6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
They were done with playing it safe. When Allison (Anne Hathaway) and Emily (Bijou Phillips) leave their rich, affluent neighbourhood for a joyride through East L.A they gain a glimpse of a dangerous landscape involving drugs, sex and gang brutality. As their fear quickly turns to infatuation, Allison and Emily find themselves seduced by a dark and dangerous world and in a situation they may not be able to get out of.
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Shiri Appleby, Michael Biehn, Joseph Gordon-LevittComing of age | 100% |
Crime | 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: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A highly respected and Academy Award-winning documentarian, Barbara Kopple wasn’t content remaining the world of non-fiction filmmaking, crafting such important pictures as “American Dream” and “Harlan County U.S.A.” She wanted something more for her career, soon overseeing episodes of “Oz” and “Homicide: Life on the Street,” which brought her additional acclaim. Again, she wanted something more, finally landing a Hollywood studio gig with 2005’s “Havoc,” which was originally conceived by writer Jessica Kaplan, who pieced together an autobiographical story about suburban privilege and cultural appropriation before screenwriter Stephen Gaghan (fresh from his success with “Traffic”) was hired for a rewrite. The creative talent driving “Havoc” is impressive, also offering star Anne Hathaway one of her earliest dramatic roles, but all that muscle can’t lift this DOA project off the ground, as noble intentions to address the state of the Kids in America in the early 2000s transforms the feature into an unintentionally(?) hilarious parade of campy performances and ghastly dramatics.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Havoc" offers an older master for the feature. Age is apparent throughout, offering a softer, lightly detailed look at frame particulars. Skin surfaces are passable, exploring the youthful appearances of the cast, along with the more creased look of older co-stars. Neighborhood tours are mildly dimensional. Colors enjoy brighter primaries on costuming and L.A. signage, and mood lighting registers as intended, with washes of red and green. Grain has an aged, processed appearence. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in good condition.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides a circular sense of atmospherics, with active surrounds for community gatherings and road travel. Music also offers a
life in the rears, following soundtrack selections. Dialogue is clear, preserving emotionality and hushed encounters. Low-end isn't commanding, but rap
beats add some weight to the track.
Note: English subtitles for "Havoc" don't translate 90% of the Spanish dialogue, including an entire prison visitation scene around the 53:00
mark. I do
not have a DVD of the film for comparison, so this may be a creative choice.
Whatever "Havoc" was intended to become, the melodramatic finished film doesn't represent it. Legal entanglements and revenge plots take hold of the story, which erase the exploratory nature of the feature's first half and its focus on the human side of Allison. Again, perhaps "Havoc" was conceived to be a more incisive look at delusional teenagers playing with fire, so wrapped up in chemical distractions, marketing influence, and parent-less experiences, they forget what's real. It's a fine concept for cinematic inspection, but the final cut is eager to get rid of anything meaningful or severe, instead making the endeavor a prime choice for Bad Movie Night fun.
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