7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A retired assassin gets drawn into a lethal game of cat and mouse with a trio of vengeful terrorists.
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ciarán Hinds, Colm Meaney, Jack Gleeson, Kerry CondonThriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Liam Neeson has been making the same type of movie for quite some time now. While box office returns haven’t been strong, someone is making money, because the actor keeps finding work with violent entertainment. Neeson doesn’t exactly distance himself from the usual with “In the Land of Saints and Sinners,” but the feature is a slight break from the norm, reteaming with his “The Marksman” director, Robert Lorenz, for an Irish tale of revenge and protection. “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” handles with pleasing hostility, and the script by Mark Michael McNally and Terry Loane creates dimensional characters to follow, making for a deeper inspection of danger. It’s a sharp, involving film, and one of the better Neeson endeavors of the last five years.
The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers compelling detail throughout the viewing experience. Tours of Ireland retain appealing depth, capturing the remoteness of the setting. Interiors are textured, exploring decorative additions and the time period. Skin particulars are decent, working with the varied ages of the cast. Costuming is fibrous, examining thicker outfits for the windswept land and heavier uniforms. Color is largely inviting, with the greenery of Ireland a big draw here, highlighting gorgeous locations. Period hues are defined, favoring browns and blacks, while primaries are appreciable on props and living spaces. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Compression doesn't always hold together, with banding a periodic sight.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't built for dynamic immersion, remaining largely frontal over the run time. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, dealing with the heavy accents (this is a film that benefits from a subtitle track for all the non-Irish viewers), but emotionality is always precise. Scoring cues support with orchestral authority, offering distinct instrumentation and dramatic heft. Surrounds do push out some musical moods, but nothing is too powerful. Atmospherics are also milder, exploring more active weather and crowd movement. Low-end isn't challenged, but elements of violence handle with some weight. Sound effects are defined, with snappy gunfire throughout.
Condon is quite wonderful in the feature, giving "In the Land of Saints and Sinners" a striking level of intimidation as Doireann marches into town, refusing to stand down from anyone. It's an energizing performance, paired well with others (including Neeson) in what becomes a western of sorts, including a Sergio Leone-esque score and scenes of charged confrontations. "In the Land of Saints and Sinners" ends up in a physical position, much like other Neeson endeavors, but Lorenz looks to make the violence meaningful with a richer sense of dramatic stakes and relationships. It gives the film suspense with life and death situations, creating a more appealing melancholic atmosphere and cultural presence than the usual Neeson bruiser.
(Still not reliable for this title)
2K Remaster
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