Quigley Down Under Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.0

Quigley Down Under Blu-ray Movie Review

In the quest to turn Tom Selleck into a movie star, Hollywood ended up with a few decent franchise-starters to help the actor along. Audiences didn’t accept the “Magnum, P.I.” lead as a viable source of big screen thrills, but Selleck’s efforts to forge a career found him accepting colorful roles, with one of his better starring vehicles being 1990’s “Quigley Down Under,” which brought the American to Australia to reexamine the western in a new land, portraying a classic genre character. Helping the cause is director Simon Wincer, who previously helmed the beloved mini-series “Lonesome Dove,” trading pained reflection for grander thrills in his homeland, working to bring some classic John Ford spirit to the picture. “Quigley Down Under” benefits from such enthusiasm, with the cast (including Laura San Giacomo and the late, great Alan Rickman, here in his bad guy prime) providing a level of life to the screenplay by John Hill, who’s trying to bring the traditions and concerns of the Old West to an alien land, investigating issues of racism and masculinity where few might expect it. It’s not an entirely triumphant endeavor, but Selleck delivers one of his best performances as the titular sharpshooter, showcasing a full understanding of the job at hand as he gives a nicely leathered and unsettled performance for Wincer, who’s also in hog heaven positioning heroes and villains, while spotlighting longstanding issues from Australia’s past.

Quigley Down Under Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Quigley Down Under" made its Blu-ray debut back in 2011, and returns to disc via Shout Factory, who haven't been granted permission to create a fresh scan for this release. The 2011 disc garnered high marks from fans, and AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation lacks freshness today. It's a flatter, slightly processed viewing experience, with a slight digital glaze pulling out the sheer splendor of the original cinematography. Detail is functional but not remarkable, delivering a basic sense of leathery appeal on the characters, including sunbaked makeup additions and ornate costuming, which presents a mild feel for fibrous textures. Colors are bright but on the hazier side, with age mutating some primaries, rendering skintones purplish at times. Delineation struggles some during evening encounters, inching toward solidification. Source is clean, without pronounced elements of damage. The first 15 screenshots have been matched to the 2011 review as closely as possible, with slight mismatching not showcasing a change in framing.

Quigley Down Under Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix captures the sweep of "Quigley Down Under," preserving the bigness of Basil Poledouris's score, which maintains loud instrumentation and confident position, supporting the various moods of the film. Dialogue exchanges are clear, handling accents with ease, while emotional surges and screaming matches aren't distortive. Sound effects maintain their authority, with sharp gun shots and rumbling horse play. Atmospherics are satisfactory, providing a feel for outdoor expanse and echoed interiors.

Quigley Down Under Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "This One Shoots a Mite Further" (23:09, HD) is a conversation with master armorer Mike Tristano, who kicks things off with a helpful explanation of what exactly he does on a movie set, helping to secure firearm accuracy, train actors, and deal with safety issues. The star of the show is the Sharps Rifle, which is explored in depth, detailing manufacturing history and construction, with Tristano giving a physical tour of the weapon, showing off its many working parts. Mentioning the rifle's iconic status, the interviewee highlights demand, with waiting lists for the Sharps lasting five years after the release of "Quigley Down Under." Tristano also discusses other weapons found in the picture, including Marston's Army Colt, which isn't as fondly remembered.

• "Finding Crazy Cora" (17:51, HD) sits down with Laura San Giacomo, who admits she hasn't seen the film in a long time. Remaining professional and expressive, Giacomo articulates her efforts of research into period life and survival, and explores her character, tapping into Cora's unimaginable trauma. Reflection on time spent with Tom Selleck and Alan Rickman reveals a deep fondness for both of her co-stars, who were very invested in the process, spending countless hours rehearsing scenes and figuring out emotional weight to share. Costuming explores the pressure of corsets in the heat, and Giacomo has special memories of working with Aboriginal actors, including the infant Cora rescues along the way. There's some talk of the lasting appeal of "Quigley Down Under," with male audiences particularly responsive to the movie's charms.

• "Rebirth of the Western" (7:14, SD) is a vintage EPK featurette that collects interviews from Selleck and director Simon Wincer, who try to sell the picture to the mass audience, identifying character, story, and the unique location for "Quigley Down Under." There's not a lot of BTS footage, with film clips claiming most of the run time.

• T.V. Spots (1:04, SD) present two commercials.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:52, HD) is included.

Quigley Down Under Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Quigley Down Under" isn't particularly flashy, with Wincer trying to remain within traditions, embracing the suspense of long-distance rifle shooting and gun battles. The local atmosphere is a big plus for the feature, which touches on Aboriginal horrors, while the Outback environment is used spectacularly, trading Monument Valley for a more intimidating playground of heat and pursuit. The movie lacks a little pace now and then (Quigley's setbacks grow a "mite" repetitive as the effort reaches two hours in length), and Giacomo's portrayal of a mentally fried woman trying to reclaim what was taken from her hits too many cartoonish notes. But these are small complaints for a very entertaining western, and one that successfully handles convention and thematic addition with care, giving the routine some newfound substance and surroundings, while Selleck holds attention with his appealing performance, enjoying the challenge of portraying a cowboy with a thick moral core who loves to duel with baddies from a thousand yards away.