Copperhead Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Copperhead Blu-ray Movie Review

A tiring and tiresome Civil War misfire...

Made-for-TV director Ronald F. Maxwell (Gettysburg, Gods and Generals) delves into American history and unearths yet another Civil War drama, albeit not the long-in-development third entry in his Ted Turner-produced trilogy, The Last Full Measure (based on the Jeff Shaara novel of the same name). Alas, connected or no, the Law of Diminishing Cinematic Returns prevails. Be it an unofficial sequel, spiritual successor or loosely connected standalone piece, Copperhead proves itself a decidedly disappointing misfire that doesn't provide insight into Civil War-era pacifism or present a compelling character study worthy of the importance Maxwell attributes to the oft-overlooked subject matter. But the film's woes don't end with its script. While its production design warrants moderate praise, its performances languish, dialogue is wooden and stilted, the central conflict lacks substance, and the greater period concerns, both political and socioeconomic, are underdeveloped and haphazardly incorporated. Billy Campbell and Angus Macfadyen bring much needed heft to their roles, no argument here. But thin melodrama, sleepy pacing and feebly budgeted production values don't result in the poignant period piece Maxwell is trying to deliver.

Copperhead Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Copperhead features a strong, perfectly proficient 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that stays true to director Ron Maxwell and cinematographer Kees Van Oostrum's intentions. Shot digitally, the image exhibits a too-slick-to-be-film sheen, but from an objective perspective, it looks every bit as good as it should. Colors are warm and lifelike, skintones are naturally saturated, black levels are satisfying, and contrast is consistent. The presentation struggles with crush from time to time, not to mention muted nighttime sequences, but it all traces back to the source, nothing more. Detail is excellent, boasting crisp, clean edge definition (without any unsightly ringing to speak of) and fine textures are nicely resolved. The film's production design is the chief beneficiary, revealing the nuances of each costume and set, and there isn't anything in the way of errant noise or significant macroblocking, banding or aliasing to hinder the proceedings. Copperhead may be dramatically inert but its high definition presentation delivers.

Copperhead Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is less remarkable, albeit only because the film's sound design doesn't take advantage of the power and immersion available to it. Dialogue is clean, intelligible and relatively well-prioritized, even if quieter lines seem a bit under-supported. LFE output is merely decent, though, and rear speaker activity is limited, leading to a rather front-heavy, uneventful mix that's more underwhelming than one might expect from a Civil War-era film. That said, there really isn't a lot here that lends itself to a more impactful experience, with hushed conversations, wind-swept fields and dusty interiors dominating the soundscape. Copperhead's lossless track isn't plagued by issues or mishaps, it just doesn't draw listeners in or drop them in a very convincing 19th century rural New York.

Copperhead Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Copperhead doesn't include any special features.

Copperhead Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's little doubt that director Ron Maxwell is utterly fascinated by the politics, conflicts and social clashes of the Civil War. Unfortunately, Copperhead doesn't inspire such fascination, alienating filmfans when it should engage, indulging in melodrama when more subtlety would be appreciated, and embracing convention when something more is required. Civil War pacifism is rarely realized on screen, and if Maxwell's dead-on-arrival drama is any indication, there's a very good reason for it: pacifism isn't exactly an engrossing subject matter. It takes a special story and a deft hand to convey the intricacies of more complex sociopolitical matters, and Maxwell has neither the script nor the vision to make it work. Warner's barebones Blu-ray release is rather underwhelming as well. Although its video presentation is terrific, its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is unremarkable and its supplemental package is non-existent. Civil War junkies may find something to make Copperhead worth their while, but I would advise renting this one long before considering a purchase.