6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Russell Poole and Jack Jackson investigate the murders of rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.
Starring: Johnny Depp, Forest Whitaker, Rockmond Dunbar, Neil Brown Jr., Xander BerkeleyBiography | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Those fans who are more or less convinced there was some kind of nefarious conspiracy that took the lives of rappers Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. may have more ammunition to add to their arsenal, not merely due to the fact that City of Lies is ostensibly about just such a conspiracy, but the fact that the film was evidently shot as far back as 2016 and 2017, and the film was slated to be screened starting in 2018. A number of intervening events occurred, including reported lawsuits involving Depp (not those lawsuits), and as a result the film only had a very brief release overseas at the tail end of 2018 (evidently including a Blu-ray release in Italy). Things then quieted down until Saban Films suddenly announced earlier this year it had obtained distribution rights, and, lo and behold, City of Lies has finally received a domestic Blu-ray release, probably due at least in part to the fact that the pandemic meant box office returns for any theatrical exhibition were minimal. Even without a pandemic, City of Lies might have languished with ticket buyers, since there may no longer be the visceral interest in the killings of two long ago rap icons that there once was, and, perhaps even more saliently, City of Lies often verges on the preposterous, even if some of its underlying content is in fact completely relevant to today (i.e., the film overtly depicts police both harassing and killing black men, including black men who happen to be other policemen).
City of Lies is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Saban Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. This was shot on good, old fashioned (Kodak) film, and finished at a 2K DI. While detail levels are generally quite pleasing throughout this presentation, they often ebb and flow due to some patently odd grading choices, which often bathe things in an almost syrupy ochre at times, or kind of sickly greens at others. The yellowish material in particular seems to give a kind of hazy overlay at times, which can at least partially mask fine detail levels, and which can also contribute to pretty milky looking blacks. Stylistically, director Brad Furman and cinematographer Monika Lenczewska evidently never met a lens flare they didn't like, so quite a few framings are filled with light anomalies. I noticed no compression anomalies and no signs of aggressive digital tweaking.
City of Lies features a nicely propulsive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that offers significant low end energy on a variety of source cues from everyone including Snoop Dogg to of course The Notorious B.I.G. The film does exploit a few more action oriented set pieces along the way, including the gonzo road rage incident that kind of sparks Poole's understanding as to what is ostensibly going on, and the surround channels are nicely and at times rather aggressively engaged in those moments. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.
Poole was both a tragic figure and, for some at least, a hero, but his story is simply told in too muddled a fashion here to ever resonate fully on an emotional level. The underlying conspiracy and/or conspiracies detailed in this film are fascinating, if frankly a little confusing at times, and it's arguable that a more straightforward approach might have benefitted greater understanding. Depp and Whitaker are interesting, though, and the film's kind of peculiar color grading choices might appeal to stylists. Technical merits are generally solid (especially audio), for those who are considering making a purchase.
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