6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
When a priceless Rembrandt is stolen in New York, the evidence points to a solitary master thief, who is about to meet the insurance company's most cunning - and seductive - investigator. Following a nerve-racking game of cat and mouse, the two join forces, or so it seems, to attempt a daring multi-billion-dollar heist tied to the dawn of the new millennium.
Starring: Sean Connery, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ving Rhames, Will Patton, Maury ChaykinAction | 100% |
Thriller | 83% |
Crime | 48% |
Romance | 41% |
Heist | 29% |
Video codec: MPEG-2
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
I'm a thief, so sue me.
Entrapment -- that movie with Catherine Zeta-Jones and her slithering backside
maneuvering
through a grid of red yarn standing in for laser sensors -- did indeed bother to build a story
around its trademark and single
memorable shot, even if few actually remember it. The story is but a blur, a necessary device
around which to frame a singular shot that would define a film. Other films, over time,
have come to be remembered for but a line of dialogue, a notable scene, or even an entire
sequence,
but Entrapment is a rare picture that's been reduced to a single one or two second shot.
It's no secret that it's the film's trademark shot; not
only
was it the centerpiece of the trailer, but even the film's title card is built around a laser grid, an
unmistakable clue that Entrapment is a film that, even before its release, was bound to
be
whittled down to but a backside. Additionally, it's not even just that Jones looks good
maneuvering about the
room in tight-fitting clothes, but the fact of the matter is, Entrapment is a well-executed
but nevertheless completely forgettable picture with nothing else of substance to offer, one of
many movies out there without any single glaring
weakness but still a wholly inconsequential slice of cinema through and through.
The shot around which a film was built.
Entrapment slithers onto Blu-ray with, much like film itself, a serviceable but not at all exceptional 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The image consistently looks a bit sloppy, soft, muddled, and undefined. Much of the film seems to have a hazy glow about it, which seems only to complicate the softness. Additionally, some background images can appear incredibly fuzzy. Blacks are consistently decent, showcasing a bit of crush here and there but never to any deplorable level, with most such shots retaining a solidly dark and not artificially bright or gray look. Fine detail is lacking, with resolution only sometimes approaching the level of an above-average Blu-ray presentation. Faces appear terribly smooth, and even Connery's wrinkly mug showcases only the most basic line structure with no depth or realism about it. Additionally, roughly-textured walls inside Mac's home appear far flatter than they should, and as a rule, the image lacks much discernible depth. Entrapment features a bland color scheme and a generally dark tone that's accentuated by only a few splashes of color, notably Jones' red or bright blue outfits that themselves seem somewhat muddily rendered. Flesh tones never stray too far from a natural shade, but all told, Entrapment's 1080p transfer is of, at best, a highly mediocre quality.
Entrapment maneuvers onto Blu-ray with a decent but unspectacular DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track offers a fairly active surround channel presentation, but there's never much sense of total sonic immersion. Indeed, the track feels somewhat limited, more cobbled together than naturally flowing. Ambient effects are satisfactory, be they employee chatter and ringing phones as heard in one early scene at Virginia's insurance company or, later, various chirping insects. More aggressive effects spill into the back channels as well; gunfire in one scene zips nicely enough through the soundstage but, again, there's an absence of impeccable clarity that's come to be associated with the finest and most natural of Blu-ray lossless or uncompressed soundtracks. Additionally, the track offers a noticeable but not particularly noteworthy low end. Dialogue -- Connery's raspy voice in particular -- can come across as somewhat muddled. For the most part, this is a basic track with a few above-and-beyond the call of duty sound effects, but otherwise, the lack of pinpoint clarity prevents this from being more than a serviceable but in no way terrible soundtrack.
Entrapment crawls onto Blu-ray with but a singular extra of note, a commentary track with Director Jon Amiel. The director covers a broad array of topics, speaking on Composer Christopher Young's (Untraceable) score, the props both real and imagined for the purpose of the film, the composition of various shots, shooting locations, the work of the actors and crafting the film around Jones' skills as an athlete, and any number of other assorted but otherwise monotonous comments. The track is rather dry, dull, and best suited for hardcore fans of the film only. Also included is the Entrapment theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:04) and additional 1080p trailers for Chain Reaction, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Transporter, and X-Men: The Last Stand.
A movie that's defined by a singular shot, Entrapment certainly got itself plenty of recognition upon its initial release, and its claim to fame has withstood the test of time, still proving to be the film's -- and perhaps even one of modern cinema's -- defining moments. Unfortunately and like its female lead, there's not much meat to be found elsewhere; Entrapment is a solid but far from exceptional Thriller with a few tricks up its sleeve but, for the most part, it plays out with a generic look and feel that's reflected in a couple of decent but not at all memorable performances from its legendary leads. Fox's Blu-ray release is, much like the film, a decent effort that's not in the least bit worthy of any special recognition. Featuring a passable 1080p transfer, a somewhat better lossless soundtrack, and only one extra of substance, fans curious as to whether an actual movie does indeed exist outside of Jones' career-defining shot would be best served to give this title a rental.
2001
1995
Extended Cut
2013
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1988
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4K Restoration
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Extended Edition
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Extended Edition
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