7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A retired sheriff and his wife, grieving over the death of their son, set out to find their only grandson.
Starring: Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Kayli Carter, Jeffrey Donovan, Lesley ManvilleThriller | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | 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 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD HR 7.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
French = Parisan, Spanish = Latin American
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Let Him Go is a film from Director Thomas Bezucha who was previously best known as the helmer behind a couple of midlevel Rom-Com types (The Family Stone, Monte Carlo) but who has now emerged as a force in the Thriller genre. His latest, based on the novel of the same name by Larry Watson, is one of the best pictures in the admittedly truncated 2020 movie year. This is a tightly woven, emotionally tumultuous, and physically unnerving film that is at once both thematically rough and cinematically graceful. The simple story of separation and reconciliation evolves into a desperate tale of violence and revenge for an elderly couple seeking to reunite a broken family devastated by tragedy and broken by circumstance.
The bond.
Let Him Go debuts on Blu-ray with a 1080p transfer framed at the 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The picture quality is sure and steady. It's nothing out of the ordinary but the digitally photographed elements translate particularly well to Blu-ray where satisfying clarity and color reproduction highlight. The picture reveals firm, steady details. The picture is in full command of broad and intimate textures alike, well capable of sprawling definition to open countryside and revealing intimate pores and other facial features with equal attention to detail. Viewers will appreciate intricate fabric definition on clothes and the complex gore elements in the film's most graphic shot. Color reproduction is strong. The movie isn't overly splashy but essential tones are deep and accurate to the film's color timing and deliberate tonal atmosphere which grows progressively darker as the film moves along. A few bursts of blood find perhaps the most intensity while essentials like clothes and natural greens bear the fruits of excellent contrast and color depth. Black levels are largely fine, though some of the darkest shots during the climax do appear a bit washed out. Skin tones are accurate to any given lighting condition. Noise is very mild and in those darkest scenes very sensitive viewers will spot light compression artifacts, but overall this is a good, fundamentally sound Blu-ray presentation from Universal.
Let Him Go brings listeners in via a high quality DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Many of the track's highlights come not in overpowering sound effects but rather subtle atmosphere. There's some nice open ambience of all kinds throughout the stage and in many different scenes. Thunder rolls and gentle rain falls during the dramatically intense dining room scene midway through the film, reinforcing the context and suggesting the pending terrors to come. Distant train whistles, chirping birds, small town street din, and the like bring a number of scenes alive. Listen at the 13-minute mark for a terrific example of the track's effortless ambient fill. Other effects of more prominent engagement and depth – trucks rumbling down roadways, gunfire, crackling fire – offer more forcefully engaging yet still highly detailed sound elements. Musical width and clarity are strong. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and center focused. This is not a ferociously minded track, but it works all components with detail and grace.
Let Him Go contains three featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This
release ships with an embossed slipcover.
Let Him Go is the sort of film that's rough and raw yet sincere in tone, building a believable tale of family conflict and the quick deterioration of relationships when there's no room for maneuvering on either side. The film is terrific, Bezucha is a name to keep an eye on, and Lane is special; all three are well worthy of Oscar consideration. Universal's Blu-ray is a bit thin on special features but the video and audio presentations are fine. Very highly recommended, largely on the strength of the film.
2019
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