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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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Johnson
County War
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Reviewed
by: |
David
Litton |
| Genre: |
Drama
|
| Video: |
1.33:1
fullframe |
| Audio: |
Dolby 2.0
Surround |
| Language: |
English
|
| Subtitle: |
English
(cc) |
| Length: |
178
min |
| Rating: |
NR
|
| Release
Date: |
09/24/2002
|
| Studio: |
Artisan
Entertainment/Hallmark Entertainment |
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
Behind-the-scenes featurette |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
None |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
Photo gallery
|
| Cast
and Crew: |
Tom Berenger,
Luke Perry, Adam Storke, Rachel Ward, Burt Reynolds |
| Screenplay
by: |
Written by:
Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana |
| Produced
by: |
Stephen W. Bridgewater,
Mary Church, Frank Q. Dobbs |
| Directed
By: |
David S.
Cass, Sr. |
| Music: |
Sheldon Mirowitz
|
| The
Review: |
Unlike
their earlier release of "Dinotopia" on a two-disc special edition,
Hallmark Entertainment has trimmed down their four-hour miniseries
"Johnson County War" to a shorter three hours, supposedly to
sell it as a movie rather than a larger-than-life TV program.
Not that it helps much: the same old melodrama and Western cliches
abide in this decidedly tired film that will please those in
search of family viewing while appalling those want something
more than just treacly love interests and smarmy dialogue. The
story focuses on the real-life events of Johnson County, Wyoming,
where brothers Cain, Harry, and Dale Hammett (Tom Berenger,
Luke Perry, Adam Storke) struggle to make a life for themselves
herding cattle and sheep. Then there's the womenfolk, comprised
of Dale's wife, Rory (Michelle Forbes), who wants to sleep with
Cain, and the prostitute with the heart of gold, Queenie (Rachel
Ward). Throw in a dose of war and battle over land and property,
led by meanie Hunt Lawton (an out-of-place Burt Reynolds), and
you've got the formula for a movie that leaves no routine subplot
unturned, no kitschy line of dialogue unspoken. It's really
quite silly when you think about it; in fact, I don't think
it could be much more unintentionally hysterical. |
| Image
and Sound |
Considering
it's a television miniseries, the transfer to DVD contains the
usual pitfalls and plusses. Much of the scenery of the Old West
doesn't really get the treatment it deserves with the 1.33:1
fullframe ratio, but for the most part, the colors remain vibrant,
the images solid, the blacks deep, and the clarity commendable
for those willing to pluck down the money. The sound is mastered
in Dolby 2.0 Surround, and features a nicely-enveloping score,
dialogue that tends to leak into the front channels, and some
deep bass for sound effects that is otherwise reserved. |
| The
Extras |
Not
much in the way of special material, aside from a behind-the-scenes
featurette that is a basic marketing piece on the movie, and
a photo gallery. The DVD case credits the edition as also having
a trailer gallery, which it does not include. |
| Commentary |
None |
| Final
Words: |
If
you happened to catch the film on television, and liked it,
then the DVD will please you, though some may be miffed about
the editing. Otherwise, if you can't go through life without
seeing "Johnson County War" at least once, I recommend a rental.
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