Review of Plunkett & Macleane

Video

Plunkett & MacLeane is a lavish drama/action movie set in the 18th Century, with nooses, wigs and muskets galore. Swashbuckling entertainment at its best, this is the tale of two highwaymen who are based on real life characters (Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Millar). The movie has a powerful story interwoven with many comic elements, and gory sequences (check out the opening scene… yuk!) The film is full of action sequences, with colourful period costumes and is a refreshing change from some of the other period dramas the viewer may have expected.

Universal have provided us with a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer on this DVD broken into 18 chapters. Universal seem to be one of the better distribution companies with anamorphic transfers, as the majority of their recently releases titles have benefited in this way.

So what about the picture quality itself? Generally quality is OK. There was noticeable strange ‘shimmering’ on the picture at certain points during the movie, which has attracted some comments from several purchasers of this DVD. There are many dark scenes in this film, and although some grain was seen, the DVD copes pretty well but is not overly stunning.

Audio

This a great film for the Dolby Digital audio system, shown off early on in the film with the opening sequence. Check out that thunder rumbling away in the distance, and the rain splattering away behind you. Good stuff.

This film had the refreshing difference in that the visuals may give the impression that this film is a period drama, but the soundtrack is loud, fast and far more akin to a movie of a totally different visual style.

Features

The static menus give access to the original theatrical trailer, interviews with the cast and crew and ‘behind the scenes’. The interviews are only 6 minutes in length, and the behind the scenes feature is just that! No narration, no visuals, just a load of camera footage shot during the making of the film and edited together!

As is common with the recent Universal releases, the DVD is supplied in the plastic CD super jewel case, incorporating a thick booklet. This gives the reader many still pictures, and biographies of the stars as well as a two page article on the real ‘gentleman highwayman’ (the real James MacLain) who was hanged in 1750 at the age of only 26.

Conclusion

I really had little pre notion of what this film was about before I watched it, and it exceeded my expectations. Robert Carlyle (‘Trainspotting’, ‘The Full Monty’), Jonny Lee Miller (‘Trainspotting’, ‘Hackers’) and Liv Tyler (‘Armageddon’) work well together and the excellent Alan (“I am invinceeebull…”) Cumming camps it up in full.

The film is fast moving, and being based on real life characters, adds to the realism. It is a real swashbuckling romp in full wigs and makeup, and Carlyle himself describes it as total ‘entertainment’. Sharp eyed viewers may also notice Matt (“George Dawes”) Lucas in a small non speaking part.

Universal have supplied us with a DVD that has a fair anamorphic transfer here, but has a few strange hiccups. Extras are light, but at least you get some for a Region 2 release.

In the words of James MacLain “I was fabulous, and it was a bloody good laugh!”