3:15 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

3:15 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 9, 2020

Perhaps the first mistake the producers made was titling the film “3:15” (aka “3:15 the Moment of Truth”). It’s a poor title, doing little to sell what the viewing experience involves, offering numbers when swinging fist imagery was in order. The screenplay by Sam Bernard and Michael Jacobs explores gang warfare in a Los Angeles high school, downplaying real-world violence to make a graphic novel-style revenge picture, which blends in a little of “The Warriors” for taste. “3:15” is a broad offering of teen aggression, and while it gets a little too silly at times, director Larry Gross (who knows his Walter Hill stuff, co-scripting “Streets of Fire” and “48 Hrs.”) has a certain level of authority with the pulpy aspects of the plot, trying to reinforce the danger of the central situation of intimidation. The feature gets away from him at times, but the entertainment value of the endeavor is present, especially for viewers who enjoy their mid-‘80s offerings of juvenile delinquency.

The Cobras are one of the most aggressive gangs in Los Angeles, with leader Cinco (Danny De La Paz) making sure order is maintained through violent means, taking on a large number of rivals in the area. Jeff (Adam Baldwin) is a Cobra who can’t stomach the lifestyle anymore, leaving Cinco behind as he returns to Lincoln High School. A year after his departure, Jeff is happily involved with classmate Sherry (Deborah Foreman), but the Cobras remain on campus, creating a network to sell and deliver drugs, while Principal Horner (Rene Auberjonois) and assistant Moran (Ed Lauter) remain powerless to fight back. Finally screwing up the courage to contact the police for a major bust, Cinco tries to pass his stash to Jeff, who refuses to help. Stewing in jail, Cinco plans a major mission to retaliate for such an offense, using remaining Cobras to terrorize the school, with specific attention on Jeff and Sherry. Realizing there’s no way out, Jeff comes to terms with the sacrifices that need to be made to bring him peace, while Cinco presents a showdown time to even the score.

Jeff is the lead character of “3:15” but also its greatest enigma. He appears willing to get in touch with his honorable side, electing to leave The Cobras after participating in a hamburger restaurant parking lot rumble where he tries to inflict as little lasting damage as possible, while Cinco is eager to kill as many rivals as he can. Jeff walks away from the gang in disgust, making an enemy out of Cinco, but he’s far from a hero, eventually taking up with Sherry, enjoying an opportunity to rub her parents’ noses into evidence of her developing sex life. There’s also no sizable information about his home life, with the writing strangely avoiding a deeper look into an obviously damaged young man who appears to be all alone in the world. Not helping matters is the casting of Baldwin, a bland actor, but it’s strange to see “3:15” only deal with its protagonist(?) in vague terms, leaving the rest of the endeavor more colorful with supporting performances and motivations.

Jeff isn’t the most exciting element of “3:15,” which does much better exploring the ruination of Lincoln High School, which is populated by several gangs who embrace uniform looks and attitudes. The Tams represent Asian interests, while the M-16s are black students (lead by Mario Van Peebles) who wear military outfits. The Cobrettes (including Gina Gershon) are the most fun, with their head member managing to weaponize her hair braid, which proves useful during an attack on Sherry. The screenplay doesn’t focus on the overall gang population for too long, keeping up with The Cobras and their plan of attack once Cinco is incarcerated, ordering his troops to mess with Jeff. There’s drug dealing, quite organized too, and acts of intimidation, keeping Jeff on edge while he’s primed for the big showdown, trying to keep one eye on Sherry and the other on his classmates. More compelling than the kids is Horner, a fed-up educator who can’t do anything about the issues facing the school, dreaming of murdering the evil students, with such fantasies supported by Moran. This is the most “Class of 1984”-esque subplot of “3:15,” but the production doesn’t take it to extremes, preferring to remain with the teenagers as they deal with fear, cowardice, and empowerment thanks to Jeff’s refusal to bow down to pressure.

3:15 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"3:15" is listed as a "brand new HD master," which is a little vague when identifying exactly what makes up the AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Clarity carries throughout the viewing experience, and the basics in detail are appreciable, exploring school decoration and L.A. locations. Costuming, with all its punk and militaristic touches, are reasonably fibrous. Facial particulars are textured. Colors retain a bit more life, finding clothing most compelling, delivering period hues with flashes of deep blues and hotter reds. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is film-like. Source is in decent condition, without any significant points of damage.

3:15 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a clear listening event for "3:15," but not a particularly deep one, as the inherent thinness of the track remains. Dialogue exchanges are intelligible, hitting a few fuzzy highs as the original recording is taxed, but dramatic efforts are easy to follow. Scoring comes through acceptably, with adequate instrumentation, and soundtrack cuts, while lacking sonic power, are comfortable. School atmospherics are basic, as are sound effects, which favor switchblade clicks, clanging chains, and sound library body blows.

3:15 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (11:58, HD) sits down with Danny De La Paz, who opens with memories of his early acting career, getting a start in films before switching to television in the 1980s. Around 1984, De La Paz decided to return to acting school, learning the Meisner technique with classmate Deborah Foreman. The interviewee explores his character in "3:15," using a learned mission of intensity to portray Chico, going over the top to make his mark in the picture. De La Paz admits some embarrassment with his choices, but retains an appreciation for the movie. An assessment of director Larry Gross is presented, along with memories of co-stars. Most interesting is a candid reflection on career ambitions, with De La Paz feeling he came up short in his plans to be a star, having trouble finding work in the 1990s.

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:29, HD) is included.

3:15 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"3:15" is amusing at times, with Gross hunting for the line between suspense and camp, but his supporting cast certainly contributes enthusiasm for their roles, finding De La Paz on fire as Cinco, and Auberjonois is enjoyably spineless as Horner. Foreman also does what she can with the damsel in distress part, easily showing more screen life than Baldwin. "3:15" eventually makes it way to the big confrontation in an empty school, and the payoff is acceptable, but it's the build-up that really defines the viewing experience. Gross captures a blend of '50s-style teen drama and MTV-inspired exaggeration (the film was shot in 1984 but released in 1986) for a comfortable ride of gangland rage and dented heroism. It's flimsy, but the movie never falls apart.