The Outlaw Josey Wales - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Sometimes a persona is just the surface presentation of a star’s personality. Clint Eastwood certainly made a name for himself as a notorious tough guy through a catalog of westerns, action films, and thrillers. But when you’re working your way through films like Dirty Harry and For A Few Dollars More or pulpy schlock like The Rookie, it’s easy to forget the man had a somber and sensitive side to his work. The dualities of a steely action star and contemplative anti-hero come to a head for Mr. Eastwood with The Outlaw Josey Wales. 

As my former colleague Steven Cohen wrote so well about the film in 2011, I’ll repost his review shortly, but for my part, I have a deep love of this film. I have this thing about the films that I truly love that I don’t pull them off the shelf very often out of risk of ever becoming tired of them. It’s impossible here because Josey Wales is such an amazing film, but I have this need to be absorbed by it every time I watch it. Each time I see it needs to be under the right conditions. I think it’s because Eastwood so skillfully sets the film up as a classic tale of revenge that the gradual shift into a story of redemption becomes so poignant that the journey is more meaningful.

Given the content of mass killings, sexual assault, and so forth, I’ve always been surprised that this film cleared a PG rating, but it’s a hell of a film regardless of content rating. I’ve always liked the idea that The Outlaw Josey Wales is Eastwood’s equivalent of The Searchers, a film that breaks the genre mold and cracks his tough-guy demeanor while still delivering exhilarating action sequences. I could say Eastwood did the same again some sixteen years later with Unforgiven (and probably better), but this is the one that always springs to mind. 

Now, The Outlaw Josey Wales is not a film without its own set of controversies and spots in history. For one thing, the original novel it was based on was written by KKK extremist organizer, segregationist, and George Wallace’s speechwriter Asa Earl Carter. Carter actually wrote the novel under the pseudonym as the supposed Cherokee writer “Forrest Carter.” This is a piece of trivia that didn’t come to light until after the film’s release. It’s a hell of a novel, I read it in high school, but I have to say I was very surprised to learn its true origins when I tried to find more novels to read by Forrest Carter.

If that literary origin wasn’t enough, The Outlaw Josey Wales is also the reason the Director’s Guild has the “Eastwood Rule.” As producer and star of the film, Eastwood got frustrated with original director Philip Kaufman’s slow shooting pace (among other rumored reasons involving Sandra Locke). Eastwood fired Kaufman who had done tons of pre-production work and screenwriting on the film and then installed himself as director. The union balked and fined the production as Eastwood took charge and finished the film. It’s undoubtedly Eastwood’s film, but this rule is now why we have instances of “ghost directors” getting the final credit on finished films, and the “true director" becomes a fun hush-hush rumor. 

Controversial origins and firings aside, The Outlaw Josey Wales is a masterful piece of work in Eastwood’s catalog. With an amazing cast including Chief Dan George, Sandra Locke (which Eastwood might regret her casting later in life), Sam Bottoms, Geraldine Keams, and Paula Trueman as Wales’ adoptive family. On the other side of the moral coin, we have commanding turns from John Vernon as Wales’ former commander Captain Fletcher with Bill McKinney delivering another chilling performance as Red Leg Captain Terrill. In true Eastwood form, keep a lookout for some of his frequent co-stars and collaborators Sheb Wooley, Royal Dano, Woodrow Parfrey, William O’Connell, John Mitchum, and Len Lesser among others. Richard Farnsworth also makes an uncredited appearance as a Comanchero bushwacker. 

Here’s what Steven had to say:  

"Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?" - Josey Wales

"When one thinks of movie westerns, a few names immediately pop into mind. John Ford, John Wayne, Sergio Leone, and last but certainly not least, Clint Eastwood. Responsible for essentially crafting an entire archetype of western anti-hero on screen, Eastwood also contributed a lot to reinventing and evolving the genre from behind the camera. His 1976 effort 'The Outlaw Josey Wales' is a perfect example of his directing skills, demonstrating the potential that would one day lead to his revisionist masterpiece 'Unforgiven'.

