China Moon Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

China Moon Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 11, 2017

After handling documentary duties with Lily Tomlin’s “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,” director John Bailey elected to spice up his helming career with a red-hot noir. A respected cinematographer, favored by Lawrence Kasdan (“The Big Chill,” “Silverado,” “The Accidental Tourist”), Bailey constructs “China Moon,” a lusty, twisty mystery that offers a little more visual heft than a Tomlin performance, taking the action to Florida, where characters engage in sex, lies, and murder. Bailey isn’t redefining the beloved genre with “China Moon,” but he does make a pretty picture, keeping the effort visually interesting while the screenplay by Roy Carlson struggles to keep things compelling, slogging through some tedious plotting.

A respected detective trying to teach his new partner, Lamar (Benicio Del Toro), a few things about criminal behavior, Kyle (Ed Harris) grows obsessed with Rachel (Madeline Stowe) after he meets her in a bar. Engaging in an affair with Rachel, Kyle learns more about her abusive marriage to brute Rupert (Charles Dance), listening to her fantasies about murdering him. When she finally pulls the trigger and kills her spouse, Kyle is put on the case, scrambling to find ways to slow down Lamar’s interest in the prime suspect, while his own involvement in crime scene tampering comes close to exposure, with the cop choosing to protect Rachel at the risk of losing everything.

“China Moon” really has it all, staying true to film noir requirements with moody locations, sinful appetites, and a central character who’s led down a dark path by his own impulses and a femme fatale. It’s a classic set-up for a somewhat lackluster picture, with Bailey struggling to find the excitement in Carlson’s writing, which spends a little too much time inside interrogation rooms and with Rupert, who’s a one-note menace (as-British- as-they-come Dance is also hilariously miscast as a Southern monster). Still, plot mechanics are understood, following Kyle into the quicksand of temptation as his need to be with Rachel clouds his judgment, leaving him exposed to her crimes, which she claims are part of a liberation plan. This emotional test of loyalty makes up most of “China Moon,” but Bailey offers appealing visuals to maintain attention, enjoying the noir challenge as the action winds around homes, bars, trailer parks, and lakes.

China Moon Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation delivers an older scan of "China Moon," showcasing a slight softness to the viewing experience. Fine detail isn't exceptional, but clarity isn't too bad, preserving a look at facial reactions and location distances, and set decoration is appreciable. Colors are acceptable, handling Floridian blues and reds well, while costuming tends to deliver the most interest hues with suits and eveningwear. Bars and restaurants also supply deep neon lighting. Delineation is adequate, never solidifying. Source is in good condition, with a few brief moments of speckling detected.

China Moon Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix captures the noir moods of "China Moon" with clarity and sharpness, leading with the brassy score, which is explored with definition, handling instrumentation well. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and true, while emotional extremes remain balanced, never slipping into distortion. Sound effects are pleasingly loud, with sharp gunfire and heavier physical altercations.

China Moon Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director John Bailey and editor Carol Littleton.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:31, SD) is included.

China Moon Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Harris makes for a compelling lead, offering his usual vein-bursting commitment to the part, but he doesn't always overplay Kyle's paranoia, offering terrific dead-eyed reactions to increasingly direct evidence tying him to Rachel's crime. "China Moon" might've benefitted from more of these moments, helping to tighten the noose on a weirdly slack offering of suspense. However, the feature doesn't seem to have much interest in building more than a simple ride of revelations, unable to snowball into a heartier meal of suffering for all the characters, adding some thrills to a dry movie. Bailey doesn't quite have the seasoning to highlight a stunning sense of danger in "China Moon," but his visual skills are apparent, and it's a game attempt to revive a dormant genre. The picture doesn't entirely work, but for superfans of all things atmospheric and deceptive, the effort should provide a sufficient display of troublemaking.