The Reivers Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Reivers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 21, 2015

1969’s “The Reivers” is based on a William Faulkner novel, with director Mark Rydell doing a serviceable job trying retain the project’s literary origins. An episodic feature concerning a coming-of-age journey, “The Reivers” is best appreciated for its atmosphere, as the production creates an enjoyable turn-of-the-century mood with fading innocence and industrial influence, giving viewers a pleasurable time machine viewing experience that helps to digest the periodic tedium of the plot.

“The Reivers” tells the story of Boon (Steve McQueen) and his 11-year-old friend, Lucius (Mitch Vogel), who travel far from their Mississippi home to visit Corrie (Sharon Farrell), a kindly prostitute the elder man has fallen in love with. Along for the ride is Ned (Rupert Crosse, who received an Academy Award nomination for his performance), who complicates the trip with foolishness, requiring the gang to rise above their emotional challenges and endure physical ones against hostile locals. Rydell manages a level of respect for Faulkner’s work, keeping tabs on supporting characters and dramatic arcs that highlight the death of innocence for young Lucius, who receives a true education on love and loss. Comedic antics are included, and the picture climaxes with a horse race, but the core of “The Reivers” is a tender tale of awakening, with every character sampling the bitterness of life, absorbing this education as an offering of personal growth.

The Reivers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a clear, relatively crisp look at "The Reivers." While period cinematographic softness and focal limitations remain, details come through during the viewing experience, with pleasing textures on faces and locations, delivering depth and era-specific particulars. Colors are equally satisfactory, examining plenty of deep south greenery as the action hits the open road, while costuming is also generous, finding brothel dresses adding a nice elevation of hues. Skintones remain natural. Delineation is adequate, although it's rarely challenged in the brightly lit feature. Source is in good condition, missing overt damage spots, with only some speckling detected.

The Reivers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix manages to create a time and place for the listener, with John Williams's score coming through with encouraging clarity, offering precise instrumentation and position. However, it's a bit louder than the dialogue exchanges, leaving human interaction unable to come up with the same type of sonic force. However, overall balance isn't threatened, just a little off at times. Atmospherics are capable, with welcome crowd interaction and a secure environmental presence. Hiss isn't an issue.

The Reivers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

The Reivers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Reivers" isn't monumental work, but it does generate a feeling of growth and drama, helped along by agreeable performances that articulate troubled feelings and broad reactions. The effort retains a page-turning mood, and that's all that truly matters with material like this, preserving Faulkner's way with southern culture while Rydell sets a widescreen mood of travel and adventure.