6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Two duelists wearing Kevlar vests stand in opposing circles; face each other, draw, and shoot. The one left standing in the circle wins. John (Ryan Kwanten), a talented young shooter seeks the ultimate duel with the champion, Zorringer (Mickey Rourke), while Colt (Freida Pinto) seeks revenge for the death of her brother.
Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Mickey Rourke, Freida Pinto, Jon Mack, Carolina GómezDrama | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Blunt Force Trauma comes achingly close to brilliance but falls a few measures of character depth short. The film follows a man who participates in an underground gunslinging tournament that's more than Fight Club but less than classic high-noon showdowns because the participants protect themselves with bullet proof vests. That's some trust in the other player, no? That's also some trust in one's own skill, but more on that later. Director Ken Sanzel's (writer, The Replacement Killers) film pushes so close to impressive dramatic depth and characterization that the audience can practically taste it, but, sadly, it never reaches the same dramatic highs it achieves during the actual showdowns in the rest of the movie, particularly in a sluggish middle stretch that focuses so deeply on relatively flat characters that the film become burdened by its inactivity. There's some brilliant filmmaking here but not enough intimate depth to keep the audience going beyond the standout moments that define it, but don't quite carry it.
Showtime.
Blunt Force Trauma features a solid 1080p transfer that satisfies in every area of concern. Image clarity impresses and details are a high point. Basics like complex skin features and clothing lines are tight and well defined, but the image is just as impressive looking at old rusted metal, rough concrete textures, and leafy greens, all of which yield a fine level of practically tactile, intimate detailing. Colors are pleasing across the board; the movie tends to fluctuate between bleak and bright, with many of the shooting matches rather dark and that long middle stretch significantly brighter. Whether urban grays or bright greens, color depth and definition impress. Black levels are deep and reveal positive shadow detailing. Flesh tones appear accurate. Minor noise interferes at times, as does a hint of aliasing, but the transfer is otherwise stable and free of excess eyesores. This is a fine release from Alchemy.
Blunt Force Trauma's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack proves rather routine, but routinely effective. General definition is fine across the board, whether music or effects. Surround details are sporadically inserted. The film's open features some light crowd ambience and a hollow, loud thud as the bolt that will signal the match's start rolls around on a dented metal table. Gunshots fall somewhere in the middle of the scale. They're not puny but they're not ear-shattering, either, a shame considering that they're the most important element in the movie. Light city and countryside ambiance helps to gently pull the listener into a few scenes. Dialogue delivery is firm, center-focused, and clear.
All that's included are trailers for Blunt Force Trauma (1080p, 0:30), Survivor (1080p, 2:11), and SWAT: Unit 887 (1080p, 2:08).
Blunt Force Trauma oozes greatness and it oozes disappointment. The movie's "events" are brilliantly presented and thrive on cinematic subtlety and the effortless capture of human complexities, but the characters, as they exist away from that arena, are too dull to carry an overlong middle stretch. That doesn't destroy the movie, but it does lessen it considerably. Nevertheless, Blunt Force Trauma is well worth a watch, even considering the agonizing low that interferes with an otherwise amazing high. Alchemy's Blu-ray release contains solid video and dependable audio. Extras are limited to a trio of trailers. Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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