After his family is brutally murdered, a peaceful farmer, Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood), takes up arms and joins a band of Confederate Guerrillas. When the war ends he refuses to surrender and becomes a wanted outlaw on the run from Union Soldiers and bounty hunters. From here we follow Wales as he encounters a variety of eccentric characters and tries to outsmart and outgun his pursuers.

Based on a novel by Forrest Carter, the script is structurally simple but still strong, providing a fresh perspective on the western myth. The character of Wales himself is the real standout here. In many ways he's an extension of Eastwood's famous Man With No Name, exhibiting a similar rough persona of brooding cool. But in contrast, Josey Wales not only has a name, he has an infamous one, spoken with fear and terror from all those who dare utter it.

Throughout much of the film it can be hard to get a true sense of the man. This is someone who has been stripped of everything that once defined him, and having nothing left but rage, he has fashioned himself into a gunslinger. He speaks very little, kills without hesitation, and even spits on dogs, but beneath this hardened exterior still lays the kind farmer we saw so very briefly in the opening sequence. At one point in the film a conflict arises between Wales and some Comanche Warriors, and while we get ready for a bloodbath, the film and the character instead take us in an altogether different direction, subverting our expectations for something much more interesting and powerful. It's these moments in which we see hints of the man Wales once was (and possibly can be again), that really help transform the character into something truly unique.

Though we get the sense that Wales is a loner by nature, he seems to unwittingly attract a constant cavalry of fellow misfits and vagabonds. By the climax of the movie the man has essentially formed an entire family of outcasts, including two Native Americans, a beautiful young woman, her mother, some cattle, and of course, a poor spit covered dog. Each of these characters is brought to life wonderfully by a wide and diverse array of talent that includes Chief Dan George and Sondra Locke. Even the very minor personalities that Wales comes across are all given memorable and unique performances.

Eastwood himself is also strong, bringing his trademark collected fury to the title role. While some might not see much in the performance, there really is a lot to admire as the actor balances a thirst for vengeance with a surprising desire for life. There are many memorable lines of dialogue and Eastwood's delivery is perfectly effortless. As a director, he also elevates the material with a highly economical but still captivating style. The shootouts are exciting and the beautiful wide shots of lush wilderness pull the audience right into the mythic but still gritty world of its characters. The pacing of the film is steady and deliberate, showcasing a filmmaker who is not afraid to give his work room to breathe and time to grow. Smaller moments which may have been excised by lesser directors are given due emphasis and it all builds up to an expertly orchestrated, violent climax.

'The Outlaw Josey Wales' is not your typical western. Taking what he admired about the classic works of Ford and Wayne, Eastwood synthesized the genre's tried and true romantic trappings with the more raw and cynical methods of Leone, to bridge an altogether new approach. Through the story of an outlaw who lost and then rebuilds a family, Eastwood infuses a surprising sweetness into the proceedings. Thankfully though, the film wisely avoids any kind of forced sentimentality by never overtly playing up its emotions. While not as thematically or cinematically complex as some of his more recent work, the film still stands tall and is a worthy member of the director's impressive filmography."

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 
The Outlaw Josey Wales rides onto 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with a single-disc 4K UHD + Digital release from Warner Bros./SDS. The film and bonus features are pressed on a Region Free BD100 disc and housed in a standard case with identical slipcover artwork. The disc loads to a static-image main menu with standard navigation options along the bottom of the screen.

