'The Red Road - The Complete First Season'
(Jason Momoa, Martin Henderson, Antoni Corone, Julianne Nicholson, et al / 2-Disc DVD / R / 2015 / Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Overview: 'The Red Road' is a hard-hitting drama that revolves around a local cop (Martin Henderson of 'Devil's Knot') struggling to keep his family together while simultaneously policing two clashing communities: the small town where he grew up and the neighboring mountains, home of a Native American tribe.
DVD Verdict: My goodness, watching 'The Red Road' is like patiently watching fog lift before your eyes. Little by little we see the shape of the story and depths of these characters unveiled. Father and son Kopus, Marie, Jean, and Harold are the most fascinating to discover as they are each deliciously multi layered.
i think the direction, editing and acting are close to excellent because each scene is drawn out to perfect measure to increase tension or allow for emotional saturation. The only drawback for me so far in this first season are the segments dedicated to the star-crossed teenage lovers who may become irksome as forced interjections of sweetness in what would otherwise be a properly moody atmosphere of familial and racial turbulence.
Somehow, I still like the moody brooding atmosphere of this show. I am, as I'm sure you are also if you watch this show, transported by the stillness of the wide shots of woods, lakes and open fields. It's easy to become invested in the place and characters. There is no rush and I like that too. Each word is measured except, of course, with the character of Jean who is a force of nature unto herself. So much so that her ramblings make you dizzy! Well played, Julianne Nicholson.
Jason Momoa and Tom Sizemore make sinister look good. Then again, when has anything Sizemore been involved in ever looked anything but sinister?! Martin Henderson is a revelation for me because I have never found him to be particularly impressive in his other cinematic/TV ventures. It is also so good to see Tamara Tunie in a completely different light (quite literally) from her drab post on L&O: SVU.
But if you're looking for weekly action, blood, profanity, sex, and breakneck speed you won't get much of that here. Meanwhile, I am enjoying the slow reveal of illicit activity, emotional disturbance and family drama that is this first glorious season. I think it's definitely worthy of your time, and trust me, once you watch you will be hooked also. Overall, 'The Red Road' is a must watch due to the performances, the writing and the story itself. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a great and long-running series! Roll on Season Two! This is a Widescreen Presentation (1:85.1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
Sundance On Set: THE RED ROAD
Behind The Scenes: THE RED ROAD
THE RED ROAD: Cast And Crew
www.AnchorBayEntertainment.com