Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

No Man's Land Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 30, 2017

The Charlie Sheen that existed before “Platoon” was a very different Charlie Sheen than what we have today. Once a hungry actor trying to make something of himself while stuck in the shadow of his thespian father, Martin, Charlie jumped from role to role, trying his hand at comedy (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), action (“Red Dawn”), and…whatever (“The Wraith”). 1987’s “No Man’s Land” was in production when “Platoon” dominated pop culture after its late 1986 release, and it showcases a growing confidence within the actor, who floated along for another year (“Three for the Road”) before ascending to larger industry opportunities, such as “Wall Street,” “Eight Men Out,” and “Major League.” Sheen’s magnetism is undeniable in “No Man’s Land,” and he’s a good reason to remain with the feature, which offers a routine but stylish take on an undercover cop saga, with director Peter Werner doing what he can to jazz up the effort with smash-em-up car chases, shootouts, and assorted criminal activity. It’s not the freshest endeavor, but it does provide a look at the birth of Prime Sheen, smoking and wisecracking his way through a fairly unchallenging part.

An undercover cop is shot dead during an investigation into a rash of car thefts, with the crooks targeting Porsches around Los Angeles. Lt. Bracey (Randy Quaid) is furious, meeting with the youngest member of the police force, Benjy (D.B. Sweeney), recruiting him for another undercover gig, posing as mechanic looking for work with Porsche dealer, Varrick (Charlie Sheen). Cozying up to the man in charge, Benjy is soon welcomed into the underworld of car theft, proving himself to be a valuable asset with repair and crime, taking cars from parking lots, streets, and garages. Benjy also finds himself falling in love with Varrick’s sister, Ann (Lara Harris), which complicates his mission, soon seduced into a darker lifestyle by Varrick, who begins to view Benjy as a brother and potential business partner.

Interestingly, “No Man’s Land” represents an early screenwriting effort from Dick Wolf, who would go on to an immensely successful career on television, eventually becoming a kingpin of network procedurals with his crown jewel, “Law & Order.” Wolf’s instincts weren’t quite as a sharp in 1987, offering a more predictable tale of personal corruption for “No Man’s Land,” which tracks Benjy’s growth from a green cop who barely understands what the gig entails to a car thief in Varrick’s clothes, growing addicted to a lifestyle that offers adrenaline-pumping tasks of thievery, tasked with taking one of the most expensive cars in Los Angeles.

What Wolf lack in invention he makes up for in personality, securing Benjy as happy guy from a large family, introducing the character at a boisterous Thanksgiving meal filled with aunts, uncles, and cousins, establishing a collision of characters that Werner does a fine job communicating throughout “No Man’s Land,” enjoying the visual possibilities of a mosh pit of loved ones, contrasting the energy with Varrick’s nightlife interests, which provide a more refined celebratory experience for Benjy, tempting him with luxury and time with Ann, who’s immediately attracted to the new mechanic in the shop. Benjy still has a job to do, and the effort’s laziest scenes involve Benjy getting barked at by Bracey, with Quaid barely trying in a forgettable role as the rookie’s irritable superior. “No Man’s Land” is much more compelling with Varrick, who’s a slick mastermind of Porsche hotwiring and disposal, handling unsavory business at night while trying to take care of Ann during the day, remaining in a supportive sibling role after the loss of their parents. It’s no amazing turn by Sheen, but he exudes the right kind of cool and shares encouraging chemistry with Sweeney, who stifles his “golly gee” green cop performance around his co-star, slipping into more subtle shades of gray. Sheen and Sweeney make an enjoyable pair of crooks to follow, with their episodic adventures highlighting botched thefts, chased around L.A. by a criminal rival, which leads to some scrappy car chases with theme park stunt show flourishes.

No Man's Land Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation does have the benefit of working with locations and culture of the 1980s, which provides all kinds of texture for HD recognition. It doesn't appear to utilize a fresh scan, but the viewing experience remains consistent and appealing. Detail is generally favorable, doing well with facial particulars and hairstyles, and interiors permit a study of set decoration. L.A. distances are intact, allowing the viewer to search around for period signage and landmarks. Color is healthy, enjoying the hues of the era, bringing out hearty reds and softer pinks, and greenery is in fine shape -- a pleasant balance to cool blue skies. Delineation struggles with solidification here and there, but mostly remains secure. Grain fluctuates in intensity, teasing a few blockier scenes. Source is in good condition, with limited speckling and scratching.

No Man's Land Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix only really causes concern during moments of high impact, with crashes registering a bit distorted when extreme sound effects take over the track. The rest of "No Man's Land" is comfortable, offering enveloping separation and panning effects with L.A. traffic visits and chases, while atmospherics are lively, managing party sequences and auto shop activity. Dialogue exchanges are clean and strong, handling cop movie shouting contests and quieter confessional moments. Scoring delivers some power, leading with a sharper synth sound and tinny percussion beats, supporting dramatics as intended and carrying chases when required to do so.

No Man's Land Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson.

• Interview (16:15, HD) with D.B. Sweeney finds the actor in an upbeat mood, generally happy about his work in "No Man's Land," which struggled with behind-the-scenes turmoil, with its original director fired and replaced mid-shoot. Sweeney discusses his initial casting in the picture, where he asked for and received rewrites, and he shares thoughts about his time studying to be a mechanic for the role, along with a few trips to learn how cars are actually stolen with the production's advisor. Sweeney's best stories are reserved for Charlie Sheen, who blossomed into a star during the shoot, milking an injury for a ten day break, and requesting a private plane during the promotional tour, making a stop in Minnesota to watch the Twins win the 1987 World Series (Sweeney also offers a strong Sheen impression).

• Interview (15:58, HD) with director Peter Werner also discusses the change in helmers, taking over a production that was already at full gallop, which didn't immediately sit well with Sweeney and co-star Lara Harris. Working to win over the cast and crew, Werner attempted to juggle personalities, finding Sheen the quickest to accept the situation and move on. Werner also identifies select sequences for stunt work and style, shares his moviemaking philosophy, and repeatedly attempts to suggest that "No Man's Land" somehow inspired "The Fast and the Furious."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:43, HD) is included.

No Man's Land Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dramatically, "No Man's Land" could be tighter, more intimate. Perhaps more inventive as well, joining a long list of projects that feature a variation on the "good cop goes bad" formula. It's a well-paced effort with bursts of action and intimidation, and Werner gets a lot of mileage out of simplistic conflicts. However, the picture is more about Sheen's growth into a leading man, delivering a fine turn as Varrick, but promising larger achievements in screen acting to come during the golden years of his career.