Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Guncrazy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 28, 2020

If the title and general plot mechanics of Guncrazy were pretty obviously designed to evoke memories of Joseph H. Lewis’ well regarded 1950 film noir Gun Crazy, there’s probably a somewhat more recent referent that will spring to some viewers’ minds, namely the 1967 classic Bonnie and Clyde, at least insofar as Guncrazy posits a couple on the lam from the authorities and who, in the words of the tagline from the legendary Arthur Penn film, “are young. . .in love. . .and [who] kill people”. (It's probably no coincidence that the back cover of this release overtly mentions Bonnie and Clyde.) Guncrazy had a somewhat long gestational period, and when it was finally screened at Cannes in 1992, it was met with a perhaps surprising indifference from potential distributors. At least due in part to that initial reaction, the film actually premiered for most U.S. audiences in the form of broadcasts on Showtime, and it was for that reason that Drew Barrymore received a Golden Globe nomination in the “ Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film” category (she didn’t win).

Anita Minteer (Drew Barrymore) is a troubled California teen trapped by circumstance and trying desperately to claw her way out to some kind of better life. She's not above trading sexual favors among her classmates to help her at least feel she's "popular", but she can't avoid the horrors of her home life, where she also "submits" to her mother's lover Rooney (Joe Dallesandro, about as creepy as you'd expect him to be). From the "outside", there's probably little doubt that any objective analyst might describe Anita as "white trash" (she even lives in a trailer park), but Matthew Bright's screenplay actually manages to make Anita at least somewhat sympathetic. Interestingly in this regard, Bright also casts much the same (initial) sympathetic light on Howard (James LeGros), an ex-con Anita hooks up with who is trying to at least conform better to a straight and narrow lifestyle than he had previously, but who finds himself seduced in more ways than one by Anita, who sees Howard as her ticket out of predicaments both foisted upon her by the vagaries of fate and circumstance, as well as others she has unabashedly created herself (albeit in reaction to those circumstances).

Suffice it to say (and without giving away a few salient plot points), Anita and Howard have to take off, which is when the film tips over into what is probably its "pulpiest" aspect as the pair engages in a crime spree which is arguably not as "amateurish" as the exploits seen in Gun Crazy, and which of course results in a significant amount of carnage. The film has a decided edge, which helps lend it some authenticity that some of its more hyperbolic elements probably chafe against, and quite unexpectedly there's even some black comedy wafting through the proceedings.

The film probably helped fans (and maybe more so, critics) reassess the talent of Drew Barrymore, who does really excellent work as a kind of sociopath in training. LeGros is also quite interesting depicting a character who is obviously prone to criminality, but who is perhaps "urged" back into a less than honorable lifestyle against his will, or at least his better judgment. This was the first feature film from director Tamra Davis, better known in those days for music videos, and she brings a kind of hip 90s viewpoint to the story, though some aspects, like the snake handling revival group, are definitely "old school" (or maybe even old testament).

Guncrazy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Guncrazy is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of the MVD Rewind Collection, an imprint of MVD Visual, and FilmRise with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. Some anomalies like noticeable telecine wobble during the credits and a somewhat variable presentation that can tip close to noisy territory in some of the darkest moments may suggest this isn't a new restoration and/or master, but in the most bright lit and/or outdoor moments, this presentation looks rather good, with a nicely saturated palette and generally commendable detail levels. Some of the darker material is pretty gritty looking, as can be gleaned from some of the screenshots I've included with this review, and there are also a few kind of odd color timing moments, as in a cafe scene with Barrymore and LeGros where flesh tones are almost orange looking. Some minor banding can be seen in scenes where lighting conditions change quickly.

Guncrazy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While there is a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track that opens things up in a lot of the outdoor material, the "main" track here is an LPCM 2.0 which provides fine support for dialogue and effects. The score by Ed Tomney features a lot of low end synth pads, which can kind of surge through the sound design and slightly overpower things at times, but the source cues sound fine. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

Guncrazy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Making of Guncrazy (1080p; 1:28:57) is a perhaps unexpectedly long and in depth piece bearing a 2020 copyright date and featuring quite a few interviews with the likes of Tamra Davis, James LeGros and Ione Skye (but no Drew Barrymore). A number of other films, including the "original" Gun Crazy and tangentially related items like Badlands, are also brought up in this often very interesting overview. Fans of the film will certainly find this a worthwhile documentary.


• Portrait of a Director: Tamra Davis (1080p; 39:47) is another evidently newly done piece focusing on Davis, and featuring what looks like some of the same general interview that is included in the featurette listed above.


• The Making of Guncrazy (480i; 19:39) is an archival featurette from 1992. This has pretty lackluster video quality that suffers from things like combing anomalies.


• Five Behind the Scenes Clips on the Set of Guncrazy (480i; 00:49, 1:14, 00:40, 00:56, 00:55) are authored with separate timecodes, but follow each other automatically.


• Audio Commentary from director Tamra Davis and star Drew Barrymore can be accessed under the Setup Menu.


• Trailers includes Guncrazy Trailer 1 (480p; 1:46) and Guncrazy Trailer 2 (480p; 1:58), along with trailers for several other releases from the MVD Rewind Collection.

Additionally, a folded mini-poster is included. I'm not sure if this was a production and/or packaging error, or if MVD Rewind is offering this as a kind of patently odd non-related supplement, but my keepcase also included the folded mini-poster for MVD Rewind's release of Bloodfight / Ironheart.

Guncrazy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I think if scenarist Matthew Bright and Davis had simply gone for the gusto in terms of some of the black comedy that roils just beneath the surface at times in this story, this "version" of Guncrazy might have registered more strongly with audiences. Barrymore is disturbingly fun in this film, and the colorful supporting cast also features generally good performances. There are some tonal inconsistencies in the presentation that may create obstacles for some, but fans of Barrymore in particular will probably find at least some things to admire in this film. Technical merits encounter a few issues, but the two new documentaries on this disc are outstanding, for those who are considering a purchase.