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Directed by Richard Pearce
 USA 1984

 

In this gritty, gut-wrenching account of rural America, Jessica Lange (A Thousand Acres) and Sam Shepard (Thunderheart) are Jewell and Gil Ivy. They work the land in America’s heartland, on a farm that has bound their family together for generations. For Jewel and Gil, the land has always been their life, so when government bureaucrats decide to take it all away, the Ivy’s decide to stay on their land and fight the greedy land grabbers. The great character actors Wilford Brimley (Cocoon) and Matt Clark (White Lightning) co-star in this classic drama written by William D. Wittliff (Raggedy Man) and directed by Richard Pearce (Heartland). Academy Award® Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Lange).

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Released in the mid-1980s, this farm drama stars Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard as Jewell and Gil Ivy, who run a small farm in Iowa that has been in Jewell's family for several generations; her father Otis (Wilford Brimley) lives with them, along with their three children. While the work is hard and the earnings are slim, the Ivys have been able to get by, like most of their neighbors, until a one-two punch threatens to devastate the Iowa farming community. First, a tornado devastates the area, then the Farmers Home Administration calls in the loans on most of the farmers in the area, which they are in no position to repay. With thirty days to "voluntarily liquidate" their property, the Ivys, like most of their friends and neighbors, are desperate to find a way to hold on to their property, and when the stress causes Gil to buckle, Jewell must step in to keep the clan going. In addition to starring as Gil, Sam Shepard also contributed (without credit) to William D. Wittliff's screenplay; Wittliff was also slated to direct, but shortly after shooting began he was replaced by Richard Pearce.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Poster

Theatrical Release: September 28th, 1984 (New York Film Festival)

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Review: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

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Distribution Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:49:40.573      
Video

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rays

Disc Size: 22,182,583,686 bytes

Feature: 21,299,650,560 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.65 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1558 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1558 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino Lorber

 

1.85:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-rays

Disc Size: 22,182,583,686 bytes

Feature: 21,299,650,560 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.65 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Lee Gambin
 • Theatrical Trailer (2:00)


 Blu-ray Release Date: August 28th, 2018
 Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 8

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Kino present "Country" on a single-layered Blu-ray in 1080p with a supportive bitrate. The film is shown in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Country has a soft look to it, but there is some grain. Unfortunately there are multiple instances of dirt and scratches that have not been cleaned up. This isn't too distracting, and I've certainly seen worse, but its there. Colors are somewhat muted, most likely intentionally, to give the film a gritty life-on-the-farm feeling. Contrast is decent throughout, though some nighttime scenes seem to be a little shallow in the blacks department. Overall not a great transfer, but it does the job.

There is a 16-bit DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track. Much like the image, the sound isn't anything too flashy and can sound a little dull and washed out at moments. That said, dialogue is clear and the score doesn't really drown anything out. It just all sounds a little flat. To be fair, this is most likely how this film would have sounded during its theatrical release. A 24-bit transfer would have been nice. The score is thanks to composer, Charles Gross (Valdez is Coming, The Burning Bed). There are optional English subtitles on this Region-A-locked Blu-ray.

The main extra included here is a wonderful commentary from film critic and historian, Lee Gambin ( author of Massacred by Mother Nature: Exploring the Natural Horror Film  and Nope, Nothing Wrong Here: The Making of Cujo). Gambin talks about the wave of family-farm-struggle movies of the period, as well as the themes of man vs. nature. This is a lively track full of interesting tidbits, as Gambin is clearly a knowledgeable fan of this film. Also on this disc, the film's trailer, as well as trailers for "A Thousand Acres", "Silkwood", and "Ulee's Gold".

Though this is by no means a classic, Jessica Lange's performance is quite something. She has a certain knack for pathos that most actors would kill for. The transfer is nothing to write home about, but this is definitely a film worth checking out. And the commentary track is wonderful. Look forward to more tracks from Lee Gambin.

Colin Zavitz

 

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Box Cover

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Distribution Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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