The Timber Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.0

The Timber Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 11, 2015

Discovery jumped into the scripted television fray with the fitfully engaging Klondike, a series about two guys trying to make their way(s) in the wild and wooly world of the late 19th century gold rush in the Yukon. The Timber traffics in much the same territory, figurative and literal, in its tale of two brothers named Samuel (Josh Peck) and Wyatt (James Ransome) who trek through the snowy wilderness not necessarily to make a killing mining for little nuggets, but instead to capture their nefarious father, whose wanted status is a thorn in the brothers’ sides but which offers them a kind of weird opportunity for them to keep the family farm. It’s an interesting enough setup that unfortunately neither the over convoluted screenplay nor the too self consciously arty direction can ever build upon to craft a wholly engaging narrative.

It’s obvious that director Anthony O’Brien (who also co-wrote and co-edited) wanted to gussy up familiar western tropes with a kind of post- modern sensibility, and so there are certain moments where, for example, a traditional shoot out will proceed with interstitial editing from another (relatively more peaceful) scene, something evidently done to make the (sometimes graphic) violence even more unsettling. The problem here is not so much with style, which is occasionally off putting, but with substance, for the screenplay offers the game performers some pretty risible dialogue that frankly leaves most of them stumbling around out in the cold.

The Timber Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Timber is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. Shot digitally with the Arri Alexa, the generally sharp and appealing image has been variously tweaked at times, with some (relatively slight) color grading and other bells and whistles like pushed contrast and highlights, choice which perhaps surprisingly don't lead to much if any clipping of the ubiquitous whites on display. Detail and fine detail are excellent in close-ups, though the wide shots of vast snowy expanses tend to appear more as homogenous wholes rather than offering much in the way of discrete elements. There are no issues with resolution of busy patterns like falling snowflakes.

The Timber Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Timber features an at times rather subtly immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, one which suggests the wide open territory the characters are moving though courtesy of discretely placed ambient environmental effects. A couple of set pieces deliver the requisite bursts of LFE courtesy of elements like gunfire. Dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly. One of the film's better elements is the nicely done score by Tim Borquez, which spills rather comfortably through the side and rear channels much of the time.

The Timber Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes:

  Gunfight Featurette (1080p; 2:35)

  Nightmare Featurette (1080p; 1:27)

• Interviews:

  Josh Peck and Elisa Lasowski (1080i; 8:20)

  Julian Glover (1080i; 7:29)

• Trailer (1080p; 1:36)


• Director Commentary

The Timber Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Timber is stylish and at times quite scenic, but it never amounts to the revisionist western it's so obviously meant to be. Performances are generally quite compelling, and fans of the cast may want to check it out. Technical merits are excellent for those considering a purchase.