Blood Red

So many people seem to hate this film! Yes, it's flawed (script is generic and predictable) but I still liked it, as it entertained me and had interesting subject matter. And an interesting cast too... At least check it out to hear Hopper's Irish accent.

This is playing On-Demand and is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio for the first time on home video.

The Good: The acting talent speaks for itself: Eric and Julia Roberts, Burt Young, Giancarlo Giannini, Elias Koteas, Michael Madsen... The cinematography by Toyomichi Kurita is beautiful. Themes: Late 19th century California, the beginning of wine culture, immigrant vs. business interests, William Jennings Bryan populism vs robber baron statism. All the tools are there for a great film.

The Bad: The screenplay is the problem. It needed a page one rewrite from someone who could write dialogue, and who could write scenes to emphasize the political, religious, and economic issues of the period. The characterization is almost non existent, with only Giannini's part getting some depth. There is so much wasted talented in this film. Usually Eric Roberts is criticized for overacting, but this picture could have definitely benefited from his passion. Also the music by Carmine Coppola is so old-fashioned and silly that it borders on soap opera cues.

The first half will keep your attention. After that, it becomes boring. Bad dialogue, bad music, and pedestrian mise-en-scene kill the movie. I was actually rewriting the scenes in my head as I was watching the film.

If this movie hadn't been shot in color, I might have mistaken it for a '40s B Western. Tell the truth: the plot was lifted from The Mark of Zorro and the names were changed, right? At least those '40s actors didn't appear to forget their lines. Or maybe no lines were written for those embarrassing scenes in Blood Red where there are painful, inexplicable gaps in both dialogue and action. This film is noteworthy only as the single film to date in which both Julia and Eric Roberts have appeared together. That's the only reason I watched it as long as I did. And what brilliant, inspired casting! They played brother and sister. My Video Movie Guide is right: this is a turkey.

This is a very good movie. It is well done in all respects. It is a good script with good casting. It is a delight to see the two Roberts together even though Julia has a very small role. IF you like good old fashioned tales about good and evil, good guys and bad guys, crooks and decent people, you will love this movie. Dennis hopper does what he does best, play a mean and nasty person - in this case, the railroad baron. Eric Roberts takes on the role of hero and fills that role very well. He is forced into his heroic stance by circumstance not by choice, making it all the more entertaining. This movie has it all, a villain, crooked politicians, good politicians, betrayal, a love story, little guys against giants, people fighting for their land and homes, – what more could you want. Fix yourself some popcorn, turn out the lights, sit back and allow yourself to be entertained in classic fashion. This movie does what all movies should do – no political agenda, no great moral – it is just good, old fashioned entertainment.

When a friend told me about this film, I looked up "Blood Red" on IMDB and was shocked to see that it the pathetic overall score of 3.8. This would seem to indicate that the film is garbage, as even films like "Plan 9 From Outer Space" (once named the worst movie ever made) has a score of 4.0! To earn a 3.8, the film would have to be truly horrible in every way...which, oddly, it isn't. Now I am not arguing that the film is great or even really good....but the only thing about this film that should earn a 3.8 is Eric Roberts' ridiculous and anachronistic hairdo!

The story is set in the late 19th century. The main characters in the film are generations of Italian-Americans who love the land and its healthy vineyards. However, a greedy railroad tycoon (Dennis Hopper) is intent on running his trains right through their farms...whether they like it or not. And, when the farmers won't leave, the railroad responds with violence. But because the railroad has bribed local officials, it looks as if the farmers will have to take care of business themselves.

I have no idea if this story is based on facts or if it's all fiction. But it's an interesting story...and is in some ways like a western in style and plot. In old westerns, a rich bully trying to take everyone's land is among the most common themes.

So why do I think it earned a 3.8? Well, actually, I am not exactly sure. While it's not among the best acted or paced films, it's not boring and kept my interest. The ending, I admit, was handled poorly...and made little sense. It's also a rare film because you can see the siblings Eric and Julia Roberts in the same movie...though Julia's part is quite small.