Thanks to the talented eye of Bruce Surtees, I stand that The Outlaw Josey Wales is one of the most handsomely photographed westerns ever made. From capturing the varying landscape and inclement weather conditions to the range of faces and costumes to the natural lighting, it’s just a beautiful film to look at. And it’s always looked great on home video. When it hit Blu-ray in 2011 it was a true showcase for how a catalog film of that era could perform on 1080p. Now some fourteen years later we get to reexamine the film again in 2160p HDR10 and it thankfully remains an often breathtaking experience. From the dream-like haziness to how some faces are shot entirely in shadow, it’s an impressive example of contrasting images offering a visual metaphor for Wales's thematic journey. Details are impeccably sharp and crisp without looking like they were cooked with unsightly edge enhancement. Some of the facial close-ups are so vivid and lifelike now it's quite jarring. Likewise, the production design work, the costumes, and the varying locations all look stunning. Film grain is very refined and tight, without appearing noisy or intrusive. Grain is really only noticeable during optical transitions and even then not a detriment to the transfer. The HDR10 grade maintains the strength of the visuals without blasting colors unnaturally. Primaries and skin tones are nice and healthy; no one is pushed too pink or peached. Black levels and shadows are deep and inky, again I love how Surtees hid faces in shadows the way he did.

On the audio front, similar to Dirty Harry we have a new Atmos mix and the film’s original theatrical audio presented in DTS-HD MA 2.0. And it is the true blue original theatrical audio! Like Dirty Harry, the tell is differences in the gunfire, explosions, and other big loud impactful sound effects. It’s a clean track with clean dialog and gives plenty of room for Jerry Fielding’s Oscar-nominated score to work. So purists who have been itching for the original audio to return will be satiated in that regard.

As for the Atmos mix, I like this one quite a bit. It certainly is a rejiggered version of the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track from the old Blu-ray, but it works nicely. While a tad inauthentic sounding for a film of the era, I never thought the sound effects upgrades were overly distracting. They work well enough and now those bombastic shots from the gatling gun really clap with some strong LFE presence. Imaging is nicely prioritized along the base level of the mix, spread well from the Front/Center channels into the sides and rears when called for. The overhead height channels don’t see a ton of pinpoint specific activity but they add to the mood and atmosphere for various locations and weather. Again the Fielding score is well appointed and dialog is clear throughout. Between the two options I don’t really have a favorite, they both work splendidly for what they have to offer. Fans of either setup are in good hands.

Once again we’re getting a great mix of old and new materials. Similar to Dirty Harry we’re getting two brand new featurettes, one dedicated to Eastwood’s antihero gritty cinematic persona and another committed to the Eastwood/Surtees working relationship. Both are a tad fluffy, but they make great points about the relevance of Eastwood’s characters and the visual stylings of his films. After that, we’ve got the same excellent audio commentary, and making-of materials and featurettes of past releases and Eastwood boxsets. 

• Audio Commentary featuring Richard Schickel
• NEW An Outlaw and an Antihero (HD 7:22)
• NEW The Cinematography of an Outlaw - Crafting Josey Wales (HD 7:55)
• Clint Eastwood’s West (HD 29:03)
• Eastwood in Action (SD 7:54)
• Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of The Outlaw Josey Wales (SD 29:14)
• Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy - Reinventing Westerns (HD 17:36)

As one of those movies I don’t often watch fearing repetitional diminishing returns, I was long overdue for a revisit of The Outlaw Josey Wales. Of Eastwood’s four Westerns he directed/starred in, it’s a very tight close second place to Unforgiven. At least on my scales. Within just a few years of helming Play Misty for Me, Eastwood quickly established himself as a fierce talent behind the camera. How he got to the point of actually directing Josey Wales is certainly a point of controversy, nevertheless, it’s an incredible effort. The film is action-packed, heartfelt, funny, and endearing brought home by a talented cast of colorful characters. Making its 4K UHD debut, the film simply has never looked better in my view. The 2160p HDR10 transfer is a beautiful effort with crisp details, lovely natural colors, and nice deep blacks and shadows. As for the audio fans can enjoy either the new Atmos track or the original theatrical audio - both are great options. Completing the package is a fine assortment of bonus features to pick through once the show's over. Taking a moment to stop whistling Dixie and spit on an insect, I have to call this release a Must Own.