Mulholland Falls Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Mulholland Falls Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 23, 2014

“Mulholland Falls” is a movie with every screen detail perfectly in place and creative ambition underlined, yet it never comes together as rousingly as intended. A period piece concerning the “Hat Squad” and their interaction with murder and blackmail in the 1950s, the feature is more about decoration than drama, wasting an interesting cast on a lukewarm mystery, while director Lee Tamahori struggles to find a character balance that brings out the intended feeling of partnership and personal sacrifice.

One main concern with “Mulholland Falls” is its lack of teamwork. The cops, including Hoover (Nick Nolte), Coolidge (Chazz Palminteri), Hall (Michael Madsen), and Relyea (Chris Penn), never feel like a band of brothers, with the screenplay too quick to separate Hoover from the unit to solve his own domestic problems. The effort plays more like a sequel instead of an origin story, leaving out a necessary intimacy amongst the men as they carry out their severe brand of justice to preserve the dented honor of Los Angeles. The main story, concerning an indecent 8mm film and an atomic testing site, has potential that’s never reached, with Tamahori torn between his requirement to focus on Nolte’s pained expressions and his need to focus on the myriad of ill-defined characters populating the picture. “Mulholland Falls” is never a mess, but it’s never cohesive either, unable to sustain a rhythm of suspense without true direction.

Mulholland Falls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation does work with a heavy period atmosphere, offering a hazy cinematographic look to signify the era, while flashbacks are even softer. Textures remain, best with costuming particulars and set dressing. Colors aren't explosive, but hues are recognizable and contained, while skintones are accurate. Blacks are communicative, keeping thriller noir-ish photography open for inspection. Print displays debris and speckling, but no overt damage is detected.

Mulholland Falls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix comes across respectfully, though little surround expanse is offered outside of some violent activities and soft atmospherics. The core of the track remains frontal, but the balance between scoring and performance is crisp and defined, with rich instrumentation creating jazzy moods without stepping on the action. Dialogue exchanges are true, sustaining Nolte's growl and the group dynamic. Low-end is sparse, but perks up during obvious points of suspense.

Mulholland Falls Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:01, HD) is included.

Mulholland Falls Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Mulholland Falls" builds toward an unsatisfying finale, which replaces measured sleuthing and desperate personal stakes with a crash-bang-boom conclusion that doesn't belong here. It's Tamahori's way of goosing the picture, and it feels artificial, flattening the potential of the ending by giving in to empty theatrics. Technically, the effort is terrific, with a wonderful score by Dave Grusin and gauzy cinematography by Haskell Wexler emerging as highlights. It's a shame Tamahori couldn't match their work with a substantial dramatic drive, filling "Mulholland Falls" with exceptional characters, performances, and a pitch of tension that would make any home theater distraction an unpardonable sin.