Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

Momentum Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 16, 2015

Momentum opens in the middle of a high tech bank robbery in which the perpetrators are clad in black, dressed like some sort of intergalactic bounty hunters or storm troopers or androids or Snake-Eyes, complete with voice altering tech and some light-up spots where their mouths would be because, um, it looks cool, apparently. "There are no codes! I'm telling you there are no codes!" a fat banker yells at the robbers. It's the first line of the movie and one that, with the already frenzied visuals and drum-beating score, sums up the movie in a moment. Momentum is going to be an all-out assault of cinema chaos that rehashes the basics and repackages them in a slick, amped-up façade of visual mayhem and sonic bedlam because it can, because it must, to cover up the doldrums of yet another cat-and-mouse, hunter and hunted game in which the girl must go on the run, kick some rear end, and yadda yadda yadda.

Busted.

Alex Farraday (Olga Kurylenko) is one of several perps pulling off a high tech diamond robbery at an ultra-secure bank. Her cover is blown at the last minute, but that's the least of her worries. It turns out she and her cohorts accidentally stole a delicate file along with the gems. And because of the damming evidence on it, certain people are going to want it back, people who will do anything to retrieve it. The man who wants it: a corrupt U.S. politician (Morgan Freeman). The man who will get it: Mr. Washington (James Purefoy), a ruthless man who will stop at nothing to complete his task.

At least they got the name right. Momentum is a slicked-up, nonstop Action film. But for as fast-paced and relentless as it may be, it sure is dull. It's not so much that Director Stephen S. Campanelli fails to deliver one of the most chaotically kinetic movies of the year, it's that there's zero substance underneath. All of the slick gunfire, risky car chases, stylized fisticuffs, and whatever else the movie has on top can't hide an empty plot for ninety minutes. The action is the plot, essentially. Everything builds towards, flows through, and is defined by the movie's various action scenes which pause only long enough for a brief breather respite or to toss in some character development and story details because, well, a ninety minute action reel probably wouldn't cut it, even if it would be more honest at the end of the day.

Momentum is certainly not the first movie to emphasize action and style above story and substance, and it certainly won't be the last. But what makes the movie so grating is how it panders to the lowest common denominator. The entire movie is based on one word: "cool." Momentum seems to exist only to prove that it can out-cool the competition. That's most apparent in the opening bank robbery sequence but courses throughout the movie as pretty much the one and only selling point. And when "cool" equates to cheap thrills, awful dialogue, and forced stylization because the director can, not because the director should, it's a recipe for disaster, and no amount of forward "momentum" can keep this dud from crashing and burning literally from the outset.

The cast at least gives the movie a hint of credibility. Morgan Freeman, who is barely in the movie and serves more as a plot propellant than focal, integral character, is fine as the corrupt politician, but then again Freeman is one of the few actors of his, or any, generation who can, by sheer force of appearance alone, elevate a movie a notch or two above its true station on the cinema landscape. Olga Kurylenko is fine as the lead. She's meant to be eye candy first and foremost but manages to deliver a decent sense of character and emotion where precious little of either really exist. She handles herself with a gun and in hand-to-hand combat well enough. James Purefoy satisfies the requirements as the villain. It feels like he's channeling someone like Neal McDonough in the part. His work is more dialogue-intensive than action-oriented, a task which he handles with a satisfying level of know-how and screen presence. Acting is certainly not the movie's weak spot; the cast elevates the film to where it at least skims the surface of the mud that the director seems intent on drowning it in.

Momentum Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Momentum's 1080p transfer is typical of a lower budget Action film. The digital photography is fine, favoring mild glossiness and flatness but the broader excellence prevails. Complex facial features are notable, as are detailed clothing lines and seams. Basic image clarity is robust and supportive environmental details are stout. Blurriness is never an issue. Colors are fine when the movie allows for an escape from its predominantly flat, dreary palette. Those escapes prove naturally robust and satisfying, whether red blood, brighter automobile shades, clothing, or other hues around the frame. Black levels are tight and deep and flesh tones don't stray from normal. The transfer fights through some minor bouts of noise and banding but is otherwise free of any other obtrusive eyesores, like aliasing and macroblocking. The transfer is hardly a standout, but it presents the movie at a commendable format average for excellence.

Momentum Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Momentum's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack does carry the movie's many audio needs very well. The film begins with heavy percussion. It's deep and detailed, totally immersive around the stage, and dominant in every way. At the robbery, sniveling hostages are heard around the listening area and the big electronic full-body scanner whirls around the stage. Gunfire throughout is adequately hefty, hitting hard and dominating the moment. Music is robust and full, utilizing every speaker without much concern for balance for a full-on assault. Car crashes send plenty of twisting metal and breaking glass into the listening area. Supportive ambient effects, both inside and out in the city, are nicely defined and gently immersive. Dialogue delivery is clear and well prioritized with natural center placement.

Momentum Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

All that's included is 'Momentum:' Behind the Scenes (1080p, 23:31). It's a catch-all look at Stephen S. Campanelli's filmmaking debut, characters and cast (including naming characters after U.S. Presidents), fights and stunts, technical details of the shoot, and more. The piece features a good bit of on-set footage and clips from the film.

Momentum Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Shades of Everly course through Momentum. It's a tad better than that film, thanks largely to its main cast's capabilities, but the movie is otherwise just too eager to "out-cool" and "out-slick" the competition. Story doesn't matter; it all flows through the action. Audiences looking for a loud and quickly moving Action distraction should like this one well enough, but those wanting a bit of substance should stay far away. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Momentum features good video and aggressive audio. One supplement is included. Rent it if the "mindless Action movie bug" bites.