DVD Corner

The Rambler Blu-ray Review

“The Rambler” is another strong candidate for the worst film of 2013.

Fresh out of prison, the dark sunglass wearing rambler (Dermot Mulroney’s nameless character) attempts to fit in back home, but he finds that he’s woefully uncomfortable there. After reading a letter from his brother, he decides to pack up and travel to Oregon with the plan of working with his brother on his ranch. His trip does not go smoothly, however, as he encounters a staring old woman, a waitress who appears, disappears, and dies frequently, an oddball cab driver who loves “Frankenstein,” a puking old woman on a chain, and a mad inventor who kills and mummifies people with his inventions. He also winds up in boxing matches and sees mysterious flashing lights as well. What’s real? What’s not real? Will you even care what is happening on screen?

After premiering at the 2013 Sundance film festival, reactions to “The Rambler” were wildly mixed and it’s not hard to see why. This is the type of polarizing art film that audiences will either love or hate. There’s no middle ground here.

Now, I’m always open to outside the box films or challenging art films provided they are well directed, well acted, or at least compelling from a storytelling standpoint. To me, “The Rambler” is none of these things.

“The Rambler” is the type of surrealistic film that desperately wants to be a David Lynch movie, but, as we all know, there is only one David Lynch and he cannot be replicated. Still, writer/director Calvin Reeder does his best to be as odd as possible as he takes his mumbling, robotic, wandering lead character on a meandering, schizophrenic mess of a journey. Is there some profound point to this movie? Does it make a lick of sense? That’s up for the viewer to decide. From a personal standpoint, the only thing I took away from this movie was a headache.

Video/Audio:

Presented in 2.40:1 1080p, the one redeeming aspect of “The Rambler” is that it is well shot. The film’s many exterior locals really shine in 1080p.

With lots of mumbling and some loud screaming, the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is the type of movie in which you will likely have to adjust the audio levels every now and then.

The only extras here are Anchor Bay film trailers. It’s probably a blessing this disc didn’t contain a commentary or making of featurette.

July 9, 2013 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Dermot Mulroney, Sundance 2013, The Rambler Blu-ray Review