Review of Lonesome Dove

Introduction

The Texas Department of Public Safety defines a Texas Ranger as “an officer who is able to handle any given situation without definite instructions from his commanding officer or higher authority. This ability must be proven before a man becomes a Ranger”.

Over 100 years ago, this definition was a valid as it is today and Lonesome Dove tells the story of 2 ex-Rangers. Augustus McCrea (Robert Duvall) and William Call (Tommy Lee Jones) are forgotten heroes. Once they were Texas Rangers, righting wrongs, protecting the innocent, inspiring respect in men and, well, desire in women. However, those days are past. Now, they are stuck in a backwater on the Mexican border farming and scratching a living. Call is jaded and cynical and McCrea is stuck in a fruitless pursuit of shallow pleasure. Both are pining for lost loves. Basically, they aren’t a happy pair.

One of their old comrades turns up unexpectedly (having shot the mayor of the last town he was in) and regales them of stories of Montana and its beauty and opportunity. For their various reasons they decide to drive a herd of cattle up to Montana and try and restart their lives. Of course, they don’t have any cattle. Gathering the requisite band of misfits, the steal a herd of cattle from a Mexican cattle thief (justice, they feel) and set off for Montana.

Of course, nothing goes as smoothly as they would like. The land, the elements and their fellow man conspire to make this one of their greatest challenges.

Based on Larry McMurtry’s novel of the same name, this was one of the most popular TV mini-series of all time and is presented in its entirety in the double disc DVD set.

Video

Presented in a 4:3 transfer (it was made for TV after all), image quality is adequate and nothing more. The image is quite soft and features an array of sparkles and marks – nothing that is overly distracting but there nonetheless. In addition, the image appears quite washed out much of the time. It is possible that this is a deliberate artistic decision but I wouldn’t be convinced. Lighting is occasionally uneven and the cinematographer/director has a fondness for lens flares that don’t really come off. Given the constraints of the TV budget, it might be churlish to complain that visual effects (like the dust storm) look crap, but they do.

All that said it isn’t bad. The setting is used effectively and some shots are striking.

Overall, this is quite watchable.

Audio

Audio comes off better than video but still betrays its TV and relatively low budget roots. It is presented in DD 2.0 and while there is little use of stereo effects, what exists is subtle and effective. Dialog is mostly fine, but gets muddy now and again. However, the audio really shines in the music. This is sweeping and exactly what you would expect from an epic Western. It is presented with richness and detail.

Features

On the face of it, the extras seem quite decent. There are (longish) interviews with author Larry McMurtry and producer Suzanne de Passe on Disc 1. Then on the second disc, we are treated to some text based Western Trivia, a Trivia Quiz and Cast and Crew details.

Unfortunately, there is little here that is essential. While Larry McMurtry is a superb writer, he is an appalling speaker - coming across as boring and lifeless. And, after listening to him answer the first question, you have little incentive to select another. Yes, the interview is presented in the horrid “Select a question and listen to the answer” format. After each answer, you are returned to a menu screen and made choose the next question. There is no way to skip to view the interview in its entirety – user interface design at its worst.

The interview with Suzanne de Passe is a bit better. De Passe is more comfortable with the camera and has more presence but, ultimately very little to say.

The text based features are so-so. The Western Trivia is OK but the Quiz is a waste of time. Finally, the Cast and Crew information is brief but fairly comprehensive.

Ultimately, the extras are not very compelling and compares unfavorably to those for V which shows how a TV mini series should be treated.

Conclusion

Often, US mini-series tend to be overblown and self-indulgent. Lonesome Dove, I’m happy to report, is an honourable exception.

I hadn’t seen the series before viewing the DVD and I was pleasantly surprised. The plot is gripping (in an easygoing sort of way). The script is intelligent, witty and, where necessary, isn’t afraid to play against Western stereotypes. Most importantly, perhaps, the two leads – Duvall and Jones – give wonderfully complete performances. So total is their absorption into their roles that you fully accept them as two grizzled Texas Rangers. Tommy Lee Jones especially is aged and bearded to the point where you would swear he was Kenny Rodgers. Robert Duvall gives a well judged performance as the prairie philosopher who (mostly) accepts his lot with dignity and wit but who has a massive weakness for beautiful women. Or, in actual fact, any woman.

The supporting performances are generally good also. Stealing the show occasionally is the lovely Diane Lane. She has a thankless role as the town whore who is objectified (in various ways) by most of the men. But she makes the most of her opportunities and projects a warmth and vulnerability that lifts her role from the standard whore-with-a-heart stereotype. Also, worthy of note are Danny Glover, Chris Cooper and a young Steve Buscemi playing his usual sleazy role.

Presenting the whole 6 hour miniseries in a single two disc package works well – to my mind better than the single disc flipper of V. However, V is a much better package.

If you are happy to accept that, with Lonesome Dove, you are getting little more that the complete miniseries you won’t be disappointed. For the content, if not presentation, this comes recommended.