The Film
Most Civil War films have really been about the traditional armies in blue and gray, but on the "other" side of the Mississippi in Missouri another war was fought, often between neighbors and in some cases brothers against brothers. While a seemingly odd choice for director Ang Lee, especially given that this was his second American film - and made before his breakout Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, he tackles the material quite well, never really taking sides. As a result Ride With The Devil is a complex story showing the conflict in Missouri from the perspective of the Southern-supporting Bushwhackers against the abolitionist Jayhawkers. Tobey Maquire plays the German-born Jake, whose family sides with the Union, as he joins his friends in a war that has him questioning his own loyalties and the very cause.
A final complaint must be made in regards to the packaging, which includes the film's description saying this is "set during the Kansas-Missouri border war," which technically isn't true. That conflict actually predated and spilled over into the one seen in the film, but it is a misnomer to suggest this is that story.
The Picture
The devil is in the details, and those details come through crystal clear. The lush scenery of Missouri is brought to life with this one that features a 1080p 2.35:1 presentation. The colors of the uniforms, clothing and flesh tones - as well as the general dirtiness of the Bushwhackers - really is excellent, and the horrors of the war, including a "raid" on Lawrence, Kansas by Quantrill's raiders are almost painful to see in HD. This certainly isn't the old style look at the Civil War by any means, and visually this disc shows that fact.
The Sound
The 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack of Ride With The Devil unleashes the hellish fury of the war in surround sound. The dialog is never overwhelmed however, and the audio tracks have a subtle ambient quality. The wooded scenes lack a little of the sounds of "nature" however, but this isn't exactly a criticism of the audio, but more of the director's take. Likewise, the musical score is good but a little too rousing at times given the subject matter.
The Extras
As with most Criterion Collection releases, Ride With the Devil has improved the quality of the picture and sound. But it seems that any significant bonus materials must have been taken in some Bushwhacker raid. We'd expect enough extras to keep you in the metaphoric saddle, but beyond a video interview with star Jeffrey Wright, there are just two audio commentaries, one featuring Lee along with producer/screenwriter James Schamus, and another with director of photography Frederick Elmes, sound designer Drew Kunin and production designer Mark Friedberg. The package does include a nice booklet featuring essays by critic Godfrey Cheshire and Edward E. Leslie, author of The Devil Knows How to Ride: The True Story of William Clarke Quantrill and His Confederate Raiders.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is a fine looking film, well told and with great sound and picture quality on Blu-ray, but a little light on the extras. History buffs will certainly want to add it to their movie library.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
