Plot: What’s it about?
Hope City has an inspiring name, but its streets have become overrun with crime. When a hobo (Rutger Hauer) arrives and plans to start a new life, he discovers how far gone Hope City has become. He himself is forced to demean himself in order to get some cash, but he uses the funds to purchase a lawn mower. After all, if he can earn some cash and make the city look better at the same time, that is all he can ask for. He soon meets a prostitute named Abby (Molly Dunsworth), who he defends and quickly strikes up a bond with. But his efforts to improve Hope City don’t rely just on his gardening skills, as he also wields a shotgun and uses it to clean the vermin off the streets. When crime kingpin The Duke (Brian Downey) learns about his actions, he makes the hobo a marked man, leaving him only Abby to trust. It seems like the entire city has turned on the hobo, but can one man with a mower, a shotgun, and a dream really overcome and make the world a better place?
This movie is pure awesome. Once just a mock trailer, Hobo with a Shotgun is now a real motion picture and that is just about the best news around. While countless movies have tried to provide that “grindhouse” texture, none have nailed it as well as Hobo with a Shotgun. This is the kind of brutal vigilante action that Charles Bronson helped pioneer, hard edged violence with some social context. This is not a campy tribute to grindhouse cinema either, Hobo with a Shotgun plays it straight and that is exactly why it works so well. But things never get dull, thanks to a barrage of stunning violence and an unusual plot. There is also ample humor, but it doesn’t pander like most recent films of this ilk do. Rutger Hauer is bad ass here, perhaps not his finest performance, but he nails the role and really adds a lot. Hobo with a Shotgun has it all, a great hero we can get behind, insane violence, and bad guys you can’t wait to see get dismembered. So if you’re a fan of vigilante cinema or grindhouse style affairs, Hobo with a Shotgun earns a high, high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
Hobo with a Shotgun is presented in 2.40:1 widescreen. The visuals here are tweaked to provide a worn, dated texture, so don’t be alarmed. Even so, the image is very detailed, with enough depth to really showcase the high definition format. The colors are most impacted by the style choices, as hues can be beyond saturated here. But this looks just as intended, right down to the blown out contrast. The film’s visual design is upheld with great results, a terrific presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
The DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack included is much more dynamic than I expected. The surrounds aren’t always booming with power, but the movie has good presence. The dialogue is crystal clear, even in the most action oriented scenes, while the music adds some welcome depth to the experience. I didn’t notice much in terms of subtle surround use, but the sequences that need extra kick are handled well enough. This is a very good soundtrack, well designed and well executed. This disc also includes English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Two audio commentaries are included, both with director Jason Eisener involved. He is joined by star Rutger Hauer in the first and several crew members in the second. Both sessions are talkative and full of information, but the first is more anecdotal while the second is technical in focus. That works well though, as more ground is covered and everyone should find something to enjoy with these tracks. More Blood, More Heart is a well crafted behind the scenes piece that runs about 45 minutes. This is not fluff either, as the nuts & bolts of low budget filmmaking are covered in depth. But there are also some nice interviews and such, so it is a blend of great content. You can also see about 45 minutes of interviews conducted by Fangoria, which also include a lot of worthwhile information. This disc also includes an alternate end sequence, two television spots, some deleted scenes, video blogs, a camera test reel, a short HD Net piece, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
