6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The gangs of Jesse James and Cole Younger join forces for a bungled robbery of the bank in Northfield, MN.
Starring: Cliff Robertson, Robert Duvall, Luke Askew, R.G. Armstrong, Dana ElcarWestern | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
For this third picture, writer/director Philip Kaufman takes a trip into American legend with 1972’s “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid,” examining the thin line between fact and fiction concerning the exploits of Jesse James and Cole Younger. The feature surveys the winding ways of the James- Younger Gang as they cross the country on a mission to collect a fortune from a small town bank, but Kaufman isn’t making a matinee distraction. Instead, he works his way into troubling personalities and tempers, highlighting the power of reputation and the reality of poisoned behaviors, making a bank robbery movie that’s more about psychological disease than straightforward horse-riding, guns blazing theatrics.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation resembles a typical Universal catalog titles, filtering out some of the textured cinematography in "The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid," which strives to offer a period look for the production. Colors remain adequate, with costuming retaining leathery browns and grays, and locations showcasing woodsy hues. Greenery is passable, visiting forests and small towns. Skintones are natural. Detail isn't inspired, working with smoothed features on colorful co-stars, highlighting personal wear and tear. Community visits shorten distances. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in fine shape, without evidence of major damage, but mild scratches and speckling remain.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix isn't created with depth, aiming for more of a chaotic assembly of elements to reflect the wild west setting. Dialogue exchanges are clear, identifying looped lines and inherent damage. Scoring is loud and commanding, securing western moods, with reasonable instrumentation. Sound effects are acceptable, keeping up with gun shots and assorted acts of violence. A climatic fall onto a calliope registers with intended irritation.
Thankfully, there's some genuine greatness in Kaufman's vision to get the feature past some serious tonal roadblocks. The central heist is a fascinating study in audience irritation, and certain lines resonate long after the film concludes (Cole, when told that baseball is America's sport, replies that, actually, "shooting" is). Kaufman isn't celebrating outlaw antics in full, always trying to peel back layers to show how these famous faces of the West actually processed challenges to their masculinity, and for James, his patience. They battle life and death, are celebrated and condemned, and achieve and lose fortunes. Kaufman doesn't have epic scope or much focus, but he gets gritty with his characters, making for a fascinating psychological examination.
Limited Edition to 3000
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