The HD DVD

Video:
Space Cowboys is presented in a 2.40:1 widescreen format. As is standard practice for Warner Bros. on HD DVD, this transfer was encoded using Microsoft's VC-1 codec. Note: This is an HD DVD and will not play in standard DVD players.

Space Cowboys is the third Eastwood film Warner has released on HD DVD, the other two being Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby. Of the three, Space Cowboys has the most to offer visually. From the black and white opening sequence in the X-1 jet, to the simulation labs at NASA, to the vacuum of space itself, this film goes places. And this transfer does not disappoint. Take a look at the opening sequence. While it is black and white, which is easier to encode, there are several difficult elements right at the opening. First is a shot where an X-1 jet blasts through cloud cover, and we see it from the POV of the cockpit. The clouds shoot by without a single artifact. Then the jet pushes into the upper stratosphere, and you see the air gradually get thinner, without any kind of banding. Looking at the same scene in standard definition on one of the special features, that shot looks terrible. In the main feature, it's flawless.

The majority of the movie takes place at NASA, and everything is very detailed. You can see every wrinkle on the actors' faces, and every button on switch on the instrument panels. The colors are accurate, ranging from the gold on the instruments to the white walls of the labs. When they do go into space, the transfer is breathtaking. The shots of Earth from space are some of the best that HD DVD has to offer. The fields of stars in the background is a solid background, with no breakup in the image. It's as black as...well, space. In fact, the transfer is so good that it actually highlights some of the subpar CGI and composite effects. I can't find a fault with this transfer.

Audio:
Space Cowboys features a strong Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 soundtrack. The film has a lot of rocket blasts, engine roars, whirring rotors, and other mechanical sounds, and this mix does an excellent job of putting them all together. The surrounds aren't always abuzz with sounds, but when it counts, the audio really kicks in. The disc also features a Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 French track, and a Spanish 2.0 track.

Extras:
The disc is somewhat light on extras. By far the biggest feature is called "Back At The Ranch," a 28 minute documentary featuring interviews with the cast, crew, and even some NASA experts. It has some good material (most especially a dual interview between Clint Eastwood and Tommy Lee Jones), but on the whole, it feels like it's just the tip of the iceberg. Considering this film feels like a unique entry in Eastwood's catalogue, I wish I had gotten something more.

We then get a trio of featurettes. The first is called "The Effects," which deals, on a very rudimentary level, with the visual effects in the film. Considering this is Eastwood's most special effects-intensive film to date, this is a total fluff piece. Seven minutes of information so simplified as to be useless.

The second featurette, "Up Close With The Editor," is a seven minute interview with Eastwood's longtime editor, Joel Cox. Again, this featurette is severely anemic, with Joel talking about almost everything other than the actual editing of the film. It would be wonderful to hear what it's like to work with Eastwood in the editing room, but instead, Cox gives more of an overview with how the movie got started than anything else.

The final featurette is called "Tonight On Leno," and is easily the best special feature on the disc. It features the entire filmed sequence of Team Daedalus on "The Tonight Show" and also has interviews with Jay Leno, who is more forthcoming than almost anyone else on the disc. Apparently, other than Jay's monologue, almost all of the sequence was ad-libbed, so it's a lot of fun to see the actors just run with their characters.

We also get a theatrical trailer in standard definition, which has the awful hip-hop song I mentioned above.

Final Thoughts:
Space Cowboys is a minor entry in Eastwood's catalogue, but it's still a solid film. Smart writing and excellent acting make for a good time that, despite what the marketing might have implied, does not have to descend to the level of a guilty pleasure. The movie has a decent level of rewatchability, and boasts a strong transfer and good audio mix. Sadly, the extra features only scratch the surface of the making of the film, but the full Leno sequence is a gem. Overall, I'd say this is a worthy film to add to your collection. Recommended

Daniel Hirshleifer is the High Definition Editor for DVD Talk.