Posse

During the late '80s and early '90s, Hollywood studios sought to resurrect the Western genre for a postmodern audience, especially after the unexpected Oscar wins for Clint Eastwood's seminal 1992 film Unforgiven. Using the real-life service of the black “Buffalo Soldiers” in the U.S. military as a starting point, New Jack City director-actor Mario Van Peebles crafted this slightly overblown 1993 effort featuring an all-star cast that included Charles Lane, Tiny Lister, Big Daddy Kane, Blair Underwood, Tone Loc, Isaac Hayes, and Pam Grier. The story begins during the Spanish-American War, when a cavalry unit led by Jesse Lee (Van Peebles) fights heroically but is betrayed by its corrupt white commander, Col. Graham (Billy Zane). Lee deserts with a band of followers (including an outlaw played by Stephen Baldwin), heading westward toward his hometown of Freemanville, where he seeks revenge against whoever murdered his father. The black-run community is under attack by neighboring racists, and eventually Lee's posse takes them on in a battle for justice. Van Peebles clearly aimed to make an action-packed shoot-'em-up, but he also has an earful to dispense about the largely ignored role of African Americans in settling the West and the racism that generations endured. Unfortunately, the two aims don't always coexist successfully, and the result ricochets between cinematic pyrotechnics and heavy-handed messaging. Bowing on Blu-ray in a handsome release (if extra-less, beyond a trailer), this is an optional purchase. (B. Gibron)