Broken Trail Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

Broken Trail Blu-ray Movie Review

One of the best Westerns of the decade saddles up for a solid Blu-ray release.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 9, 2008

We're all travelers in this world, from the sweet grass to the packing house, from birth till death, we travel between the eternities.

While they certainly don't make 'em like they used to, Broken Trail succeeds at hearkening back to the classic, slow-paced, good versus evil epic Western, a genre on the whole that seems revitalized and on the upswing over the past two decades, with the likes of the Oscar-winning Unforgiven, the critically-acclaimed Lonesome Dove, Open Range, Tombstone, and 3:10 to Yuma representing "new classics" in the once, now, and probably always storied genre. This made-for-television 2006 epic originally aired on American Movie Classics in June 2006 and makes its Blu-ray debut some two yeas later (and just in time for Father's Day), hopefully sparking a renewed interest in this fine film that, despite its slick production values and decidedly "new" look, the story itself and the characters that tell it are timeless and classic, much like the Western genre itself.

The excellent cinematography of 'Broken Trail' succeeds at placing the viewer in the movie.

The year is 1898. The United States is fighting in the Spanish-American War and the British Empire is engaged in the Boer War (see Breaker Morant), and horses are in high demand by both Western powers. Prentice Ritter (Robert Duvall, The 6th Day) has recently inherited his sister's holdings, while his nephew Tom Harte (Thomas Haden Church, Spider-Man 3) received nothing. Ritter personally visits Harte to tell him of the news of his mother's death and the issue of the inheritance. Ritter proposes that they herd some 300-500 horses from Oregon to Wyoming for a handsome fee provided by the British Empire in exchange for the herd that is needed for her wartime endeavors. The journey is complicated when Ritter and Harte become unwitting guardians of five young Chinese girls sold into slavery for a short life of prostitution and shame. Both Harte and Ritter become attached to them, as does their new fiddle-playing companion, Henry "Heck" Gilpin (Scott Cooper, Gods and Generals). Matters are further complicated when the group accidentally runs into the woman who originally purchased the girls, "Big Rump" Kate (Rusty Schwimmer, The Perfect Storm). Trailed by outlaws bent on killing the men and returning the girls to their "owner," taking on two more tagalongs, and facing the difficult terrain between Oregon and Wyoming, Ritter and Harte must come to terms with their new lot in life and do all they can to defend not only themselves and the herd, but also their newest and most precious of cargo: innocent human lives.

One of the best things about watching nearly any Western is witnessing the wide open spaces of God's country. For my money, there is no better shot in cinema than the long-distance, panoramic, luscious vista that is the American West, replete with crystal-clear streams; snowy mountain peaks; green, fertile fields; and maybe even some grazing animals; a covered wagon; or a cozy log cabin with a plume of smoke rising form its chimney. Such shots are seen in abundance in Broken Trail, and as beautiful as they are, the movie in which they reside is just as good. The story is simple yet in it are a series of complex, down home, real characters, and the movie's three-hour runtime allows us to get to know them all the more, understand and accept their decisions, and care for their well-being perhaps more than we normally would in a standard 90 to 120 minute movie. The movie also benefits from the standout performances by Duvall, Church, Cooper, and the five Chinese girls (whom we come to affectionately know as #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5). Aside from the wonderful cinematography of the landscapes, the film's standard shots fare just as well. Every shot is well-composed and meaningful, each frame filled to make us feel like part of the group. There are several shots where the camera is placed just-so to make us feel like we're there, sitting around a campfire, listening from off to the side at a seated level as crucial dialogue is heard, and through all these shots, the authentic Old West feel is brought to life.

Broken Trail Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Broken Trail rides onto Blu-ray with a wonderful 1080p, 1.78:1 framed high definition transfer. This is a most impressive image. Some grain is present over the movie, and the print exhibits some very minor blemishes, notably black and white speckles, but these are only visible on rare occasions. The picture reveals excellent detail: the worn leather of saddles and holsters; frayed rope; trail-depleted clothing; lines and finer nuances seen in human faces; and even the horse's manes all look authentic. This transfer exhibits wonderful and remarkably clear imagery from its first frame to its last. Black levels are nearly impeccable, as are flesh tones. Some dank, poorly lit indoor shots, like a bar scene in chapter 4 and the sale of the Chinese girls at the start of the movie, can look a bit hazy and washed out, but the outdoor shots, and even most of the indoor shots, represent a remarkable achievement. Colors are impressively rich and sharp: the red outfits worn by the Chinese girls; the green and blue of Harte's shirt sleeves; the many colors (especially the beautiful greens) of the numerous fields; the browns, whites, and blacks of the horses; or the cracking, faded browns of the leather holsters and saddles, all appear remarkably vibrant and natural. This transfer is truly a sight to behold. Many daytime outdoor shots represent some of the finest, most pleasing imagery I've yet witnessed on Blu-ray. Sony once again delivers the goods, making this transfer for Broken Trail a remarkable one.

Broken Trail Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Presented in a lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack, Broken Trail is almost as good a listen as it is a watch. The film's score permeates the front of the soundstage but doesn't blend into the rears with authority, although on occasion it rings true from the back. It's decidedly front-heavy, but it sounds great. The stampeding of horses, combined with the old west themed music makes for a pleasant, "authentic" Western soundtrack. The stampeding of horses creates the right amount of bass, rattling our seats just enough to make us feel part of the herd, but never overpowering and making the experience anything less than enjoyable. Many of the quieter outdoor scenes have a nice, realistic atmosphere with the rustling of weeds, chirping insects, the crackle of a campfire, howling coyotes in the distance, or almost any natural outdoor sound you can imagine. Sounds pan effortlessly around the soundstage as wagons, horses, and the like cross from one part of your room to another. The film's major shootout doesn't ring as true or as loud as I had hoped, but it's an exciting listen anyway. The strength and drama of that scene and the fine performances of the actors does more to make it (and the movie as a whole) standout. The soundtrack is simply an accessory, "icing on the cake," so to speak, that sounds fantastic, but the movie never relies on its sound to carry the story. Well done.

Broken Trail Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unfortunately, Sony has failed to corral an extensive set of supplements for this Blu-ray release of Broken Trail. The only extra feature on this disc is 'Broken Trail': The Making of a Legendary Western (480p, 23:17). This standard piece allows the cast and crew to discuss their ideas behind the themes of the movie and the Western genre itself. Many of the film's technicalities, from working with a herd of horses to the authentic wardrobe choices for each actor, this short feature packs a lot of information. Trailers for 21, Vantage Point, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind are also included.

Broken Trail Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Broken Trail is an excellent film with no striking flaws. Despite listing the length of the movie as a strength insofar as getting to know the characters, there are one or two sequences that drag on just a bit too long, but I wouldn't have cut more than a few minutes here and there. Once part one of the story ended (viewers have the option of watching the film straight through, or watching one 93 minute half and viewing the second 91 minute half separately, a nice touch) I was more than eager to resume the film after a short break, hearkening me back to the days of LaserDisc when I couldn't jump out of my chair fast enough to swap out platters. Technically, this excellent film rarely feels like it was made for television; nearly every frame is worthy of a big budget studio epic and befitting of a theatrical run. The Western is one of my favorite genres, and Broken Trail is yet another fantastic entry. Despite its lack of supplements, this disc is deserving of a spot in the Blu-ray collection of every Western enthusiast. With its breathtaking visuals that are almost perfectly rendered on this disc, and a very pleasing, high quality lossless sound mix, Broken Trail makes for one of the better looking and sounding Blu-ray discs available. Heartily recommended.