Blackthorn Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Blackthorn" by Magnolia Home Entertainment boasts a generally strong 1080p/AVC encode. Digitally shot with Sony's F23 HD camera, the film displays a warm and vivid picture with satisfactory clarity. Close-up shots exhibit impressive high-definition detail, especially noticeable in elements like Cassidy's hair and whiskers, and the intricate desert flora. However, some longer shots appear slightly soft, likely an attribute of the original footage rather than the transfer. Color representation is robust with a sun-soaked yellow cast dominating several scenes, ensuring skin tones remain balanced and natural.

The 2.35:1 aspect ratio enhances the wide-screen cinematography, capturing Bolivia’s diverse landscapes with stunning dimension. The varied environments, from lush jungles to dry deserts and perilous salt flats, are rendered with remarkable depth and clarity. Whites are intense without blooming, adding to the crispness of snow scenes where individual snowflakes stand out sharply. Despite a slight haziness in black levels during interior shots and occasional chroma noise in darker areas, these issues are not overly distracting. The overall image quality avoids overt compression problems and lacks any noticeable noise reduction or edge enhancement, making it a clean and serviceable visual presentation.

Overall, "Blackthorn" on Blu-ray offers a well-executed transfer that does justice to its breathtaking locations. Despite minor shortcomings in certain soft shots and slightly elevated black levels, the film's rich color palette and dynamic landscapes are effectively showcased. The attention to the digital source fidelity ensures an engaging and visually pleasing experience for viewers.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Blackthorn" is complemented by a proficient DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that significantly enhances the viewing experience for a film of its modest budget. The track excels in creating an immersive atmosphere with rear speakers frequently enlivened by ambient sounds such as gusty winds, birdsong, and other nature-inspired noises, which add depth to the experience. Occasional potent directional effects, particularly gunshots, deliver impactful moments that will make anyone jolt. The music score, rich with plaintive guitar melodies and occasional vocal tracks, including "Ain't No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down)," sounds full and clean across all channels, contributing to a dynamically solid and clear auditory environment. Vocals are balanced well at the forefront of the mix, ensuring clarity with no discernable issues.

Scenes with dialogue are crisp and easy to understand, free from any audible crackles. Despite some quieter moments that lean towards being front-heavy, the soundscape remains expansive, integrating ambient effects like galloping horses, chirping birds, and flowing rivers which contribute to a pleasing fidelity. The occasional bursts of excitement, such as aggressive gunfire, are rendered with a deep resonance that brings a thundering kick to the low end. Throughout the film, the balance among all audio elements is meticulously maintained, ensuring that speech never gets overshadowed by sound effects. The dynamic range is broad, handling a full gamut of frequencies without distortion. While not groundbreaking, this audio mix is both artistically and technically effective, providing a more than satisfactory auditory presentation to complement the film. Optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles are available, including forced English subtitles during Spanish language portions of the film.

The Blu-ray of "Blackthorn" offers a thoughtful selection of extras that should please fans and film enthusiasts alike. Presented in high definition with DTS-HD MA 2.0 sound and English subtitles for Spanish language portions, the extras provide a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the filmmaking process as well as additional narrative content. The deleted scenes are a substantial inclusion, adding depth though not drastically altering the storyline. The short films by Mateo Gil stand out as the most compelling features, offering engaging narratives distinct from the main film. The "Making of Blackthorn" doc provides informative insights into the film’s production, despite its brevity. Additionally, the HDNet segment and trailer round out this well-curated set, giving viewers a fuller understanding of the film’s creation and promotion.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: A selection of cut scenes providing additional character development.
• Making of Blackthorn: Interviews and behind-the-scenes footage about the film's production.
• Short Films by Director Mateo Gil: Two short films titled "Breaking and Entering" and "Say Me."
• HDNet: A Look at Blackthorn: A promotional feature with an interview of star Sam Shepard.
• Trailer: The official trailer for the film.
• Also from Magnolia Home Entertainment: Trailers for other Magnolia releases.

Blackthorn: Resurrecting Legends with Gritty Grace

In Mateo Gil’s evocative western, Blackthorn, the legend of Butch Cassidy is ingeniously reimagined. Sam Shepard, embodying the grizzled Cassidy now living under the alias James Blackthorn, delivers a potent portrayal that mixes raw toughness with poignant vulnerability. The story plants its roots in a tantalizing “what if” scenario: what if the infamous outlaw had survived his supposed last stand and retreated into obscurity in Bolivia? Far removed from his Robin Hood-ish past, Blackthorn leads a solitary existence, until a chance encounter with a Spanish thief, Eduardo (Eduardo Noriega), reignites his dormant thirst for adventure. This encounter sets off a perilous and visually captivating journey across the stark Bolivian landscape.

The film seamlessly weaves between the reflective serenity of Blackthorn’s present life and flashbacks to his glory days, offering glimpses of the tight bond he shared with the Sundance Kid, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. These flashbacks, though not as weighty as the main narrative, enrich the character's backstory and help highlight the melancholic nostalgia that underscores Shepard’s performance. Stephen Rea provides substantial support as Blackthorn's old nemesis, McKinley, whose long-standing obsession with chasing Cassidy injects additional tension and complexity into the plot.

Technically, Blackthorn shines through its thoughtful cinematography that captures the diverse and stunning terrains of Bolivia, making these landscapes almost another character in the story. The film maintains a deliberate pace, often pausing for introspective moments that reveal the inner conflicts of its characters. While the narrative occasionally wanders, it gains momentum towards the end, offering a compelling study of friendship, betrayal, and redemption. Although Blackthorn might not eclipse western masterpieces like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, it provides a refreshing and poignant take on western tropes, skillfully blending old-west charm with contemporary sensibilities.

"Blackthorn" stands out as an engaging reimagining of the Butch Cassidy legend, anchored by Sam Shepard's compelling portrayal of an aged outlaw yearning for peace. Shepard’s nuanced performance brings depth and authenticity to the character, making his quest to return to the U.S. both poignant and riveting. Even if the film doesn’t reach the heights of recent westerns like the Coen brothers' "True Grit," it still offers a satisfying narrative filled with thoughtful reflections on friendship and morality.

Visually, "Blackthorn" is a treat, with breathtaking cinematography that captures the rugged beauty of its settings. The Blu-ray release does justice to this with an impressive video transfer that enhances the film’s natural vistas and period details. The audio mix complements the imagery well, delivering clear dialogue and immersive soundscapes that draw the viewer into the Old West. Although the special features aren't extensive, they provide insightful commentary and behind-the-scenes details that enhance the overall experience.

Overall, "Blackthorn" is a solid addition to the western genre, offering a fresh perspective on a familiar story. While it may not redefine the genre, its strong performances, particularly by Shepard, and high-quality technical execution make it a worthy addition to any film library. This Blu-ray is definitely worth considering for a rental or even a purchase for enthusiasts of outlaw tales and westerns.