Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

13 Blu-ray Movie Review

Hey, all those revolvers were six-shooters, right? Because that wouldn't be very fair if some of them weren't.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 7, 2011

One bullet to each player.

Maybe the only thing more risky than a movie remake is someone putting a gun to his head and pulling the trigger. Director Géla Babluani does both (well, one literally, and the other he forces his actors into performing) in 13, but in this rare instance, neither proves all that harmful (no actors were really shot in the head during the production of this film). See, not only is 13 a pretty thrilling little movie, it's also a remake of a movie that Babluani already made -- 2005's 13 Tzameti -- so it's probably better called a "reworking" than a "remake" or even a "re-imagining." It looks like Babluani is getting off pretty easy after all, so one can only hope he didn't get into a game of chicken on the freeway on his drive home from the set. The kinda-sort risk taking director does pull off an impressive feat with 13, all kidding aside. It's a thrilling little spectacle that focuses on human greed, true fear, and the lengths some people will go to for a more secure financial future. Part original (despite the whole "reworked" angle) and part stale, the movie's tension and primary plot far outweigh the rather bland side story of personal greed getting in the way of basic human decency, a side story that's more than worthy but that takes a back seat to 13's terrifying and bloody main event.

Vince watches 'The Deer Hunter' on a monitor off-camera.

Vince (Sam Riley) is an electrician who just wants to put in a hard day's work and take home an honest day's pay. But his life -- and bank account -- are turned upside down when his father lands in the hospital and requires more operations than the family can afford, even after they've sold off a house they've worked 18 years to pay off. A desperate Vince takes advantage of a bit of "good luck" -- which may be a curse disguised as a blessing -- when the man he's been working for dies. Vince had once overheard his employer discussing a get-rich-quick scheme, and after doing some stealthy digging, he collects the critical information from the man's desk. Vince soon finds himself part of an underground competition that will do more than raise the hairs on the back of his neck -- it'll blow them clean off. Vince, contestant number 13, finds himself part of a deadly game of multiplayer Russian Roulette where the only skill involves standing one's ground and pulling a trigger without losing one's lunch or, literally, losing one's mind.

There's perhaps nothing more valuable than a human life, except, perhaps, a life is laid down in the name of some greater good that each man must weigh against the specter of the ultimate sacrifice. That's more or less at the heart of 13, a movie where contestants must choose an almost certain death or the potential of an enormous payday. It's also the story of one young man who chooses the unknown, the mere proposition of instant wealth, blindly, rushing into a potentially dangerous venture where everything, up to an including his very soul and life, might be at stake. It's a very good premise, and one that's almost perfectly fulfilled. It's chilling and thrilling, heart-racing and nerve-racking, a movie that throws straight and predictable 100 mile-per-hour heat at the audience, at least until it tosses a big fat curve at the end. Granted the side story of rich men cavalierly throwing their money into a pot and their souls into oblivion isn't very satisfying because said characters go relatively undeveloped or, at best, underdeveloped, but 13 easily surpasses this otherwise debilitating obstacle thanks to a genuine sense of tension and almost uncontrollable sense of fear that emanates from the film's most critical scenes. It's not the next great cult movie, and it's not much of a game-changer, but 13 is polished, thrilling, and suspenseful entertainment.

What makes 13 work as well as it does is the film's rather strong and sympathetic lead character. It's not always easy to like Vince -- he basically commits fraud, but at least he does so in the name of what he believes to be a greater good, making him rather stupid, but not necessarily evil and certainly not heartless, quite unlike the people with whom he will quickly become associated -- but it's very easy to forgive his past transgressions when sweat pours from his brow while there's a .357 magnum pointed at his head. Sam Riley is very good in the lead role. He shines when the life-and-death pressure is on the character, and that he can emote such a genuine visual sense of fear truly sells the part. It's not only the sweat and a look in his eye that sells it; it's the quaking that truly seems to emanate from his very essence, which yields nearly uncontrollable physical convulsions. Indeed, all of the actors to some extent do a very good job in conveying the sheer terror of the situation they're in, but Riley captures the uncertainty, anxiety, and outright terror of the thing expertly. The rest of the cast is strong, but as noted above, the characters played by the likes of Jason Statham and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson go painfully undeveloped, though their performances are just good enough so that they don't appear to be in the movie just to pad their bank accounts and resumés.

13 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

13 spins onto Blu-ray with another strong 1080p Blu-ray transfer from Anchor Bay. Warm flesh tones and general colors are the norm, but they nevertheless look quite good. The palette is usually vibrant, particularly in early scenes outside the underground roulette area. Black levels are generally solid, though multiple black suits seem to melt into one another and into darker backgrounds. Fine detail is strong throughout. Facial textures are adequately complex, clothing textures appear intricate, and there's never a surface that appears anything less than naturally textured with a lifelike precision. A few shots do go completely and unexpectedly murky and soupy, but such are vast exceptions to the rule. A coating of film grain yields a handsome film-like texture, and clarity, aside from those handful of sloppy shots, is superb. Despite an instance or two of jagged edging, the image appears free of any distracting artifacts. Overall, this is a satisfying and enjoyable 1080p transfer from Anchor Bay.

13 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

13 shoots out a fair Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The picture opens with heavy, rattly, almost unkempt bass, but the low end tightens up nicely as the film moves on. Music is nicely presented; it enjoys an adequate sense of spacing, a steadiness throughout the range, and a fair bit of surround support. The track also yields several quality directional effects, and not only basic elements like footsteps traversing the stage. Spinning revolver cylinders and the distinct click of cocking hammers sound authentic and frightening, particularly in the dead silence of the movie as they're often the only sounds heard leading up to the inevitable. The gunshots themselves aren't exactly the most potent sounding things ever to grace Blu-ray (and oddly enough, the movie makes no mention of how deaf these folks would be with several .357s going off in an enclosed space, and there's only one scene where the sound is muddled through a "ringing" in a character's ear), but they're adequately loud and powerful. Minor ambiance occasionally creeps in, though it's sometimes lost under music and effects. Dialogue, as expected, is center-based and crisp. All in all, this is a solid, but in no way spectacular, Blu-ray soundtrack.

13 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unfortunately, this Blu-ray release of 13 contains no extras.

13 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

13 is a pretty darn good little movie. It manages to elicit an incredible amount of tension even if much of it is both predictable and repetitive. It does offer a satisfying twist ending, though some of the character's tactics defy logic (trusting the USPS with a precious package? Ha ha, that's a good one). Still, Director Géla Babluani does a very good job getting the most out of the material, and he should, considering it's basically his second time making the movie. It probably doesn't have much immediate replay value, but it's good enough to add to the old Blu-ray collection. Anchor Bay's disc is featureless, which is a real shame, but the video and audio presentations are up to par. Recommended if and when it goes on a good sale.