Runtime: 105 minutes
Directed by: Walter Hill
Starring: Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, and many other quality actors I'll list below
From: Carolco
Fans of Extreme Prejudice, you need to purchase its (Region 1) Blu debut, stat! Note that tomorrow, I'll say a few words about why this review is being posted a few hours later than typical.
Of course this will be centered on the American experience as I can only speak as an American, but until yesterday the film had never been released past the VHS/laserdisc era. Sure, a digital purchase could be made but that was a VHS rip, no lie. Why this was the case and why it has been available in Blu via a Japanese release a few years ago: hell if I know. At the end I'll provide more details but thanks to Lionsgate and their Vestron Video Blu-ray line of vintage pictures, people now have the chance to see a quality Walter Hill production in its proper aspect ratio and clear picture for either the first time or the first time since '87.
In essence, the movie is a riff on The Wild Bunch, this time updated to feature several elements: Nick Nolte playing a Texas Ranger exactly as you'd expect Nick Nolte to: incredibly gruff... Powers Boothe as a friend of the Ranger who became a drug dealer in Mexico yet they still talk to each other only because they've been pals since childhood... and Michael Ironside as the leader of a clandestine band of ex military men who do various missions of sketchy at best legality. Oh, and there's also Maria Conchita Alonso as a lady who has gone out with both Nolte & Boothe.
The main takeaway is “holy crap what a lineup of talent present.” Besides the names already mentioned, there's:
William Forsythe
Clancy Brown
Rip Torn
Tiny Lister, Jr.
A quality score from Jerry Goldsmith
A script done in part by John Milius
Noting the director and co-writer, not a shock then that this is incredibly masculine and macho. It is full of testosterone & sweat as Nick and Powers attempt to persuade their buddy to their lifestyle... also all the famous faces/character actors deliver acres of memorable dialogue to each other, whether or not it is “tough guy” lines. Besides an interesting story where it takes time to discover how Ironsides and his group will interact with everyone else, when there is action it does deliver. The finale should be more than satisfying for those that love 80's action movies. If you love some, most or all of the talent involved then you'll probably want to check this out. Those only familiar with a 1:33.1 experience, it's like watching Extreme Prejudice for the first time.
For a number of years now I've had a rather dim view of Lionsgate, what they release, and how they have treated some of the pictures they've released. Then again my opinion has softened as it's been over a decade since they last dumped a new horror release into the dollar cinemas. I am glad they created their own boutique label of sorts and for the past few years have put out the sort of titles you'd expect from a boutique Blu label: Chopping Mall, Class of 1999 and box sets of Warlock & Wishmaster are prime examples of previous titles. I haven't gone through any of the extras that this new release has but I appreciate there being an audio commentary and several new interviews. The sound was pretty good and while the picture is not a stunning 4K restoration such as 2001, it was good enough for me. It is clean without any blemishes so that should be enough for fans like me.
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