Search - The Claim [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Profanity, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 2000 DVD Release: 06/26/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Subtitles: French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 0 mins Studio: MGM Total Copies: 1 Genres: Drama, Romantic Drama, Period Film

One man's small empire threatens to collapse under the weight of his greed and deceit in this drama that transplants the story of Thomas Hardy's -The Mayor of Casterbridge to 19th century America. In 1867, Dillon (Peter Mullan) is an Irish immigrant who settled in California during the Gold Rush of '49 and has done quite well for himself. Dillon owns nearly every business of consequence in the town of Kingdom Come; if someone wants to dig for gold, rent a room, open a bank account, or even order a drink, they have to go to Dillon to do it. One of the few profitable enterprises in town that he doesn't own is the brothel, which is operated by Lucia (Milla Jovovich), Dillon's lover. Circumstances change somewhat when Dalglish - a surveyor with the Central Pacific Railroad - turns up and expresses his plans to implement a railroad in the area. Dillon, sensing a great opportunity afoot, travels well out of his way to ensure that the line is run through Kingdom Come, to enhance the town's commercial prospects. Also arriving in town the same time as Dalglish are two women, the beautiful but ailing Elena (Nastassja Kinski) and her lovely teenage daughter Hope (Sarah Polley); their presence is deeply troubling for Dillon, for they are the keys to a dark secret Dillon has kept from the people of Kingdom Come. The Claim is Michael Winterbottom's second adaptation of the works of Thomas Hardy; his 1996 feature Jude was adapted from Hardy's final novel, -Jude the Obscure. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Peter Mullan - Dillon
Wes Bentley - Dalglish
Milla Jovovich - Lucia
Nastassja Kinski - Elena
Sarah Polley - Hope

Though director Michael Winterbottom's visually sumptuous and emotionally powerful Western went virtually ignored theatrically, MGM Home Entertainment's DVD of the film will hopefully garner an appreciative audience. Sadly, the disc offers up no substantial extras other than the original theatrical trailer (not even a cast and crew bio page). The disc could have really used a commentary track, as the film's arduous production outside of Calgary, Canada, would have offered up plenty of interesting details about working under such calamitous conditions. Nevertheless, the disc is a must, as the picture quality is superb. Offered in its original theatrical ratio of 2.35:1, enhanced for widescreen TVs, the film's beautiful cinematography by Alwin Kuchler is perfectly showcased here. The delicate warmth of many of the interior shots are balanced and finely detailed, especially in the darker scenes. Blacks are indeed black and there is a richness to them. The exterior shots also offer up plenty of detail, and the desaturated color scheme transfers nicely. The film's widescreen compositions really need to be seen in a theater to be fully appreciated, but this disc is nevertheless a stunner. The disc has been given an excellent English 5.1 surround soundtrack, as well as a Spanish 5.1 track. The low bass end is quite thunderous at times, though it never overpowers the dialogue. The film is also equipped with French and Spanish subtitles. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide