Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Easy Money: Life Deluxe Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 21, 2014

If as you watch Easy Money Life Deluxe you feel as if you’ve wandered into a story that’s already two thirds of the way through, there’s a reason: this is the third film in a Swedish trilogy that bears the fantastic original name of Snabba Cash. Based on a bestselling novel by Jens Lapidus, the original Snabba Cash was an almost epochal hit in its native Sweden, and ultimately spawned two sequels. While the second film in the trilogy, Easy Money: Hard to Kill, has matriculated to domestic Blu-ray shores, the first film has yet to make it to high definition, and so there are more than likely plot points and character beats in this third film that would have more resonance if the entire backstory were known. As it stands, this third outing is going to be more than a bit conrfusing to anyone coming into it cold, as it seeks to tie up the stories of JW (Joel Kinnaman), in search of his missing sister, while Jorge (Matias Varela) decides to do one last job before retiring, while at the same time attempting to rekindle a romance with a woman named Nadja (Madeleine Martin).

Even those already well acquainted with the Easy Money story thus far may find Easy Money Life Deluxe a somewhat bewildering experience, both due to structure (there are several flashbacks that intrude on the narrative flow) as well as a really busy story that is stuffed with a lot of tangential information. None of the arcs portrayed in this final chapter is particularly surprising, especially with regard to the fate of JW’s long missing sister. Jorge’s story is relatively more interesting, with a bit of a twist at the end awaiting the patient viewer.

Easy Money: Life Deluxe Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Easy Money Life Deluxe blasts onto Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Aside from some very minor contrast fluctuations, this is a sharp, well detailed and nicely vivid looking presentation, especially when the film veers away from some of its cool northern palettes. Fine detail is excellent in close-ups and the transfer exhibits no obvious artifacts.

Easy Money: Life Deluxe Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Both the original Swedish language track as well as an English dub are presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Both mixes are really aggressive, with some excellent sound effects zinging around the surrounds (a big shootout late in the film provides excellent sonic immersion). Dialogue and the kind of brooding score are also presented very cleanly and clearly.

Easy Money: Life Deluxe Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scenes:

  J.W. Suicidal (1080p; 1:50)

  Hägerström Drunk at Funeral (1080p; 1:22)

  Hägerström in Drunk Tank, Gets Recruited (1080p; 1:15)

  Prostitute in Mexico (1080p; 2:05)

  Jorge Playing Soccer on the Beach in Mexico (1080p; 00:36)

  Hägerström Helps Jorge with Nadja (1080p; 00:52)

  The Mob Assembled (1080p; 1:33)

  Hägerström Talking to Radavan at the Gym (1080p; 1:21)

  Hägerström Waiting for Natalie Bathing (1080p; 1:14)

  Hägerström's Boss Loses It (1080p; 00:41)

• Behind the Scenes:

  Fight Scene in Locker Room (720p; 4:07)

  First Scenes, Placing Spike Strips in Way of Police (720p; 1:35)

  Hägerström Infiltrates (720p; 1:56)

  Jorge's Last Scene (720p; 1:29)

  J.W., and Scenes from L.A. (720p; 2:42)

  The Characters of Martin and Nadja (720p; 2:48)

  MMA Fighting (720p; 3:50)

  Natalie's Character (720p; 1:47)

  Radovan's Gang- the Character Stefanovic (720p; 1:44)

  Radovan's Strip Club (720p; 3:03)

  Setting Fire to Car (720p; 3:24)

  Blowing Up Car (720p; 3:12)

  Big Party at Radovan's (720p; 2:48)

  The Showdown (720p; 3:30)

  Firearms Permit (720p; 1:33)

  Realistically Portrayed Bank Robbery and Spectacular Action Sequences (720p; 1:33)

• Trailer (1080p; 1:35)

Easy Money: Life Deluxe Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I frankly spent most of Easy Money Life Deluxe trying to catch up with the various stories that were already well underway, but my hunch is even those with all the requisite foreknowledge of what's going on might be confounded by this film's overly convoluted structure and subplots. It's still an often exciting film with a couple of outstanding action set pieces, so fans of the franchise will no doubt want to check out this supposed final chapter. The Blu-ray looks and sounds great.