Plot: What’s it about?
Nick Kegan (Jeff Bridges) has lived a sheltered, structured life, as the son of tycoon known as Pa Kegan (John Huston). He has enjoyed the luxuries of material possessions, but he hasn’t been given much room in terms of personal freedoms. But such is the price for being well taken care of under his father’s wealth, so until now, Nick has remained loyal. Almost twenty years ago, his half-brother Timothy was killed by an assassin, which was part of the risk involved in being President of the United States. The assassin was reported to have been a lone gunman, but rumors have drifted ever since about other possibilities. The main theory involved a second gunman, but since no one has come forward and no proof has been uncovered, it remains just another conspiracy theory, until proven otherwise. When Nick has a meeting with a man on his deathbed however, the rumor starts to show some signs of truth, as the man claims to have been the second gunman. The man offers Nick some clues about the assassination and while hesitant, he decides to look into the claims and see what he discovers. At the same time, Pa tries to control Nick’s actions, but now, Nick sees the need to work outside of his father’s power. Was the second gunman a reality and if so, who covered it up and why?
I do love a good political thriller, so when Anchor Bay released Winter Kills, I was pleased to add the film to my collection. This movie endured a troubled, controversial production, complete with prison time, under the table payments, and even murder, which makes it perhaps as complex as the movie’s own storyline. As directed by William Richert, Winter Kills offers a dark comic take on political intrigue, which proves to be a welcome compliment to the genre’s other offerings. I wouldn’t rank this with the elite political conspiracy flicks out there, but it is well crafted and a cut above most of the genre’s entries. If nothing else, the cast alone is reason enough to see Winter Kills, as a star studded and eclectic group was assembled. Jeff Bridges takes the lead, surrounded by such talent as Anthony Perkins, Tomas Milian, Toshiro Mifune, John Huston, Eli Wallach, Richard Boone, Dorothy Malone, and Sterling Hayden, quite an impressive assortment. The performances are good too, so the cast doesn’t sleepwalk in the least. I do admit it seems odd to have this kind of story unfold in a way that isn’t totally serious, but Winter Kills works so well because of the sly comic tone, as it gives the film a certain edge. I more than recommend Winter Kills to political conspiracy fans, especially in this deluxe two disc release.
In this loaded cast, the standout performance belongs to the lead, which is played with skill by Jeff Bridges. He has shown time and again that he can handle roles of all kinds, so this part proves to be no exception. Bridges is able to bring a real sense of paranoia and panic to the role, which is important to establish and maintain atmosphere. He is also asked to take the character through an evolution of sorts, so he makes sure the transition is believable. At the film’s start, his role is one of a spoiled, pampered, and aimless man, but as the events unfold, he becomes more focused and aware, a move which Bridges handles with ease. In a lot of movies, that kind of character development is forced or rushed, but Bridges makes the move natural and believable, which is also due in part to the strength of the material. Other films with Bridges include The Big Lebowski, Tron, Jagged Edge, The Fisher King, Arlington Road, and Tucker: A Man and His Dream. The cast also includes Anthony Perkins (Psycho, Crimes of Passion), John Huston (Chinatown, The Cardinal), Toshiro Mifune (Seven Samurai, Red Beard), Tomas Milian (Four of the Apocalypse, Traffic), and Eli Wallach (Mackenna’s Gold, The Magnificent Seven).
Video: How does it look?
Winter Kills is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. As usual, Anchor Bay has been able to work magic and as a result, this movie looks splendid in this presentation. The print is very clean, with minimal debris and only slight grain evident, which allows the visuals to be unhindered throughout. The colors have ample brightness, but stay natural in scope, while flesh tones seem normal and consistent also. No real issues with contrast either, as black levels come off as refined and well balanced at all times. A few minor hiccups pop up at times, but on the whole, this is a superb visual effort in all respects.
Audio: How does it sound?
The mono soundtrack isn’t much on dynamic presence, but it sounds clean and seems to cover all the bases. The sound effects are crisp and well handled, but this is mono, so don’t expect much beyond a basic, solid effort. Then again, this movie doesn’t need too much that kind of audio power, so you won’t miss it in most scenes. The musical score here is quite good, adding to the mood and complimenting the material. The music is clear and comes through well, but some high end moments are a shade harsh. Even so, most of the score sounds terrific and those few instances don’t lessen the experience. The vocals are well presented too, so dialogue is smooth and never suffers from any problems. Not the kind of soundtrack to showcase your home theater with, but a more than solid overall presentation.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This two disc edition sports some nice extras, but make sure you view the film beforehand, as spoilers are constant in these supplements. The lone extra on the first disc is an audio commentary track, which features director William Richert. His presence is upbeat and energetic, so his comments are frequent and insightful, you can tell he is glad to be discussing his picture, but he is never overly promotional. Richert is open and candid about the movie’s troubled production, but also touches on numerous other subjects. The rest of the extras are found on disc two, which kicks off with Who Killed Winter Kills?, a thirty-eight minute featurette that focuses on the film’s notorious production. Richert returns and is joined by several cast and crew members, who share their memories of the shoot. The story is an interesting one, as the production seems to have been as complex as the film’s storyline, maybe even more so. This release also includes two additional brief interview featurettes, three galleries of behind the scenes photos, a selection of promotional & production artwork, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
