6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A group of people trying to cross the border from Mexico into the United States encounter a man who has taken border patrol duties into his own racist hands.
Starring: Gael García Bernal, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Alondra Hidalgo, Diego Cataño, Marco PérezThriller | Insignificant |
Foreign | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 1.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Of all of the hot-button topics enflaming the world today, none is more scorching than the debate over immigration. Whether immigrants from war-torn Middle Eastern nations or those illegally crossing the U.S. border, words like "vetting" and "terrorist" and "humanity" and "drugs" and "wall" and "deportation" and "economy" are at the center of it all. It's a debate that's impossible to be dispassionate about one way or the other, and it's created a sharp divide between Americans and, on a much larger scale, the world. Director Jonás Cuarón's Desierto follows a group of illegal immigrants under fire and hunted by an American because...the movie never really says why. He's mad, apparently. Has he snapped? Is this something he's done before? What's his underlying motivation? The movie never explores these questions to satisfaction. It's essentially Hard Target repurposed to fit into a firestorm political issue and with no sense of dramatic place or thematic purpose.
Desierto's 1080p transfer, sourced from a digital shoot, fares well all-around. It comes up a little short in a few areas, but never does it truly disappoint. Textures are occasionally not as complex as one might prefer. The opening sunrise shows heavy banding across the sky and the arid badlands seen early in the film lack the sort of textural grit and intimacy they deserve, pushing a little flat. Terrain finds greater definition and stability as the picture moves along, however, as the flats give way to desert plant life, larger rocks, and more uneven lands. Facial details are impressive, including hair and pores, and clothes show plenty of accumulated sweat stains and dust. Sam's truck reveals plenty of impressive textural wear on its body. Colors are fairly drab. The movie is predominantly earthy, but shades of natural green, assorted colors of clothes, and red blood are well saturated. Nighttime blacks are appropriately deep. Flesh tones appear accurate. Source noise is minimal. Overall, this is a good 1080p transfer from Universal.
Desierto's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack presents the film's vast, wide-open terrain very well. The sense of breezy emptiness is conveyed through the stage with a believable sense of space and place. Shouts and gunshots reverberate through it. Gunfire cracks and zips with startling accuracy, which would give added weight and terror to the movie if it had any distinguishing reason for the listener to care and become engaged in the narrative. Music is well spaced and supports a positive low end. Sam's truck rattles across the rough terrain with authentic presence and shake. The track has some great moments that make use of big and detailed elements contrasted against the vast, open Arizona desert spaces. It's definitely a good listen.
Desierto contains one supplement, an audio commentary with Director/Co-Writer/Producer Jonás Cuarón. At one of the film's rare opportunities to give purpose to the killer character, the director can't say anything more than the scene exposes the character's human side and drinking problem. Unfortunately neither are fleshed out enough to matter. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are also included with purchase.
Desierto accomplishes nothing of value either cinematically or within the debate on illegal immigration. Even the staunchest anti-immigration, build-the-wall, send-them-all-packing type would find this man's actions deplorable, to use another one of the buzzwords-of-the-times. Even if the movie's purpose is to depict a crazy man murdering people, give him a reason or set it against something a little less politically charged. Video and audio are fine and the Blu-ray's sole extra is a filmmaker commentary. Skip it.
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