The plot is High Noon on Io, with Connery as a Marshall stationed at a mining colony, who finds himself pitted against both the corruption of the company running the colony, and hired assassins imported to kill him. Even though the story is familiar, I like the production design and miniature effects a great deal, and the cast does a solid, professional job with the material, bringing a lot of humanity and conviction to their stock roles.
You can preorder the Blu-ray (currently priced around $15) at Amazon: Outland [Blu-ray]
Outland is one of my favorite films both for its western plot and it's plausible sci-fi setting. All the characters aren't young pretty-boys and starlets (Connery is acting his age in this one) the characters are well played even when a simple heavy who is there to get shot.
ReplyDeleteAs you note it all looks well made too.
I haven't seen this in a really long time, but I just got a Blu-Ray player so I might need to check it out. Peter Hyams did a pretty competent job with Capricorn One and 2010, too.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great movie and is often overlooked. The tech and sets are almost Alien-inspired, because you can easily see the similarities in the industrial look. And with a High-Noon plot, pitting the Marshal against the bad guys, it does have a classic Western appeal. It's worth a watch.
ReplyDeleteThe production design - costumes, sets, and miniatures - are definitely Alien-inspired. In fact, it's not too difficult to imagine that Outland takes place in the same universe as Ridley Scott's film.
ReplyDelete(Obviously, they don't - but it's easy to pretend they do.)
Love this movie, can't wait for the blu-ray which will hopefully be a great transfer.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time!