Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 3, 2008

Former Bond man Pierce Brosnan plays a tough goon on a mission in Mike Barker's Chicago-based thriller "Butterfly on a Wheel" (2007). Following a familiar route, the film gets most everything right but the element of surprise, which isn't too...surprising. Nevertheless, solid contributions by the cast transform this one into the perfect late-night ticket. Distributed in the United Kingdom by Icon Film Distribution. Region-Free.

The captor

Successful Chicago businessman Neil Randall has everything he ever wanted - a beautiful wife (Maria Bello), a beautiful kid (Emma Karwandy) and a high-paying job with plenty of perks. When his boss invites him on a weekend trip, Neil quickly packs his bags and arranges for a babysitter to take care of the kid. His wife offers to give him a ride.

Half-way to downtown Chicago, a man (Pierce Brosnan), who has been hiding in the back of Neil's car, pops up and points a gun at his head. He announces that Neil's daughter has been abducted by the babysitter and demands a large amount of money. The man also hands Neil a cell phone and asks that he calls home - Neil must be aware what is at stake if he does not comply with the mysterious man's demands. Butterfly on a Wheel is a puzzle with plenty of missing pieces that are added up as its story progresses. The majority arrive via traditional clues, which become more and more telling as we approach the finale. The ending links everything together and a quick synopsis of the entire story is provided through multiple flashbacks.

The main attraction in Butterfly on a Wheel is Pierce Brosnan's transformation into a tough, highly-demanding, Irish goon. He is methodical, very articulate and determined. His actions are well calculated and, as the story reveals, always anticipating Neil's reactions. As a result, the slightly predictable game of cat and mouse that ensues after Pierce Brosnan's character announces his demands remains tolerable primarily because of the ex-Bond's presence.

Gerard Butler is a respectable opponent but his improvisations are rather stiff. The open clashes with his captor lead to a number of overdramatizations that are far too transparent and out of sync with the story. For example, the hotel scene where he switches into a depressive mode is arguably the weakest link in Butterfly on a Wheel. Still, I liked his energy and poise. With the right script, Butler could be quite fascinating to behold.

Maria Bello, the beautiful blonde from Mel Gibson's Payback (1999), is a great asset to the film. Her protagonist is very convincing and less prone to overdramatization. Her facial expressions in particular are excellent, but could be quite a challenge for those who aren't used to reading people. Even better, Bello's ability to match everyone else's energy could well be the reason why Butterfly on a Wheel does not flop immediately after her daughter is abducted.

Mike Barker and William Morrisey offer a spectacular commentary for their film (I highly recommend that you listen to it; it could well be a more rewarding experience than watching the actual film) which, frankly, nails a lot of what I thought didn't work well - the clues, portions of the dialog, even a bit of the directing. This being said, I don't think that there is much that could have been dramatically improved - the script simply has a lot of limitations. On a slightly different note, the soundtrack for Butterfly on a Wheel is far richer and more sophisticated than the narrative, pointing to a totally different complexion in terms of character progression. This isn't necessarily a negative thing, but after all was said and done, it seemed to me as if Butterfly on a Wheel might have slightly underperformed, even though the supporting elements for a much stronger film were present.

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Butterfly on a Wheel is released in the United Kingdom by Icon Film Distribution.

The transfer for this rather recent film is of exceptionally high quality. It reveals a strong, perfectly defined, look and a degree of clarity that will surely impress those of you accustomed to the modern "popping" look many Blu-ray discs convey. The color-scheme is also pleasing. Contrast is handled adequately as well. As to the actual print for Butterfly on a Wheel supplied by Icon Film Distribution, it is absolutely flawless. There aren't any specs, debris, or dirt that I could detect. In fact, during some of the daylight scenes shot in downtown Chicago, the film reveals a mere-documentary look; it is that vibrant and detailed. (Note: Even though this disc is marketed as a region B release, it is actually Region-Free. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are three different audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1, and English Dolby Digital 2.0. I opted for the DTS-HD Master mix and my experience was indeed pleasing.

There are a few things that need to be said about the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. First, even though Butterfly on a Wheel does not offer any particular scenes that are likely to test the muscles of your home system, it is indeed a film with a diverse audio composition. There are selected scenes where active surround sounds become prominent and contribute greatly to one's viewing experience (the abduction scenes). During these scenes, the DTS-HD Master mix reveals better potency than the other two tracks mentioned above. Second, an excellent downtempo soundtrack compliments the camera movements. Third, this isn't a film with a sustained and impressively active audio background. Therefore, you should not expect to be impressed by a dramatic show off of audio power. You should, however, expect a balanced and proficiently done audio mixing, and as far as I am concerned, this is precisely what you will get with this disc. For the record, optional English subtitled are offered for the main feature. When turned on, the subtitles are outside of the image frame, with small text portions occasionally overflowing back into the image.

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

On this Blu-ray disc you will find the following extras: three deleted scenes and three extended scenes that are offered in standard PAL. This means that for those of you utilizing Region-A PS3s or SAs, these will not be accessible (unless of course your player has been modified to a region-free status). This being said, a quick look at these scenes shows that they introduce little of substance. Nevertheless, they are a welcome addition. Next, there are two standard documentaries: "Breaking Apart the Wheel" and "From Hero to Villain". I recommend taking a look at the latter as it offers a detailed look at writer William Morrissey's work. Both of those documentaries are also offered in standard PAL. Finally, there is a full-blown commentary by British director Mike Barker and William Morrissey.

Butterfly on a Wheel Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Butterfly on a Wheel is a well-paced but somewhat predictable thriller that follows the rules of the genre closely. The cast delivers but the script isn't strong enough to allow them to truly shine. As a result, Butterfly on a Wheel won't entice those of you looking for groundbreaking material. The actual Blu-ray release by Icon Film Distribution is near perfect. Recommended.