An Acceptable Loss Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

An Acceptable Loss Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 18, 2019

Directorial careers can be a strange thing, and Joe Chappelle has experienced a wild one. He made his first real mainstream impression with 1995’s “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers,” and segued into 1998’s “Phantoms.” The genre launch pad didn’t ignite a hunger for his services, ending up helming “The Skulls II” before retreating from features all together, slipping into television to pay the bills. However, Chappelle managed to join shows such as “Fringe” and “The Wire,” sharpening his talents with quality programs, and now he’s back in theaters with “An Acceptable Loss,” working from his own screenplay. Newly empowered to make a timely tale of political deception, Chappelle puts in a noticeable effort with the movie, which makes it halfway to thematic clarity before formula kicks in. Still, some elements do connect as intended in “An Acceptable Loss,” displaying storytelling clarity where there wasn’t much before.

Libby (Tika Sumpter) is a former national security analyst who’s accepted a teaching position at Grant University, arriving at a campus with students who are actively protesting her hiring, refusing to ignore her role in a major military decision four years earlier. As she settles into her new surroundings, her paranoia remains high, with memories of her time working with Vice President Burke (Jamie Lee Curtis) still haunting her, while enigmatic intimidation is shared by Adrian (Jeff Hephner), a secret service agent and her ex-lover. One of Libby’s students is Martin (Ben Tavassoli), a strange individual who takes a special interest in his teacher’s living arrangement, setting out to break into her house and monitor her every move. Libby, struggling with something she’s careful not to expose to anyone, tries to retain as much of a normal life as possible, only she’s unable to escape her past, constantly confronted about her government actions wherever she goes.

What Libby actually achieved during her national security position isn’t immediately revealed. Instead, Chappelle uses her secret ways to inspire a mystery, with Libby working extra hard to fortify her home and protect something special, purchasing a special antique safe to make sure modern tools can’t access the items within. She even keeps a gun under her pillow, clearly anticipating trouble of some sorts. Martin also has his share of initially inexplicable behavior, showing intense interest in Libby’s every move, sustaining the little stealth a college kid can produce to gain access to her home, all the while dealing with misunderstandings from his roommate, Jordan (Alex Weisman). Both characters are kept in the shadows for as long as Chappelle can get away with, giving “An Acceptable Loss” a good hour of Libby slipping into flashbacks with Burke (her personal cheerleader with matters of national security), while Martin creates a plan to place cameras inside Libby’s home, with his ultimate purpose left a blank (he certainly projects the stalker vibe), which doesn’t inspire as much suspense as the helmer is hoping for.

“An Acceptable Loss” does leak curious information along the way, with Libby targeted by outsiders for her past, even confronted by a drunk professor during a faculty party. She’s responsible for something major occurring during a war on terrorism, but, again, Chappelle is saving such a reveal for later in the movie, trying to get inside the character’s head as she reflects on mistakes and manipulations. Martin and Libby eventually meet, and while the initial mood of their connection gives off “Apt Pupil” fumes, the screenplay doesn’t pursue that darkly encouraging direction, instead putting Libby in a position of exposure, which rattles Burke, sending Adrian out to stop whatever her ex-employee is up to. Personal stories are shared and bonds are made, but “An Acceptable Loss” actually flattens some when answers finally arrive, finding Chappelle unable to push the material to the next stage of tension as true identities are exposed and government pressure is applied to keep Libby quiet about her stained past.

An Acceptable Loss Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a substantially cooler viewing experience, with the production aiming to create a sobering movie by draining the feature of vibrant hues. Only mild colors remain, mostly from costuming and neighborhood greenery, with the rest of the endeavor nearly B&W at times, or going gray to preserve the somber mood. Skintones are slightly more natural, remaining in line with the artistic choice. Chappelle also elects for a softer appearance, giving detail only where he wants it, offering skin surfaces with close-ups and fibrous clothing. The rest is intentionally hazy. Delineation is satisfactory, with heavy use of limited lighting and nighttime encounters. Some mild banding is periodically detected.

An Acceptable Loss Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix supplies a stable, direct listening experience for "An Acceptable Loss." Dialogue exchanges are satisfactory, tracking hushed encounters and emotional escalation without distortive extremes. Scoring is precise, carrying through softer moods and harder suspense, offering sharp instrumentation. Surrounds are active, contributing a few panning effects and general management of atmospherics, with college campus bustle and neighborhood activity noted. Low-end is rarely challenged, and doesn't handle with much weight.

An Acceptable Loss Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:09, HD) has been included.

An Acceptable Loss Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Chappelle pushes the movie into thriller mode for its final act, and the lurch forward into a more visceral viewing experience doesn't mesh comfortably with the rest of "An Acceptable Loss," which is far more sedate and dialogue-driven. The film endeavors to create an "Arlington Road"-style conclusion, but there's not enough emphasis to ignite a proper cinematic chase. "An Acceptable Loss" has ideas to share on abuses of power and misinformation (turning government-triggered mass murder into banal statistics to avoid public outrage), and while only here in a small role, Curtis is riveting as Burke, summoning dramatic fury the rest of the endeavor is missing. Chappelle's effort is laudable, trying to considerate with delicate world issues, but he can't make up his mind what type of story he wants to tell.