.
