Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Final Score Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 2, 2019

With Bruce Willis having abandoned enthusiasm for the “Die Hard” series long ago, why not bring in Dave Bautista to take his place? The former professional wrestler and possible former Drax from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Bautista makes for a fine man-against-the-odds for “Final Score,” which is as close to a “Die Hard”-style of actioner without triggering interest from 20th Century Fox lawyers. Ultimately overlong and improperly balanced in the script department, “Final Score” does have Bautista, who, despite his hulking frame, does a steady job of playing the everyman caught in a terrorist situation that takes place on a grand scale. The lead is welcome with emotion, but he’s best with ferocity, providing the production with a sizable punch and level of panic to help refresh the familiar.

Michael (Dave Bautista) is an ex-military man who can’t shake the horror of losing a dear friend on the battlefield, spending his days trying to support the man’s family in England, including his troubled daughter, Danni (Lara Peake). Arriving for his annual visit, Michael has a pair of tickets for a championship soccer match in nearby West Ham Stadium, with the local team taking on the Russians, sending electricity through the town as the match is about to begin. Taking their seats, Michael’s attention is pulled to strange men traveling around the stadium, while Danni is lured away by a forbidden boyfriend, leaving the temporary guardian in a panic to find her. However, Michael’s hunt for the teenager is disrupted by the arrival of Arkady (Ray Stevenson), a former Russian revolutionary searching for his long lost brother, leader Dimitri (Pierce Brosnan), with plans to collect his sibling, who’s been in hiding for decades, and blow up the stadium. Caught up in Arkady’s scheme, Michael chooses to fight back, becoming a fly in the ointment in a mad dash to collect Danni and save thousands of lives.

“Final Score” gives the “Die Hard on a…” formula a European twist, with the action largely contained to a soccer stadium filled with volatile fans of the sport. Michael is the American who makes repeated trips overseas to see his fallen friend’s family, and the screenplay (by “The Brothers Lynch” and Jonathan Frank) details this feeling of protection, with the military man making sure Danni and her mother have what they need, with this visit presenting tickets to a soccer game, representing a bucket list item for the deceased. It’s not a huge emotional core, but it works, with Danni particularly confused about her dad’s final moments, questioning heroism as Michael, who knows too much, tries to swat down any suggestions of cowardice. It’s a little crudely rendered at times, but Michael’s fight for Danni is offered weight, adding some emphasis to Michael’s lively evening of protection and self-preservation.

Arkady isn’t Hans Gruber, making the villainous aspects of “Final Score” disappointing, finding the writing getting lost in political and brotherly opposition while the action grows from brutal to unbelievable. The first hour of the film has the proper mixture of plot and two-fisted heroics, following Michael into the stadium (home to 35,000 boisterous fans), where he’s promptly ditched by Danni, who takes off with a lecherous boy, leaving him to scramble, searching for a needle in a haystack. Michael eventually pairs with Faisal (Amit Shah), an unseasoned stadium security officer, for help, and “Final Score” commences the American’s fight with a close-quarters battle inside an elevator with a Russian stooge, exposing Arkady’s plan of destructive disruption. Director Scott Mann is best when concentrating on action beats, keeping Michael on the move as takes on baddies inside the stadium kitchen (with boiling oil posing a unique challenge to self-defense) and the building’s concourse, which becomes a track for a motorcycle chase. Stunts are strong, with Bautista a meaty punching bag, and dips into absurdity, including Michael’s bike jump off the roof of the stadium, are enjoyable, giving the movie some appealing momentum and, at times, welcome craziness.

Final Score Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation carries the HD-shot feature to expectation, excelling with fine detail, which picks out bruised and sliced facial surfaces and strange hair, and costuming retains texture, moving from casual gear to the crispness of security outfits. Stadium flybys also stay sharp, securing a distinct look at soccer action and spectator support. Colors are direct, isolating cinematographic moods for fight sequences, with cooler blues representing industrial lighting, while blazing reds pop with Russian flare signaling. Skintones are natural. Delineation is pushed to the edge with a feature that's largely unleashed at night, but frame information isn't sacrificed. Some mild banding is detected.

Final Score Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There's a big game to enjoy during "Final Score," and the 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix is careful to create an immersive space for the listener. Atmospherics are quite strong, capturing crowd involvement in the game and declarations of national pride. Concourse travel is also packed with community bustle, generating an agreeable you-are-there feel for the movie. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and clean, isolating accent quirks and surges of intensity. Exposition needs are also met during confession time while characters are inside the stadium, keeping dramatics clear. Scoring is direct, with crisp instrumentation and respectful support, escalating in volume when the moment calls for it. Surrounds are active, with some directional movement for vehicles and crowd chants. Sound effects are distinct, including metallic hits with bullets and solid objects. Low-end is adequate, but holds back some with major explosions, failing to bring real heaviness to acts of terrorism.

Final Score Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Scott Mann, writer Jonathan Frank, editor Rob Hall, and actor Amit Shah.

• "Setting 'The Final Score'" (7:15, HD) is an EPK-style overview of the production experience, with cast and crew interviews (including Dave Bautista) conducted on-set. Casting highlights are explored, with characterization examined, while Bautista was encouraged to take the role due to its unusual depth. The stadium location is surveyed, with a very real date for detonation forcing the filmmakers to remain on schedule, and Mann shares the pressures of working from extreme heights. Stunt preparation is also included, along with a push to remind audiences that the feature has heart and drama underneath its violent exterior.

• Deleted Scenes (5:59, HD) detail a moment of police procedure, more acts of brutality during the kitchen fight, Faisal's near-miss with a gunshot, and a lengthy monologue from Michael concerning the details of his personal trauma.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Final Score Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cruelly, all the fun stops at the hour mark, finding the screenplay suddenly interested in the dreary details of Arkady and Dimitri's relationship, which only manages to slow the film to a crawl. Pressure is applied by the discovery of plastic explosives, and Mann works in plenty of "Die Hard" tributes, but this type of entertainment works best in snowball mode, following Michael as he slides into greater trouble. "Final Score" doesn't build, it deflates, ending up a feature that's too long and focused on non-essential elements. However, for the first half, the picture is an energetic distraction, and Bautista proves himself quite capable in the battered hero role, giving "Final Score" the boost in charisma and power it needs.