Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Good Time Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov February 13, 2018

Bennie and Josh Safdie’s "Good Time" (2017) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Curzon Artificial Eye. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; audio commentary with the directors, actors Robert Pattinson, Buddy Duress and Taliah Webster, and producer Sebastian Bear-McClard; original music video; and production featurette. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Trouble

While viewing Bennie and Josh Safdie’s new film, Good Time, I was reminded of Joseph Losey’s thriller Figures in a Landscape. I don’t know if the brothers are aware of Losey’s film, but if I had to guess I would say that most likely they are not. These two films, however, feel like they were conceived with the exact same goals in mind -- transfer the intensity of their stories to the audience and then move away and let it flourish so that it becomes the story. What does this mean exactly? It means that the audience is allowed to have only the point of view that the characters that are being followed in the film have in real-time. That’s it. There are no conventional characterizations, no calculated discussions revealing a bigger picture, and most importantly no breaks to put everything in the proper order. As a result, the audience has to ask the same questions and produce its conclusions as the characters do while they approach their final destination.

The concept that is described above is hardly original -- Cornel Wilde's The Naked Prey is another good film that uses it -- but because it is so difficult to pull off right most of the time it is avoided, or at least in its classic form. There are some recent films like Drive for instance where it is modified, but predictably the end result is an entirely different experience. So, if the end destination is identified at the beginning of the film and the point of view repeatedly shifts so that the audience is prepared for a logical finale the intensity always suffers and this ensures a different type of experience.

The Safdie brothers do just about everything right to deliver the proper experience. Connie (Robert Pattinson) and his mentally handicapped brother Nick (Benny Safdie) rob a bank in the Big Apple and then quietly exit with the money. Moments later, however, the bag with the money explodes in their car and they become fugitives. In the ensuing chaos Nick quickly panics and after he is captured by the police Connie is left to figure out a way to get him out of a hospital where inmates are routinely brought for treatment. The rest of the film is one incredibly intense and completely unpredictable roller-coaster ride.

The thing that I liked the most about this film is the fact that it is structured in a way that makes it impossible to predict its climaxes -- and there are many that are scattered all over the film. Losey’s film does the exact same thing as just when it seems like the fugitives are finally going to run out of options and their fate will be sealed something unexpected happens that resets its dynamic and initiates an entirely new cycle of events. What the Safdie brothers do differently is this: They ramp up the intensity to the highest possible level without making the action look grotesque and then remove all safety belts so that the bumps and hits along the way can produce maximum damage. The rush is absolutely incredible.

A very stylish ambient soundtrack with a distinct retro vibe that reminds of Tangerine Dream’s classic work does a lot to further enhance the film’s tremendous atmosphere. It was created by Brooklyn-based experimental composer Daniel Lopatin, whose recording alias is Oneohtrix Point Never.

Good Time Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.39:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Good Time arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Curzon Artificial Eye.

The release is sourced from the same digital master that Lionsgate Films used in the United States for their local Blu-ray release. The film looks fantastic in high-definition. When there is an abundance of light clarity and delineation are outstanding and as a result depth is also very impressive (see screencaptures #5 and 6). Because there is a great deal of camera movement and plenty of unfiltered light is captured in awkward ways, occasionally there are minor spikes or drops of grain exposure that could produce minor variations in terms of delineation and/or shadow definition. Obviously, these fluctuations that are part of the original cinematography, not a byproduct of digital or transfer anomalies. Colors are natural, stable, and properly balanced. Image stability is excellent. There is one short sequence where the camera zooms over an apartment building towards the end of the where I noticed some very light artifacts trying to sneak in, but the rest of the film looks terrific. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Good Time Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, the split the image frame and the black bar below it.

I viewed the film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and liked it a lot. It is very potent but it incorporates plenty of urban organic sounds and noises. On top of this, Daniel Lopatin score very easily opens the film and adds a great deal of ambience (just like Tangerine Dream's scores do on many '80s films). The audio is clean, stable, and easy to follow. There are no audio dropouts or distortions to report.

Good Time Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for Good Time. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Commentary - this audio commentary features the Safdie brothers, actors Robert Pattinson, Buddy Duress and Taliah Webster, and producer Sebastian Bear-McClard. The bulk of the information addresses the manner in which different sequences were conceived and shot as well as some interesting stylists choices. Also, throughout the commentary there are plenty of anecdotes revealing that the film required a great deal of preparation efforts. If you enjoy the film, definitely find the time to listen to the commentary in its entirety.

• Good Time: The Pure and The Damned - this featurette examines the evolution of Good Time and some of the key ideas that are channeled through the film. Apparently, in its early stages it was supposed to be a 'prison film', but Robert Pattinson's presence effectively altered its identity. Included in the documentary are various clips from new interviews with the directors and Robert Pattinson, as well as raw footage from the shooting process. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• Good Time - Music Video - original music video for Good Time. (5 min).

Good Time Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Good Time has the raw energy and intensity that make a lot of Abel Ferrara's films so unpredictable and fascinating to behold. I would not suggest it to someone that is looking to be 'entertained', but anyone craving a dose of pure cinematic rush should try to pick it up on Blu-ray as soon as possible. The film looks terrific in high-definition and has a first-class soundtrack that reminds of Tangerine Dream's best work from the '80s. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.