Gentlemen Broncos Blu-ray Review

The 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer of "Gentlemen Broncos" on Blu-ray delivers a visually engaging presentation with remarkable consistency. The aspect ratio of 1.85:1 closely represents the duality between the mundane world of rural Utah and the fantastical realms depicted in the film's sci-fi segments. The realistic scenes are characterized by a slightly subdued color palette, featuring tamed contrast and an earth-toned scheme, although some pastel hues still add unique visual flair. Conversely, the science fiction portions burst with vibrancy, thanks to supersaturated blues and pinks that lend them an appropriately exaggerated, otherworldly aesthetic. While these segments often reflected the artificial nature of green screen backdrops, they seamlessly fit within the film’s intentional homage to '70s sci-fi visuals.

Detail and clarity are well maintained throughout, with sharp edges and fine textures prominently displayed, whether in close-ups of Sam Rockwell’s beard or the distinctive surface of Ronald Chevalier’s leather jacket. Grain is present yet finely distributed, devoid of any noticeable compression artifacts. Black levels are robust but not overpowering; however, night scenes do present challenges with occasional crushing and noise issues. Skin tones reflect the film’s creative decisions, appearing pallid in realistic scenes and adopting pinkish or yellowish hues within the sci-fi parts. While some mid-range shots unexpectedly surpass close-ups in detail, overall definition is satisfactory. Occurrences of aliasing and banding are negligible. Despite these minor imperfections, this Blu-ray transfer excels in its ability to highlight the film’s eccentric charm effectively.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track for "Gentlemen Broncos" delivers a serviceable but ultimately underwhelming auditory experience. Despite a clean, bright, and detailed mix with perfect dialogue prioritization, the sound design lacks excitement and engagement. The rear speakers remain mostly inactive throughout the film, with only the climax scene providing modest cross-channel movements and minimal LFE engagement during explosions. The overall soundstage is disappointingly quiet, failing to offer any significant ambience or memorable musical scores beyond some occasional and forgettable elements such as Peruvian flutes.

While the dialogue is consistently clear and predominantly anchored in the front channels, the mix struggles to demonstrate any substantial range or immersive qualities. The audio's different themes and realities—mundane in the real world and slightly more vibrant in the fantasy sequences of Bronco and Brutus—do not compensate for the lack of activity. Even typically bustling scenes are restrained to the front channels, resulting in a largely one-sided affair. The limited bass activity becomes somewhat more noticeable when Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" plays but otherwise remains scarce. Audience expectations should be tempered, as this mix will suffice for an unremarkable but functional audio presentation.

The extras on the "Gentlemen Broncos" Blu-Ray disc provide a mixed bag of content that ranges from enlightening to downright tedious. The audio commentary by Director Jared Hess, Co-writer Jerusha Hess, and Cinematographer Munn Powell unfortunately falls into the latter category. The track is often meandering and lacks engaging insights, making it not worth the runtime. Meanwhile, the deleted scenes, although short, are mostly awkward and don't add much value to the overall experience. The outtakes reel is more entertaining, featuring amusing line flubs and set mishaps, particularly from Sam Rockwell. The highlight is the "One Nutty Movie" behind-the-scenes documentary, which offers a fun glimpse into the filming process with cast and crew interviews. Lastly, the Mini-Docs are hit-or-miss, containing short vignettes that mainly feel like filler.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary by Director and Co-writer Jared Hess, Co-writer Jerusha Hess, and DP Munn Powell: Unengaging and scattered audio commentary.
• Deleted Scenes: A collection of five mostly awkward and unessential deleted scenes.
• Outtakes Reel: A Buttload of Keepsakes: Entertaining outtakes primarily featuring Sam Rockwell.
• One Nutty Movie: Behind the Scenes of Gentlemen Broncos: A lively making-of documentary with interviews.
• Mini-Docs: Includes short behind-the-scenes vignettes.

Jared Hess' "Gentlemen Broncos" is a comedy that veers sharply into niche territory, primarily through its detailed homage to 1980s geek culture and sci-fi subgenres. While his previous effort, "Napoleon Dynamite," encapsulated a broad spectrum of '80s nostalgia, "Gentlemen Broncos" zeroes in on the specific and often absurd sci-fi lore from that era. The film centers on Benjamin, a homeschooled teenager and aspiring writer, whose sci-fi manuscript, "Yeast Lords: The Bronco Years," gets plagiarized by his idol, Ronald Chevalier. This theft takes the story through various iterations, providing a canvas for Hess' bizarre and imaginative sequences. These segments, featuring Sam Rockwell as both the rugged Bronco and the flamboyant Brutus, are visually inventive yet narratively disjointed, creating more intrigue than the main plot’s mundane survival in rural Utah.

Rockwell's dual performance stands out as the comedic high point, balancing between overt machismo and campy extravagance, offering the movie's rare moments of genuine humor. On the contrary, Michael Angarano’s Benjamin lacks the charisma needed to make his plight compelling. The film also struggles with tone; Hess' penchant for juvenile humor—including crude gags and racial stereotypes—clashes with the more sophisticated comedic potential seen in its fantastical sequences. Supporting characters such as Lonnie Donaho and Tabatha, meant to add layers of conflict, instead come off as mere caricatures, devoid of redeeming qualities or deeper engagement with Benjamin's predicament.

Despite its flaws, "Gentlemen Broncos" has an undercurrent of creativity that keeps the viewer slightly curious. Hess' narrative may falter in emotional depth and consistency, but the film’s inventive sci-fi pastiches strike an eccentric chord that may appeal to a select audience. The overall execution leaves a polarizing impact; it's a film destined to be either admired for its imaginative aspirations or criticized for its lack of coherent plot and character development.

"Gentlemen Broncos" is a polarizing comedy from director Jared Hess that elicits mixed reactions. While the film showcases Hess's signature subversive and offbeat humor, it struggles with pacing, delivering laughs in short bursts amidst lengthy periods of tedium. Lifelong fans of Hess's work, especially those enamored with "Napoleon Dynamite," may find enough familiar eccentricity to warrant a blind buy. However, for general audiences, this movie leans more towards a cautious rental due to its inconsistent engagement.

Performance-wise, Sam Rockwell's portrayal of Brutus is a standout and arguably the highlight of the film. His character's sheer absurdity and charm leave audiences wishing for a film solely focused on him. The Blu-ray release itself offers competent but not exceptional audio-visual quality, making the viewing experience pleasant, if not outstanding. Supplementary features are brief but add value for viewers interested in behind-the-scenes insights.

In conclusion, "Gentlemen Broncos" is an acquired taste. While it won't appeal to everyone, its unique charm and occasional hilarity make it deserving of at least one viewing. Proceed with tempered expectations, especially if you're not already a fan of Jared Hess's directorial style.