One Man Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

One Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 20, 2024

Co-writer/director Robin Spry attempts to combine the needs of thriller cinema with his own creative interests in documentaries and social issues. 1977’s “One Man” is a Canadian production that’s after a little more than simple jolts, with Spry entering a marketplace loaded with films about conspiracies and paranoia, looking to compete with his own take on suspense. The feature certainly has its limitations, but the helmer crafts an involving study of corruption in many forms, locating ways to tend to character and plot while keeping the picture on its feet for the most part, infusing the work with a little verite voltage. “One Man” has moments of unique power and involving points of pressure, with Spry handling a difficult tonal mix with some care, creating a gripping viewing experience.

As an investigative reporter for CKMA News in Montreal, Jason (Len Cariou) is used to finding trouble, looking to capture important stories for the public. He’s a family man, raising three kids with his wife, Alicia (Jayne Eastwood), but he’s truly married to his job, recently surviving a gangland shooting while on the hunt for Ben (Jean Lapointe), a local gangster. Jason’s attention is pulled away from the crime by Marion (Carol Lazare), a childcare worker found in a hospital dealing with kids who’ve been severely hurt by biacynal plumbate poisoning, with these numbers only increasing. Marion claims local chemical plant Konrads is responsible for the disaster, refusing to deal with building leaks for decades. Jason is interested in pursuing what little evidence there is, trying to help Marion without triggering legal issues for his station. However, during the quest to locate Ben for an interview, Jason is exposed to the merciless ways of Konrads employees and enforcers, changing the intensity of his investigation. It’s a journey of information that soon threatens his loved ones, with Alicia frightened by such exposure to violence, and she’s tired of keeping track of her husband’s whereabouts as he gets closer to Marion.

Jason is a man of action. He’s not an ordinary news stooge, but a professional willing to put himself in the line of fire to get a story. “One Man” details this personal momentum right away, watching as Jason and his cameraman, Ernie (August Schellenberg), are shot at by gangsters looking to cover up a crime under an overpass, eager to report the incident on the news. They become targets, beginning to search for Ben, but the story takes a turn while Jason’s in the hospital. He learns about sick children and meets Marion, who has a tale to share about Konrads and their history of poisoning the community, making for an even juicier story. Spry gradually introduces an arc of integrity for Jason, who’s caught between legal issues and his need to expose criminal activity, creating a fascinating crisis for the character that plays throughout the feature.

“One Man” has Jason in journalist mode, but Spry also inspects his home life, where Alicia is basically raising three kids on her own. She’s an insecure woman, which generates itchy tension between the couple, remaining fearful that Jason is up to no good, growing tired of her and their life together. The writing tries to remain realistic to a certain point, but it makes a strange dramatic choice by turning Jason and Marion’s relationship into something romantic, with the intensity of dealing with dead children bringing them closer. It’s a wrong turn for the screenplay, with Spry adding intimacy to complicate things, but it registers as pure ridiculousness. More interesting is the mission to locate Ben, which exposes police corruption, and Jason’s interactions at the Konrads plant are fascinating, dealing with crooked bosses and the concern of unemployment. If Konrads closes, jobs are lost, tightening the vise on Jason as stakes are raised.

One Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.37:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "One Man" is listed as "scanned and restored in 2K from the 16mm interpositive by the National Film Board of Canada." This is a softer viewing experience with detail mostly filtered out, losing deeper skin particulars on the cast and wilder period outfits. Domestic interiors offer a basic appreciation of decoration, along with newsroom and office visits. Exteriors maintain mild depth during city tours. Colors are acceptably refreshed, with stronger hues from the 1970s, exploring oranges and browns. More direct primaries are also intact with fashion choices and signage. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Source is in decent condition, with some very mild and brief color flicker.

One Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges, with performances remaining crisp and emotive, periodically reaching the limitations of sound equipment. Scoring delivers clean musical support, with defined instrumentation and balance. Atmospherics are appreciable.

One Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) offers an essay by Albert Ohayon and an interview with actor Len Cariou.

• Commentary features film historian Stephen Broomer.

• "One Sister" (9:37, HD) is a video conference interview with Lib Spry, director Robin Spry's sibling. The interviewee provides some biographical information about the helmer, who was born in Toronto but mostly raised in England. His rise to filmmaking is recalled, with Spry joining The National Film Board of Canada, getting started in the world of documentaries, finding mentorship from Don Owen. Lib provides information concerning selections from Spry's filmography, including "One Man," which played to her brother's interest in social consciousness storytelling. A move to producing is analyzed, with Spry motivated to make movies to help support his business.

• "One Friend" (13:23, HD) is a video conference interview with Bob Presner, who knew Robin Spry through The National Film Board of Canada, learning more about a man who was working steadily, focusing on important subject matters. Presner details Spry's on-set behavior, showing grace under fire when dealing with many production challenges. Collaboration between Presner and Spry is explored, and the interviewee goes a little deeper into the helmer's reputation and friendship, getting emotional as he walks down memory lane.

• Short Films (HD) include 1969's "The Dowry" (20:11), 1972's "Cell 16" (14:24), 1986's "Red Shoes" (23:46), and 1972's "Trafficopter" (10:06).

• "Spry Shorts" (HD) include 1966's "Miner" (19:15), 1966's "Change in the Maritimes" (13:07), 1967's "Illegal Abortion" (25:17), 1967's "Ride for Your Life" (9:40), and 1973's "Downhill" (36:03).

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:02, HD) is included.

One Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"One Man" delivers some violence, with Jason dodging enforcers. Suspense is increased with the appearance of secret files and more Konrads activity meant to bury the story. Spry really captures screen energy at times, using documentary techniques to emphasize realism, which works to intensify the tale. The helmer is a little less confident with actors, finding Eastwood allowed to go wild with her performance as a distressed mother and suspicious wife, pulling the endeavor into unwelcome melodrama. Spry also doesn't really have an ending for the movie, putting greater focus on the message of corporate corruption and cover-ups, which provides a necessary sting for viewers, but doesn't do much to resolve Jason's personal quest to do the right thing, which threatens to destroy everything. "One Man" still retains potency and, sadly, relevancy, identifying the twisted methods of greed and the many ways it destroys innocent lives.