Best known for the Civil War dramas Gettysburg and Gods and Generals, director Ron Maxwell returns to yet again to the Civil War with Copperhead, which, at a mere two hours feels like an intimate, character driven drama when compared to the larger historical context of his two earlier epics. Copperhead contains no historical battles, or real violence. Instead, the focus is on “the war at home,” and more specifically, Copperheads who were a group of vocal Democrats in the North, who opposed the Civil War.

The Copperhead of the title is dairy farmer Abner Beech (Billy Campbell), who unlike nearly everyone in the upstate New York town where he and his family live, refuses to support President Lincoln’s war against the South even as he condemns slavery. As the town turns against him, Abner stays true to his principles. Meanwhile, his son Jeff (Casey Brown), whose full name is Thomas Jefferson Beech, rebels, enlists in the army, and switches his nickname to Tom to remove associations with Jefferson Davis and to please the daughter (Lucy Boynton) of Abner’s more fanatical counterpart neighbor, Jee Hagadorn (Angus Macfadyen). An anti-slavery zealot with a taste for quoting scripture whenever and wherever the mood strikes, Jee eventually launches a campaign to slander Beech; one that ends in tragedy.

While Copperhead has a story to tell, it does it in the most mundane way possible.  As Hagadorn, Macfadyen gives off momentary sparks of life, even appearing almost drunk during some of his preaching, but in the end, neither he, nor Peter Fonda, who shows up as Beech’s neighbor, and essentially acts as a mouthpiece for Lincoln’s views, can give lasting life to a film that is a decidedly dry history lesson. Billy Campbell does the best he can with what the script offers, but even he comes across with a stoicism that could be compared to a statue.

That being said, Copperhead still manages to convey some interesting history. Therefore, those who just want some of the historical facts behind the Copperhead movement, and don’t care much about getting a vibrant story with it, this is worth a look.

Presented in the 2.40:1 aspect ratio, Warner’s 1080p presentation is very nice. Photographed and framed using the Alexa digital camera system, the image exhibits a soft focus with well resolved close-ups and nice fine detail. The color palette is slightly muted, though, blacks are deep and shadow delineation is revealing, Flesh tones look natural throughout.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 channel soundtrack is handsomely produced with a beautiful orchestral score that spans the soundstage and subtly extends to the surrounds. Atmospherics and sound effects are used appropriately, and dialogue is clean and clear throughout. Spatial integration is apparent, though at times it’s a bit forward sounding.

English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are included.

There are no extras.