Sunset Blu-ray Review
“Sunset” is quite the departure for Blake Edwards.
Set in the 1920s in L.A., “Sunset” revolves around western movie star Tom Mix being coaxed by producer Alfie Alperin (a former movie star) into doing a movie dubbed “Lawman” about Wyatt Earp. The real Wyatt Earp is hired on as a technical advisor for “Lawman” and develops a bond with Tom. Unfortunately, the 2 legends soon find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery involving cover-ups, frames, gangsters, and police corruption.
Blake Edwards is most well known as one of the most accomplished comedy film directors having helmed so many classics like “The Pink Panther,” “Breakfast At Tiffany’s,” “The Party,” “Victor/Victoria,” the list goes on. With “Sunset,” he writes and directs a western murder mystery Hollywood “What if?” tale. It’s a strange mixture and one that did not connect with audiences and critics during its release in 1988. It’s not hard to see why as it’s such an oddball niche project that feels out of place in the 80’s. Despite all of that, there’s still something strangely engaging about it.
Most of the film’s appeal boils down to James Garner (Wyatt Earp) and Bruce Willis (Tom Mix). Garner is certainly no stranger to the western genre and he looks entirely comfortable here stepping back into the genre. He owns the screen in every scene. Bruce Willis is a bit of a peculiar choice to play Tom Mix. Willis doesn’t really attempt to emulate the actor much, but he gives a very energetic performance and boasts strong chemistry with Garner. It’s also nice to see Willis in a truly different kind of role outside of action films and comedy vehicles. There’s also a fair amount of familiar faces here with Mariel Hemingway, Kathleen Quinlan, M. Emmet Walsh, Dermot Mulroney, and Malcolm McDowell all having roles of varying sizes.
Outside of the cast, the biggest strength is just the concept. The the notion of Mix and Earp meeting (Hollywood meets the old west) is a creative idea (based off of an unpublished novel) that is ripe for exploration. When the film leans into the aspect, it works.
Where “Sunset” falters a bit is with the murder mystery aspect. It’s decidedly drawn out and the actual mystery feels a bit underwhelming. Had the mystery been more thrilling and involving, audiences would have likely been more drawn to the project. As is, it feels a bit uneven despite there being much to enjoy outside of the plot.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 2.40:1 1080p. How does it look? The print flaws are evident but this is a worthy hi-def upgrade for the film to be sure.
Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Expect a sharp 2.0 track.
No extras outside of the VHS inspired slipcover.
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