6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Retraces the epic story of the Parisian Resistance fighters of the FTP-MOI (Francs-tireurs and Partisans - Immigrant Workers). Led by Missak Manouchian, a worker and poet of Armenian origin, the group carried out around thirty operations against the Nazis between August and November 1943. Handed over to the Germans by the French police, 23 members of the Manouchian group were executed and the Nazis tried to use their foreign roots in a propaganda campaign against immigrants in Paris in Spring 1944. But the propaganda had the opposite effect and the members of the network became martyrs of the Resistance movement.
Starring: Simon Abkarian, Virginie Ledoyen, Robinson Stévenin, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Jean-Pierre DarroussinDrama | 100% |
Foreign | 75% |
War | 63% |
History | 44% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Robert Guédiguian's "L'armee du crime" a.k.a. "The Army of Crime" (2009) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include the film's original theatrical trailer; interview with director Robert Guediguian, filmed at the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse during the Cambridge Film Festival; video interview with actors Virginie Ledoyen and Simon Abkarian; and gallery of stills. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Virginie Ledoyen as Mélinée Manouchian
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Robert Guediguian's The Army of Crime arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
This is quite interesting. Though Kino Lorber's high-definition transfer has been struck from the same master Optimum Home Entertainment used to produce their Blu-ray release of The Army of Crime, their releases are not identical. Kino/Lorber's high-definition transfer is slightly cropped to 1.78:1, while Optimum Home Entertainment's high-definition transfer retains the film's original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1. This is hardly something to worry about, though, as the difference is more or less academic. Furthermore, there is a difference in the brightness levels between the two releases. Optimum Home Entertainment's high-definition transfer is slightly darker (some of the interrogation scenes are actually a bit too dark). Kino Lorber's high-definition transfer seems to have a slightly better balance in terms of brightness levels, even contrast levels. Again, though, the difference is marginal at best. As it was the case with Optimum Home Entertainment's release, edge-enhancement is never an issue of concern. Aliasing and artifacting do not plague the high-definition transfer either. Also, there are no traces of heavy noise reduction. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For the record, Kino Lorber have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature.
Alexandre Desplat's wonderful music score certainly benefits a great deal from the loseless treatment, enhancing the viewing experience quite well, though the French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track won't test the muscles of your audio system. Its strength is in the wide range of nuanced dynamics it boasts. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable, and very easy to follow. Additionally, there are no pops, cracks, hissings, or audio dropouts to report in this review. The English translation is very good.
Robert Guediguian's The Army of Crime is a complex, well acted and terrifically lensed period film. It may, however, prove to be too rich for some viewers. On the other hand, if you strip its story of its period elements, and think about its message in a more contemporary context, it could be quite a fascinating experience. Think about it: Can immigrants be patriots? Kino Lorber's presentation of The Army of Crime is very strong, though some of the supplemental features that appear on the Optimum Home Entertainment Blu-ray are missing. RECOMMENDED.
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