6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A drama about the Algerian struggle for independence from France after WWII.
Starring: Jamel Debbouze, Roschdy Zem, Sami Bouajila, Chafia Boudraa, Bernard BlancanDrama | 100% |
Foreign | 44% |
Crime | 38% |
War | 33% |
History | 28% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: LPCM 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Selected to represent Algeria in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 83rd Academy Awards, Rachid Bouchareb's "Hors-la-loi" a.k.a "Outside the Law" (2010) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include the film's original theatrical trailer, making of featurette, and video interview with director Rachid Bouchareb. In French and Arabic, with imposed English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Was it worth it?
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.34:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Rachid Bouchareb's Outside the Law arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment.
Clarity and contrast levels tend to fluctuate as the action moves from Algeria to France, and then from the camp in Nanterre to the streets of Paris. Detail, however, is consistently pleasing, even during the nighttime terrorist attacks. The color-scheme also evolves - early on soft and warm yellows and browns are the prominent colors, while during the second half of the film, after the brothers reunite in Paris, grays and light greens take over; the blacks are never lush and well saturated. During selected scenes light edge-enhancement tries to creep in, but it never becomes an issue of concern. There are, however, various small artifacts that pop up early into the film (for example, immediately after the uprising in the prologue - see screencapture # 6). Occasionally, some ringing is also noticeable. Nevertheless, the high-definition transfer has a fairly pleasing look, and detail is indeed very convincing. For the record, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. (Note: Currently I only have a screener, not a finished market version of this Blu-ray release. My screener is Region-Free).
There are two audio tracks on this Bu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and French LPCM 2.0 (with portions of Arabic). For the record, Optimum Home Entertainment have provided imposed English subtitles for the main feature (they cannot be turned off). The subtitles appear inside the image frame.
There are plenty of actions scenes in the film where the bass is fairly intense and the rear channels intelligently used, but do not expect the French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track to test the muscles of your audio system. All things considered, you are more likely to be impressed with its wide range of nuanced dynamics rather than with its aggressiveness. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable, and easy to follow. The English translation is of exceptionally high quality.
Note: The supplemental feature included on this Blu-ray disc is encoded in PAL. Therefore, you must have a Region-Free player capable of converting PAL to NTSC in order to view it in North America.
It feels like Outside the Law wants to be too many things at once - a convincing political film, a crime film, and perhaps a good family saga. As a result, it is often too chaotic, lacking the type of depth one would rightfully expect after glancing through its impressive cast list. Rachid Bouchareb's Days of Glory was a far better film. RENT IT.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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