Butcher's
Crossing (2022/Sony
Blu-ray)
Picture:
B- Sound: B Extras: D Film: B-
Gabe
Polsky's Butcher's Crossing
(2022) is a western drama that is not as bad or phony as most
too-clean films in the genre with nothing new to offer and worse.
Here, this one is a little grittier without being dumb about it, or
wallowing in it, featuring Nicolas Cage as a mysterious buffalo
hunter who has more pelts from kills than expected. A young Harvard
man (Fred Hechinger, whose not bad here) comes to town to 'see the
country' and that includes getting involved with this blue collar
trade despite his white collar credentials.
Though
it is not a character study, there is more character development than
we have seen in the genre in a while and makes it one of the few
believable ones lately since Power Of The Dog (reviewed
elsewhere on this site) and has more than a solid Cage performance
going for it along with some graphic moments to match. As they go on
their journey to look for a buffalo herd Cage's Miller thinks will
offer better pelts than more numerous, easier to access and closer
herds will that most would go for is an interesting premise in
itself.
I
did not know what to expect save a star and/or another well-acted
Cage turn, but the film offers more than most of the dead-on-arrival
westerns we've had to suffer from since the 1980s and fans should be
pleasantly surprised. Others will still be impressed enough by its
pace, ambition, maturity, consistency and what it has to say. The
supporting cast of new and unknown actors do a fine job too. Those
seriously interested should check it out.
The
1080p 2.00 X 1 digital High Definition image is an HD shot with some
minor detail and blur issues, but the slightly dulled color is
consistent and almost stereotypical, but plays as expected and
framing is not bad. I even liked a few of the shots. The
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix is consistent and not bad,
maintaining a consistent soundfield with good mixing, decent music,
well-recorded dialogue and convincing sound placement. Not much of
it stuck with me otherwise, but its fine and professional enough.
There
are no extras.
-
Nicholas Sheffo
