6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
Kyle and Swin live by the orders of an Arkansas-based drug kingpin named Frog, whom they've never met. But when a deal goes horribly wrong, the consequences are deadly.
Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Clark Duke, Michael Kenneth Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Eden BrolinThriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
They (whomever “they” may be) reportedly tell young would be scribes to “write what you know”, and in that regard Arkansas offers a setting if not an actual subject matter with which co-writer and director Clark Duke should be familiar. Duke is in fact an Arkansan, which probably helped with creating a supposedly realistic milieu for this film, but the fact that Arkansas deals with some low grade drug dealers might (hopefully) indicate that Duke is not immune to positing speculative fiction at times (Duke actually "confesses" in a supplement that his grandfather was a real life member of the so-called "Dixie Mafia", but doesn't go into any detail). Duke has had a number of at least somewhat well remembered supporting appearances in everything from The Office: Season Nine to Kick-Ass (and Kick-Ass 2) to Hot Tub Time Machine (and Hot Tub Time Machine 2). Perhaps realizing that a career built out of offerings with 2 in their titles might only go so far, and no doubt with that oft repeated feeling from actors that “what I really want to do is direct”, Duke attempts to stretch out a bit here, offering a tale of rural intrigue and subterfuge. The film has a number of marquee stars, including Liam Hemsworth, John Malkovich and Vince Vaughn (in addition to Duke himself, of course), but some overly mannered writing arguably gets in the way of some of the performances.
Arkansas is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.40:1. The IMDb has no technical data on the shoot, but I uncovered some social media posts which state this was captured with RED cameras, and I'm assuming things were finished at a 2K DI. Whatever narrative issues the film may have, Duke acquits himself quite reasonably as a rather confident stylist here, and many of the scenes offer some unusual lighting or grading choices, along with a kind of slightly dowdy Southern Gothic feel at times. Some of the flashback material is kind of buttery yellow, and that same approach is offered in a major scene presenting the mysterious Her. Both sunny outdoor material and some well lit interior scenes, as in the supermarket sequence where Swin meets Johnna, offer a natural looking palette and generally great detail levels. Some of the most dimly lit material can look a tad murky at times (see screenshot 9).
Arkansas features a nicely immserive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that can be subtle at times, but which delivers some really good surround activity in several outdoor scenes, as well as other moments where things get a bit out of control. The film's enjoyable score also comfortably fills the side and rear channels. Dialogue is cleanly and clearly delivered, and voiceover is anchored front and center and always easy to hear.
I really wanted to like Arkansas, but I'm not sure the decision to follow what is evidently the novel's structure really works. Fans of this cast may well find this at least an agreeable time killer if no great masterpiece. Technical merits are solid for those considering a purchase.
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