Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

White Lightning Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 15, 2014

Perfecting his good ol’ boy screen persona, Burt Reynolds makes a mighty fine southern hero in 1973’s “White Lightning,” a roughhouse revenge picture that makes the most out of its star’s mischievous charms and Arkansas locations. Directed by Joseph Sargent and scripted by William Norton, “White Lightning” doesn’t sustain its excitability, but the first hour packs quite a punch, setting up a suitably enraged story that gives Reynolds plenty to work with as the movie unleashes all sorts of car chases and collisions of masculinity.

Reynolds is out front, often shirtless and smirking, but the real star of “White Lightning” is second-unit director Hal Needham. The stuntman and future Reynolds co-conspirator, Needham stages a handful of rip-roaring car chases to spice up the movie, tearing through town streets and rural roads to depict Gator’s master plan of vengeance and humiliation, even periodically taking to the air as automobiles are launched skyward, only occasionally sticking their landing. It’s a welcome surge of smashmouth intensity, coupled with Reynolds’s machismo and the screenplay’s determination to turn the lead character into a backwoods James Bond, watching Gator charm the ladies and pummel his adversaries.

White Lightning Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation carries "White Lightning" to BD with a good amount of fine detail, working through erratic cinematography to isolate sweaty faces and decrepit farms. Texture is also good with skin particulars, which retain their natural pinkness. Colors are satisfactory, bringing out county greenery and costuming. Contrast is challenged during low-lit scenes, but blacks remain accessible. Grain is comfortable and filmic. Print shows some speckling and debris, but no overt damage.

White Lightning Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers the basics for the "White Lightning" listening experience, with emphasis on dialogue exchanges, which sound crisp and clean, only hampered by the minor presence of hiss. Scoring is pronounced and supportive, carrying the southern feel of the picture with confidence, nicely balanced with the performances. Outdoor atmospherics add to the mix, while action brings some depth, contributing a range of squealing tires and revving engines.

White Lightning Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Back to the Bayou: Part 1" (9:55, HD) sits down with Burt Reynolds, who walks through the history of "White Lightning," sharing anecdotes and memories. Perhaps most significant is the revelation that Steven Spielberg was lined up to direct the picture at one point before fear of location shooting forced him to drop out. Reynolds has kind words to share about his co-stars (save for Diane Ladd), and recalls the feature's surprising box office performance in northern states. It's a brief but entertaining chat.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:26, HD) is included.

White Lightning Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Carrying on for too long (halfheartedly exploring counterculture in small town U.S.A.) , "White Lightning" eventually runs out of gas, working to manage a storyline that doesn't always emphasize the charged emotions that highlight the opening of the picture. Still, "White Lightning" manages to climax with a kick, quickly reminding viewers of its capacity to tear up nature and smash cars. Who needs a plot about moonshine distribution and tax evasion when there's Burt Reynolds squealing around in a speeding car, making sure Ned Beatty pays for his crimes.