Crossfire Trail (2001)
Warner Home Video
Cast: Tom Selleck, Wilford Brimley, Mark Harmon, Virginia Madsen
Extras: Cast & Crew Filmographies
Rating:

TV productions have generally a bad reputation. While one could assume that he limited budget of these productions makes them less appealing than their theatrical counterparts, in most cases, the shortcomings are in the script. Fortunately this is not the case in ’Crossfire Trail,’ TNT’s splendid adaptation of the Louis L’Amour Western. The film’s 95 minutes are filled by a well-balanced and gripping story, a great cast, and captivating visuals. It is the story of Rafe Covington (Tom Selleck) who promises to a dying man to take care of his family. To protect them from harm and most importantly from unscrupulous land-grubbers and their henchmen. Soon he finds himself in the middle of a private war!

Warner Home Video is presenting ’Crossfire Trail’ in beautiful widescreen presentation in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The transfer is free of speckles or blemishes, rendering a very stable and clear image. The level of detail found in the picture is very good and colors are rich and vibrant throughout, without ever being oversaturated. The transfer is free of edge-enhancement, and therefore always pleasing and never appears unnaturally sharpened. Blacks are very deep and solid, and shadows are perfectly balanced, never breaking up and always revealing a good level of detail. The presentation of ’Crossfire Trail’ is free of compression artifacts, leaving all the details in the image intact.

The DVD features a Dolby Surround audio track in English, which is also well-produced and comes across nicely in this presentation. With a natural-sounding frequency response, the track has a very pleasing quality, bringing the film to life without ever sounding artificial. Natural ambient sound effects are nicely integrated to create a balanced mix throughout the surround sound field. Dialogues are well integrated and are always understandable, never being drowned out by effects or the music. The only extra, apart from the obligatory English and French subtitles, on this disc are selected cast and crew filmographies.

’Crossfire Trail’ is a very enjoyable Western. Formulaic it is, but at the same time, the great production, and the believable cast throw in some heartfelt emotions and gripping action, which ultimately elevates ’Crossfire Trail’ well above your average TV fodder.