Line of Duty Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Line of Duty Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 2, 2020

Steven C. Miller hasn’t enjoyed the most creatively fertile career, recently managing a string of VOD projects with basically the same title (“Submerged,” “Marauders,” “Arsenal,” “First Kill”), while his last endeavor, 2018’s “Escape Plan 2: Hades,” was recently disowned by its star, Sylvester Stallone. Excitement isn’t really Miller’s specialty, but he does have an interest in violent encounters, finally connecting to a story in “Line of Duty” that demands a little more emphasis when it comes to bodily harm. Miller (not to be confused with colleague Brian A. Miller, who gifted the world “Vice,” “Backtrace,” and “Reprisal”) seems alert with “Line of Duty” (which, amazingly, doesn’t star Bruce Willis or Nicolas Cage), assembling a slightly energizing bruiser that’s heavy on the stunt work and blessedly limited in scope. It’s not a career rejuvenator, but it has a pulse, and that’s good enough to pass.

Frank Penny (Aaron Eckhart) was once a respected cop, but an error in judgment sent him to work protecting street corners, befriending the local kids. When a kidnapper arrives in the center of the city to collect a ransom, Captain Volk (Giancarlo Esposito) masterminds a plan to catch the criminal, who’s taken his daughter, Claudia (Nishelle Williams). When undercover work goes wrong, the suspect flees, taking out several cops along the way. Answering an Officer Down call is Penny, who jumps into action, getting face-to-face with the crook, killing him in the confusion. Realizing the dead man had a partner in Dean (Ben McKenzie), Penny learns he has 64 minutes before Claudia is drowned in a hidden tank, soon racing off to find her. He’s joined by Ava (Courtney Eaton), an “unfiltered” news vlogger for the website Media4ThePeople, with the young woman offering help to Penny in exchange for live streaming access to the hunt.

“Line of Duty” doesn’t mess around when establishing the kind of person Penny is. We meet him during his morning routine, waking up at the crack of dawn to bang out some sit-ups before taking a moment to eat a breakfast of eggs, read only the sports section of the local paper, and drink coffee from a patriotic mug. He’s the all-American male, and one without a family, forced to deal with past sins screenwriter Jeremy Drysdale is saving for a third act revelation. There’s a light sketch of Penny’s personality, remaining affable with the local kids, debating them on basketball heroes, dealing with the banality of keeping tabs on a single street, far away from the excitement of the profession. Miller’s job is to get “Line of Duty” up and running in a hurry, as the feature is something of a real-time event, following Penny as his tail starts wagging around potential trouble, soon joining the chase for a kidnapper who’s hard to catch, cutting open a few cops while making his escape.

The opening act of “Line of Duty” tracks the foot chase, with Penny making it absolutely clear he won’t give up, following the suspect on streets and around alleys, and even through smashed windows, doggedly pursuing a monster who has a little girl locked in a box somewhere. The resolution to this conflict is the death of the criminal, but it’s only the beginning of the troubles facing Penny, who’s dismissed by an enraged Volk, fearful he’s lost his last lead. Arriving at the scene is Ava, armed with a camera and no journalistic standards, trying to prove her worth as a news vlogger, getting into Penny’s face to create a story. Her aim is to expose the truth, especially around police activity, but Drysdale turns them into reluctant partners, handed just over an hour to find Claudia and dodge attacks from Dean. Miller works relatively well with the pairing, keeping them in bicker mode as they clash over generational issues and survival instincts.

Line of Duty Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation supplies a compelling look at the largely open air setting for "Line of Duty." The urban jungle is supported with a bright palette, finding greenery and signage vibrant, while building exteriors also deliver varied hues with paint jobs and brick work. Distinct elements, such as red cars and stylish lighting, also retain potency, and skintones are natural. Detail delivers precision, picking out Penny's evidence of age and sweaty pursuit, and neighborhood tours are dimensional. Interiors also contribute a clear understanding of decorative additions and decay. Costuming is fibrous, from Ava's casual, cottony wear to Penny's heavy uniform, complete with textured gear. Delineation isn't problematic. Banding is detected, with some major flare-ups during a brief underwater escape.

Line of Duty Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix generates a circular understanding of Penny's crisis, doing well with atmospherics, keeping the sounds of the city and room tones active. Surrounds also deliver occasional separation and panning effects, embracing the swoop of helicopters and speeding cars. Dialogue exchanges are precise, managing heated banter between the lead characters and cooler threats from the villain, losing nothing to distortion. Music is sharp and supportive, boosting action sequences without intruding on them. Low-end is active, capturing body blows and smash-happy accidents. Sound effects are clean, providing snappy gunfire and crunchy violence.

Line of Duty Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Steven C. Miller.

• "Meaningful Action" (16:51, HD) is the making of for "Line of Duty," featuring interviews with Miller, screenwriter Jeremy Drysdale, cinematographer Brandon Cox, producer Myles Nestel, production designer Niko Vilavongs, and actors Aaron Eckhart, Giancarlo Esposito, Courtney Eaton, and Ben McKenzie. Story is tracked, with the interviewees (recorded on-set) describing the highlights of the tale and the finer points of characterization and motivation. Media commentary is included, along with an attempt to understand police pressure, treating law enforcement with respect. Casting achievements are detailed, along with character psychology, with the production making an effort to get below the surface of the players. Eckhart's physicality is lauded, with the thespian completing intense training for the part, participating in stunt work (involving car crashes and helicopter rides). Miller's contributions are also celebrated, showcasing complete professionalism and preparation, and the difficulties of managing a real-time narrative are highlighted.

• A Trailer has not been included on the disc.

Line of Duty Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Line of Duty" remains at a full gallop for an extended amount of time, following the cop and the reporter as they gather clues, deal with commandeering various automobiles (an amusing running gag), and visit strange characters as they try to locate Claudia. Shootouts, car chases, and fights are common for an hour, giving Miller something to work with as he jazzes up the viewing experience with exciting stunts. The screenplay eventually takes its foot off the gas in the final act, which noticeably deflates the film, unwisely stopping to take stock of motivations when the endeavor works just fine at top speed. There's Penny's tainted past and Dean's agonized revenge plan, but Drysdale doesn't layer in these psychological understandings, he slaps them on the finale, halting momentum. "Line of Duty" should never stop, as once it does, all its B-movie mediocrity has a chance to be identified, limiting the appeal of an initially breathless, pummeling thriller.