Ride Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Ride" offers a commendable visual experience, although not without minor imperfections. The film is delivered in an AVC encoded 1080p transfer with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, likely derived from a 2K digital intermediate. This transfer effectively captures the narrative's dichotomy, shifting between the intimate daily lives of the Hawkins family and dynamic rodeo sequences. The rodeo scenes, while visually engaging, occasionally exhibit less sharpness due to the kinetic nature of both subjects and camera movements. The overall color palette is thoughtfully suffused, with strong contrast enhancing the narrative's emotive undertones. However, occasional brighter flashes and minimal banding are present, primarily in darker rodeo environments suddenly flooded with light.

Auditorily, "Ride" features a 5.1 DTS-HD MA track complemented by a 2.0 Dolby Digital downmix for quieter viewing. The audio design aligns with the film's character-driven narrative, delivering a mix that foregrounds dialogue and the intricate symphony of rodeo events. Dialogue is rendered with clarity, except for minor instances where character detailing slightly muffles speech. The soundtrack's score enriches the more subdued sequences, adding depth without overshadowing the film's dramatic essence. Bass elements provide intermittent heft but maintain a balanced presence, ensuring the audio remains intimately connected with the film's storytelling nature rather than overwhelming it. Overall, while the sound mix is meticulously constructed, it aligns perfectly with the film's understated drama, warranting recognition for its subtle yet effective execution.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "Ride" impressively showcases its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Particularly noteworthy are the rodeo sequences, where the soundtrack delivers a heightened sense of realism and energy. The mix expertly utilizes surround channels to immerse the viewer in a dynamic auditory environment, capturing the exhilarating essence of the rodeo events. Additionally, quieter sequences are enhanced with lifelike ambient sounds that fill the space provided by the side and rear speakers, establishing a consistently immersive audio experience.

The musical elements of the film are robust and enjoyable, adding depth and richness to the overall soundscape. The soundtrack strikes an impressive balance between music, dialogue, and sound effects, ensuring a cohesive presentation that allows each aspect to flourish without overshadowing the others. Dialogue is consistently clear and precise, ensuring that viewers can easily follow character interactions and narrative progression. Subtitles in English and French offer accessibility options for diverse audiences.

Overall, this audio track offers a meticulously crafted auditory experience that elevates the viewing of "Ride." Consistent attention to engaging surround channel use and clean dialogue reproduction marks this presentation as technically proficient and engaging, thoroughly enhancing the film's impact.

The Blu-ray extras for "Ride" offer a comprehensive glimpse into the production through engaging interviews with the main cast. These high-definition segments provide viewers with insightful behind-the-scenes perspectives, including discussions from Annabeth Gish, C. Thomas Howell, and other key actors. Each interview delves into the participants' personal experiences and contributions to the film, effectively enhancing the viewer's understanding and appreciation of the movie. Notably, the disc is seamlessly authored, allowing these features to play consecutively without manual navigation—an advantageous design decision by Well Go USA. However, the automatic inclusion of trailers for other releases could be seen as a minor distraction. The presentation is further complemented by a slipcover, adding to the overall appeal.

Extras included in this disc:

• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional clip for "Ride."
• Interviews with the Cast: Personal insights from key cast members including Annabeth Gish, C. Thomas Howell, and others.

"Ride," directed, written, and co-starred by Jake Allyn, ventures into the contemporary Western genre, a domain that often struggles to capture the audience's imagination compared to its storied past. Set against the backdrop of dusty Texas plains, the film follows the beleaguered Hawkins family, grappling with financial woes and familial dysfunction. The narrative centers on John Hawkins, portrayed by C. Thomas Howell, who finds himself at a crossroads as he endeavors to support his cancer-stricken daughter amidst crumbling generational rodeo traditions. This plot intertwines with familiar undercurrents of substance abuse and redemption, as ex-con son Peter (Allyn) attempts to reconcile with his past mistakes and his estranged sheriff mother, Monica (Annabeth Gish).

The film leans heavily on Christian motifs, exploring themes of forgiveness and restitution amidst a landscape riddled with crime-induced desperation reminiscent of "No Country for Old Men." While these elements potentially offer a deep insight into human struggle, their execution occasionally plods with a heaviness that veers into melodrama. Allyn's portrayal of Peter imbues the character with a visceral rawness, but other narrative arcs succumb to clichés inherent in redemption tales. Despite these narrative hiccups, Allyn's understanding of portraying tempered resilience from flawed individuals remains a standout.

"Ride" ambitiously marries drama with socio-economic critiques, particularly spotlighting the absurdities within the American healthcare system. This juxtaposition elevates the film's messaging beyond traditional Western tales of legacy sustenance, subtly echoing societal grievances. Nonetheless, clunky expository moments and a conspicuous shift to a music video aesthetic in the final act dilute its impact. Allyn and co-writer Josh Plasse's screenplay juggles the dual notion of preserving an endangered lifestyle and confronting healthcare inadequacies, yet might have benefitted from a more restrained narrative approach to let the underlying themes naturally resonate.

"Ride" on Blu-ray presents itself as an ambitious attempt to merge multiple genres within the framework of a modern western. This dual-genre narrative presents an engaging yet convoluted storyline that struggles to maintain a consistent focus, affecting its overall engagement with the audience. The film's pacing is notably slow, which, while creating moments of intensity and depth, often risks losing viewer interest during its 114-minute runtime. However, one cannot ignore the excellent performances delivered by the cast, contributing to its evocative tone and lending some depth to the story.

Well Go USA's Blu-ray release of "Ride" holds up admirably on the technical front. The visual presentation in a 2.35:1 AVC aspect ratio ensures that the expansive landscapes are displayed with clarity and vibrancy, suiting the film’s tonal ambitions. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio enhances the viewing experience, offering an immersive soundscape that complements the on-screen action. Subtitles are available in English SDH and French, which broadens accessibility. However, the Blu-ray extras are limited and some may find them lacking beyond the standard trailer inclusion.

Ultimately, "Ride" is an intriguing yet uneven modern western worth experiencing for its strong performances and technical merits. Nevertheless, due to its pacing issues and overstuffed narrative, it doesn’t entirely succeed in justifying a purchase decision. For those interested in the genre’s evolution or seeking a well-crafted technical offering, this Blu-ray is best approached as a rental. It remains a solid option for a one-time viewing experience.