High-Ballin' Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

High-Ballin' Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 25, 2020

Peter Carter's "High-Ballin'" (1978) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage promotional materials for the film and an archival episode of Trailers From Hell with director David DeCoteau. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Duke

Folks that know their ‘70s films will quickly link Peter Carter’s High-Ballin’ to two other genre films from the same decade, and rightfully so. The first is Jonathan Kaplan’s film White Line Fever, which came out a couple of years before it and was supposed to legitimize Jan-Michael Vincent as a major star. (But it did not. After this film, Vincent’s drug addiction became irreversible and slowly ruined his career). The second is Sam Peckinpah’s Convoy, which a fair number of critics consider to be one of the iconic director’s biggest misfires. (Like Vincent, at the time, Peckinpah was struggling with a cocaine addiction that greatly affected the quality of his work behind the camera. However, it is said that the first cut of his film was apparently much better than the final edited version that was released in theaters). There are clear thematic and visual similarities between these films, and regardless of whether intentional or not, they cannot not be ignored.

In High-Ballin’ Peter Fonda plays a biker named Rene who after years of being away returns to his old stomping ground near the Canadian border, where his best pal Duke (Jerry Reed) makes ends meet as an independent truck driver and lives on a farm with his wife and teenage boy. Rene’s plan to surprise his pal and have a good time with him, however, gets spoiled when elusive highway thugs start targeting all of the drivers in the area that have refused to work for local businessman King Caroll (Chris Wiggins) and it becomes clear that Duke is next on their list. Before the inevitable confrontation, Duke bumps into hottie driver Pickup (Helen Shaver), who steals his heart and while playing hard to get proves to be an invaluable partner.

The main conflict is essentially a replica of the one that is at the center of White Line Fever -- an independent truck driver is roughed up by shady characters working on behalf of a very crooked businessman with deep pockets. The film is also set in a similar mostly rural environment where such baddies can do a lot of harm to those that dare to question their vision and authority. On the other hand, there is a rather obvious intent to mimic the type of realistic truck action that made Convoy a genre favorite as well. Obviously because of budget limitations the scope of the production is much smaller, but the intensity and authenticity of the action are quite similar to those of Convoy.

The film’s modest appearance and naturalism -- which in years past were almost certainly perceived as its main flaws -- are what makes it stick out now. It feels a lot like a ‘kitchen sink’ version of the type of modern westerns that both Kaplan and Peckinpah directed at the same time. The action is still the main attraction, but the gray and often completely frozen locations in Ontario where it was shot produce a very strong atmosphere that seems perfect for the ‘kitchen sink’ miserablism that a whole range of different British films legitimized during the ‘60s and early ‘70s.

Reed’s charisma and sense of humor just about manage to overshadow Fonda’s character, so this is a problem that either the script or Carter should have addressed during the shooting process. Frankly, considering Shaver’s similar high-energy and attitude it feels like Reed would have been the perfect match for her, while Fonda should have played the concerned trucker who has to stay alive to provide for his family.

The title song has a really cool funky vibe and actually sounds like something that Stevie Wonder might have scripted. It was written by Reed and Dick Feller, and recorded by Reed.

High-Ballin' Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, High-Ballin' arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a very handsome new 2K master. Ideally density and depth could be slightly better, plus a few tiny white flecks that remain should have been picked up, but I like how this film looks in high-definition a lot. All of the key characteristics of the master are solid and on a larger screen the entire film has a very stable organic appearance. The color grading is convincing as well. A higher resolution master should introduce some meaningful but improvements in darker areas where in some areas shadow definition could be balanced better, but again, I think that these would be very small adjustments that will not make a crucial difference. As it is, the film looks lovely, the best it ever has. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

High-Ballin' Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

There are no technical issues to report in our review. The audio is clean, clear, stable, and easy to follow. During the action sequences there is a decent amount of dynamic movement as well, especially when the big trucks are involved. However, as always, do not expected to hear any stunning dynamic contrasts. The lossless audio simply replicates the native qualities of the original soundtrack.

High-Ballin' Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for High-Ballin'. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 480/60i).

• Radio Spots - two vintage radio spots for High-Ballin'. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Trailers From Hell - presented here is a an archival episode of Trailers From Hell with director David DeCoteau (American Rampage), who quickly addresses the film's production history and unique qualities. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

High-Ballin' Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Do you remember the modern westerns with truckies that Sam Peckinpah and Jonathan Kaplan directed during the '70s? High-Ballin' is that kind of film but with a very distinct 'kitchen sink' vibe. The only major flaw that I see in it is that Jerry Reed just about overshadows Peter Fonda's tough biker, and he is not supposed to. I still think that it is a very solid film, though, and worth owning on Blu-ray. (If you enjoy the genre bending that takes place in High-Ballin' also take a look at Scorpion Releasing's release of Hard Country). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.