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Yards, The
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment // R // April 17, 2001
List Price: $32.99 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
"The Yards" takes a slightly more realistic approach to the crime-drama genre, but that's not to say the traditional elements of action, lust, and betrayal are nowhere to be found -- their presence just isn't quite as frequent or over-the-top as I'm used to seeing. Mark Wahlberg, who impressed me more and more with each successive film, stars as Leo Handler, who didn't finger his buddy Willie (Joaquin Phoenix) on his way to prison on a grand theft auto rap. During Leo's stint in the hole, Willie's managed to become quite a success, and, to pay back Leo in part for saving his butt, he sets up Leo and subway repair/manufacturing head honcho Frank (James Caan). Frank, who just happens to have married into Leo's family, takes him on and provides the sort of training Leo needs to get back on the straight and narrow, but the wily Willie steers Leo towards the shadier side of the business. While sabotaging the competition, the plan goes awry, and Leo is forced to unjustly take the fall for murder. Leo winds up being hunted by virtually everyone in the tri-state area, with only his mother (Ellen Burstyn) and cousin Erica (Charlize Theron) believing in his innocence.
"The Yards" manages to build genuine tension with all the makings of a great film -- a strong premise, a phenomenal cast, and a gifted director. "The Yards" is, without a doubt, a good movie, but with a general premise that has been done before and done better, being merely 'good' might not be enough to cut it. The ending reeks of test marketing surveys and feverish last-minute editing, leaving somewhat of a sour taste in my mouth. "The Yards" improves somewhat with multiple viewings, and the inclusion of a commentary, requiring me to give the disc another look before writing a review, definitely boosted the 'movie' rating above to some extent. "The Yards" is likely another victim of me setting my sights higher than I probably should've, considering the talent involved. It's a film worthy of a look, but not necessarily as a permanent addition to a DVD library.
Oh, and for those curious if the prolific Charlize Theron appears topless in yet another film, you'll be pleased to know that the answer is, of course, yes, and those with access to a zoom button will be particularly happy.
Video: After watching "The Yards" for the first time, I'd jotted down some rather negative notes for this review, particularly the somewhat-weak black levels and general murkiness of the image. The commentary explains that those visual aspects were intentional, but I rather doubt that the excessive edge enhancement and the numerous specks that appear on the print were part of the collaboration between director James Gray and cinematographer Harris Savides. "The Yards" also sports one of the most grossly misplaced layer changes of recent memory. Though not unwatchable by a long shot, the end result is overall somewhat of a disappointment.
Audio: Though "The Yards" doesn't offer the whiz-bang sort of 5.1 audio that inspires near-orgasmic discussion on DVD message boards, what's present is effective and immersive. The use of ambient sounds is subtle though enveloping, sucking me into the film without being distracted by unnecessary gimmicky flourishes. The subway scenes are the stand-out on the disc, threatening to replace the plane crash in "Fight Club" and the ice ring chase in "Titan AE" as speaker demo material. Though nothing particularly memorable, the 6-channel Dolby Digital mix is certainly well above-average. French audio and English/Spanish subtitles are also available.
Supplements: The commentary with director James Gray is both informative and thought-provoking, lacking the "I am Director. Look upon my works and despair" often present on commentaries by directors who have garnered such critical praise in a relatively short period of time. Despite some occassional pauses, the commentary greatly complements the film and is definitely worth a spin. The other extras are lackluster by comparison, including conceptual art, a trailer, and the generic behind-the-scenes featurette, essentially an extended trailer with interviews interspersed throughout.
Conclusion: "The Yards" might prove to be a bit too dull and convoluted for the usual crime-drama crowd. Though corruption in New York politics isn't exactly uncharted territory for a film nowadays, it's somewhat of a refreshing change that "The Yards" is driven more by characters' relationships than gunfire and explosions. Miramax offers more than usual at its $32.99 price point, and a number of retailers are marking the disc down to much more attractive levels. Though probably better suited as a rental than a purchase, "The Yards" is still recommended.
"The Yards" manages to build genuine tension with all the makings of a great film -- a strong premise, a phenomenal cast, and a gifted director. "The Yards" is, without a doubt, a good movie, but with a general premise that has been done before and done better, being merely 'good' might not be enough to cut it. The ending reeks of test marketing surveys and feverish last-minute editing, leaving somewhat of a sour taste in my mouth. "The Yards" improves somewhat with multiple viewings, and the inclusion of a commentary, requiring me to give the disc another look before writing a review, definitely boosted the 'movie' rating above to some extent. "The Yards" is likely another victim of me setting my sights higher than I probably should've, considering the talent involved. It's a film worthy of a look, but not necessarily as a permanent addition to a DVD library.
Oh, and for those curious if the prolific Charlize Theron appears topless in yet another film, you'll be pleased to know that the answer is, of course, yes, and those with access to a zoom button will be particularly happy.
Video: After watching "The Yards" for the first time, I'd jotted down some rather negative notes for this review, particularly the somewhat-weak black levels and general murkiness of the image. The commentary explains that those visual aspects were intentional, but I rather doubt that the excessive edge enhancement and the numerous specks that appear on the print were part of the collaboration between director James Gray and cinematographer Harris Savides. "The Yards" also sports one of the most grossly misplaced layer changes of recent memory. Though not unwatchable by a long shot, the end result is overall somewhat of a disappointment.
Audio: Though "The Yards" doesn't offer the whiz-bang sort of 5.1 audio that inspires near-orgasmic discussion on DVD message boards, what's present is effective and immersive. The use of ambient sounds is subtle though enveloping, sucking me into the film without being distracted by unnecessary gimmicky flourishes. The subway scenes are the stand-out on the disc, threatening to replace the plane crash in "Fight Club" and the ice ring chase in "Titan AE" as speaker demo material. Though nothing particularly memorable, the 6-channel Dolby Digital mix is certainly well above-average. French audio and English/Spanish subtitles are also available.
Supplements: The commentary with director James Gray is both informative and thought-provoking, lacking the "I am Director. Look upon my works and despair" often present on commentaries by directors who have garnered such critical praise in a relatively short period of time. Despite some occassional pauses, the commentary greatly complements the film and is definitely worth a spin. The other extras are lackluster by comparison, including conceptual art, a trailer, and the generic behind-the-scenes featurette, essentially an extended trailer with interviews interspersed throughout.
Conclusion: "The Yards" might prove to be a bit too dull and convoluted for the usual crime-drama crowd. Though corruption in New York politics isn't exactly uncharted territory for a film nowadays, it's somewhat of a refreshing change that "The Yards" is driven more by characters' relationships than gunfire and explosions. Miramax offers more than usual at its $32.99 price point, and a number of retailers are marking the disc down to much more attractive levels. Though probably better suited as a rental than a purchase, "The Yards" is still recommended.
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