Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Not Forgotten Blu-ray Movie Review

Don't forget to check out this release from Starz.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 27, 2009

Whatever happens, it's God's will.

It seems there are as many news stories focusing on kidnapped children as there are stories on the weather or the fallout from the weekend's football games. What's truly shocking is that there are far more kidnappings than those reported on television, but even still, it's difficult to become emotionally involved in such a story through the window of the television screen, particularly when the media decides that one case is more deserving of the nation's attention than another. Though it's easy to whisper a prayer for the family, the sheer volume of the number of both reported and highly-publicized cases lessens the impact when news breaks that another young boy or girl has gone missing. Though it's easy to feel for those involved, it seems impossible to truly understand the pain that's only superficially visible through the television screen. Not Forgotten just might change that. Chances are its viewers will never look at a kidnapping case the same way again, seeing not just an image on a television but perhaps more fully understanding the anguish that lives behind the tears. Still, Not Forgotten is more than that. The film's tone shifts drastically as the story develops, and while it becomes something far more involved than a garden-variety missing persons movie like Mel Gibson's excellent Ransom, it still manages to capture -- at least early on -- the despair of a missing person's family as well as any film before it.

Jack and Toby enjoy 'Taken' on Blu-ray.

All-American soccer dad Jack Bishop (Simon Baker, Sex and Death 101) is living life to the fullest with his new wife Amaya (Paz Vega) and daughter Toby (Chloe Moretz) in Del Rio, Texas. That's all about to change when Chloe goes missing one afternoon while at soccer practice. A local search of the U.S.-Mexico border area behind the field quickly becomes a massive endeavor involving both the local authorities and the FBI. As the investigation ensues, Jack's hidden past comes to light in a series of revelations that prove that he may not be who he claims, though whether those secrets involve his daughter's disappearance remain as mysterious as her current whereabouts. With the authorities now honing in on Jack, he takes it upon himself to use connections and skills long since left in a past life to track down his daughter before he loses more than his little girl.

Not Forgotten is a perfect example of a film of two distinct halves. Though it begins innocently enough -- what kidnapping film doesn't -- it picks up considerably once Toby goes missing. Simon Baker effortlessly transforms from all-American dad to a man whose life is in shambles at the drop of a hat. He's a talented actor, and he pulls off one of his best efforts here, and that doesn't even take into consideration the further, massive transformation the character undergoes later in the film's revelation-heavy second half. The pressure, the concern, the anger, all of it comes across as effortlessly and realistically as one would expect of such a situation and hope for in such a film. Baker -- and the entire cast -- is faced with the challenge of playing the roles not straight but with the knowledge of the secrets to come. In Not Forgotten, nobody but nobody is who they seem, and the challenge of putting on layers of false fronts, dishonest pretenses, and other disingenuous sorts of behaviors requires something more than a by-the-numbers performance, and each main cast member does a good job of hiding the truth, and so does the script. Not Forgotten reveals its secrets in due course, one at a time, and allows them to settle in and gestate all the way through to the surprise revelation that marks the film's final scene.

Of course, therein lies the potential weakness of the story. Both the film's second half and its ending are bound to upset some audiences but please others. It's certainly different, unexpected, and shocking, and it requires an open mind, a disregard for convention, and a willingness to accept that much of what came before it was built on false pretenses. Not Forgotten certainly dares to be different, but whether that difference works for each member of the audience is what will ultimately determine the movie's fate. No doubt the more conventional -- and wonderfully realized -- elements go by the wayside in favor of surprise revelations, black magic, and spilled blood, the end result something of a surreal experience that might even require a second viewing and a more discerning eye for detail with the foreknowledge of the film's end to truly piece together not the easily-understood plot arc but instead the nuances that lead to its revelation. In that regard, the film is a success; it's sufficiently clandestine in its intentions, but whether or not the barrage of secrets can come together and not only make sense but prove believable is up to the individual viewer. Not Forgotten is easily worth watching, but whether it's forgotten or long remembered five, ten, or twenty years from now, that depends on how viewers embrace the film's twists and turns that will either shock and satisfy or prove too big a stretch and perhaps even too goofy in the name of arriving at the big payoff at film's end.

Not Forgotten Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Not Forgotten arrives on Blu-ray with a hit-or-miss 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The transfer features plenty of blocking throughout and some occasional banding, both of which make for some unattractive eyesores that plague an otherwise decent outing. The transfer is pale, resulting in slightly ghastly (but otherwise problem-free) flesh tones and blacks that appear too bright. Several dark, hazy interiors fare the worst, such scenes appearing as if there is a light film covering the screen. The image also lacks much tangible depth. However, detail is generally strong; the scene featuring the initial search for Toby on the U.S.-Mexico border showcases excellent detail along the riverbed where rocks and sand are beautifully rendered. Likewise, the usual suspects -- brick exteriors or stitches in clothing, for instance -- look almost as good here as they do in many of the upper-echelon transfers. Not Forgotten never looks bad at a glance, but several problem areas keep this one from being an above-average effort.

Not Forgotten Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Not Forgotten features a robust PCM 5.1 uncompressed soundtrack. The track delivers a consistently healthy rear channel presentation, beginning with light applause at a soccer game early in the film and later coming to much more vivid life. A brief scene of a kidnapped Toby in the back of a vehicle delivers a violent rattling and rumbling sensation that seems to force the entire soundstage to bounce around. The track also features several good atmospherics, with buzzing insects in particular distinctly heard in the back channels. It's a solid, immersive track, and as a fine compliment, musical delivery is clear and robust, again with a strong but not overpowering rear channel accompaniment. The track carries a good low end that does well to punctuate some of the more intense moments in the film. Bass also thumps wonderfully in a club scene in chapter six. Along with solid dialogue reproduction, Not Forgotten's uncompressed soundtrack is the disc's technical standout, besting the video presentation and proving more impressive than the minimal supplemental package.

Not Forgotten Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Not Forgotten features only three extras. First is a commentary track with Co-Writer/Producer/Director Dror Soref and Co-Writer/Asssociate Producer Tomás Romero. The participants aren't shy, speaking a mile a minute and recalling plenty of tidbits both major and minor, from shooting locations to fake grass in one scene. They also discuss the obsessive details that found their way into the script but not necessarily the film, the work of cinematographer Steven Bernstein, shot composition, and more. This is a basic commentary that fans might enjoy but it's otherwise a non-essential listen. 'Not Forgotten:' Behind the Scenes (480p, 6:20) is a short piece that features Soref and, later, Romero, recalling the story and themes found in the film, contrasted with clips from the film and behind-the-scenes footage. Also included is the Not Forgotten trailer (480p, 1:44).

Not Forgotten Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Intense, well-acted, and thoroughly engaging, Not Forgotten delivers a satisfying movie-watching experience, but its many twists and turns -- twists and turns that veer pretty far from convention -- might not sit well with all audiences. However, the movie deserves credit for trying something different with the material, and whether the finale sits well with viewers or not, chances are the radically differing tones and developments that figure into the story will at least make for an engaging topic of conversation. This Starz Blu-ray release features decent picture quality that's marred by a few recurring issues, a solid uncompressed soundtrack, and a couple of extras. Not Forgotten comes recommended as a rental.