Plot: What’s it about?
Armando Alvarez (Will Ferrell) is a hard working man who toils on his family’s ranch. The life is a tough and simple one, but Armando is satisfied with his lot, since family is what matters most to him. His brother Raul (Diego Luna) didn’t share his views on hard work, so he went to America to find his fortune. When Raul returns, he has indeed started his own business, but his trade is illegal drugs. This worries Armando, because of his brother’s safety in a dangerous business, as well as the threat it could pose to his family’s ranch. And soon a local kingpin Onza (Gael Garcia Bernal) takes offense to Raul’s actions, both professional and personal. In addition to moving in on Onza’s drug turf, Raul has courted Onza’s beloved niece. The conflict quickly turns violent, as the Alvarez brothers fend off the drug lords the best they can. But can one small family defend their land and lives against the drug lords, or will this be the last stand for the Alvarez clan?
Video: How does it look?
Casa de mi Padre is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen. The visuals here have been tinkered with, to give the movie an old school, worn texture. The image still looks great though, with strong detail and no errors to report. The colors have been warmed up, so the visuals reflect that and it suits the film’s tone quite well. I found contrast to be accurate, while detail is great, with a lot of subtle elements on display. In the end, this is a well crafted transfer that upholds the film’s visual design, but also delivers a refined technical presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
This DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack is good, but the film doesn’t give it much room to work with. Most of the film is on the quiet side, with dialogue as the main focus. But vocals sound excellent, so no complaints there. The few scenes that veer toward tension or action get a slight rise out of the surrounds, which is good. The music also makes good use of the surrounds, so the mix is effective, just not that memorable. This disc also includes English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to a fun audio commentary track, this disc contains some deleted scenes, a music videos, several fake commercials, and two promotional featurettes.
