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- Robert Harris
Those whose main diet is super-hero films, Marvel tent-poles and Star Wars spin-offs, may want to avoid Maggie Greenwald's The Ballad of Little Jo.
It has no explosions, car (or space ship) chases, no strange creatures excepting some men of the olde west, and no hyper-special effects.
If, however, you find the works of Kelly Reichardt an appetizing concept, Little Joe may be the film for you, as it is for me.
Eschewing flashy film-making, and staying with the basics, Maggie Greenwald creates an insular world in which our heroine/hero survives.
I seldom get into cast specifics, but Suzy Amis is a superb Jo, and while it's difficult to envision her as male, one does get used to the concept. I'll go no further, and allow those who have never seen the film to live in the moment.
In a way, it's Mrs. Doubtfire or Yentl taken to dangerous extremes.
It was shot on film by Declan Quinn, who was also behind Ms. Greenwald's The Kill-Off. He may be best known for Leaving Las Vegas. One of his most recent is a musical entitled Hamilton.
The film was produced at a low budget point, and it tells it's story without excess.
As a new Blu-ray from Kino, based upon a 4k scan of the OCN, it beautifully mimics a 35mm print. As to audio, the original DVD was released as DTS 5.1, while the new Blu is DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo, which may have been the original mix. It works just fine.
Image – 10
Audio – 10
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Worth your attention - 7.5
Slipcover rating - 1
Upgrade from DVD - Absolutely
Recommended
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
https://www.amazon.com/Ballad-Little-Jo-Blu-ray/dp/B0CKFM9HYK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13D2HKSOS17XT&keywords=the+ballad+of+little+jo+blu-ray&qid=1706027525&sprefix=the+ballad+of+little+jo+blu-ray,aps,78&sr=8-1
It has no explosions, car (or space ship) chases, no strange creatures excepting some men of the olde west, and no hyper-special effects.
If, however, you find the works of Kelly Reichardt an appetizing concept, Little Joe may be the film for you, as it is for me.
Eschewing flashy film-making, and staying with the basics, Maggie Greenwald creates an insular world in which our heroine/hero survives.
I seldom get into cast specifics, but Suzy Amis is a superb Jo, and while it's difficult to envision her as male, one does get used to the concept. I'll go no further, and allow those who have never seen the film to live in the moment.
In a way, it's Mrs. Doubtfire or Yentl taken to dangerous extremes.
It was shot on film by Declan Quinn, who was also behind Ms. Greenwald's The Kill-Off. He may be best known for Leaving Las Vegas. One of his most recent is a musical entitled Hamilton.
The film was produced at a low budget point, and it tells it's story without excess.
As a new Blu-ray from Kino, based upon a 4k scan of the OCN, it beautifully mimics a 35mm print. As to audio, the original DVD was released as DTS 5.1, while the new Blu is DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo, which may have been the original mix. It works just fine.
Image – 10
Audio – 10
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Worth your attention - 7.5
Slipcover rating - 1
Upgrade from DVD - Absolutely
Recommended
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
https://www.amazon.com/Ballad-Little-Jo-Blu-ray/dp/B0CKFM9HYK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13D2HKSOS17XT&keywords=the+ballad+of+little+jo+blu-ray&qid=1706027525&sprefix=the+ballad+of+little+jo+blu-ray,aps,78&sr=8-1
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