Blu-ray Review – Quigley Down Under

In the quest to turn Tom Selleck into a movie star, Hollywood ended up with a few decent franchise-starters to help the actor along. Audiences didn't accept the "Magnum, P.I." lead as a viable source of big screen thrills, but Selleck's efforts to forge a career found him accepting colorful roles, with one of his better starring vehicles being 1990's "Quigley Down Under," which brought the American to Australia to reexamine the western in a new land, portraying a classic genre character. Helping the cause is director Simon Wincer, who previously helmed the beloved mini-series "Lonesome Dove," trading pained reflection for grander thrills in his homeland, working to bring some classic John Ford spirit to the picture. "Quigley Down Under" benefits from such enthusiasm, with the cast (including Laura San Giacomo and the late, great Alan Rickman, here in his bad guy prime) providing a level of life to the screenplay by John Hill, who's trying to bring the traditions and concerns of the Old West to an alien land, investigating issues of racism and masculinity where few might expect it. It's not an entirely triumphant endeavor, but Selleck delivers one of his best performances as the titular sharpshooter, showcasing a full understanding of the job at hand as he gives a nicely leathered and unsettled performance for Wincer, who's also in hog heaven positioning heroes and villains, while spotlighting longstanding issues from Australia's past. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com