6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Desperately in need of money in hopes of regaining custody of his daughter, James embarks on a cross-country delivery for cash-no questions asked. But when he discovers what he is delivering is actually who, the questions in his mind begin haunting him mercilessly.
Starring: Joel Smallbone, Bianca A. Santos, David Koechner, Jim Parrack, Amber MidthunderRomance | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Priceless derives its title from the value of a human life and the value of human dignity. In the prism of the horrific reality of human trafficking, sex trade, and forced prostitution -- essentially modern sex slavery -- the film follows one man's courageous turn to rescue two young women from a life of sexual abuse, mistreatment, and the absence of hope and a future. Inspired by true stories, plural, the film is a fictionalized microcosm of sex trafficking, the depths of modern depravity and selfishness against one man's all-in rebellion against the quietly institutionalized system, a rebellion that he is willing to spearhead, even if it costs him everything he holds dear, including his own life.
Priceless was shot digitally and it looks it. The picture is very clean, glossy, and nicely detailed, even if the sheen does seem to smooth it out and flatten it a bit. Fine details are acceptable, offering good, crisp definition to basic skin and hair details as well as clothing seams and lines. This is nothing remarkable, but it certainly gets the job done and meets expectations for a digitally shot, lower budget film. Colors are not spectacular, either, lacking absolute vitality and full saturation but finding sufficient accuracy to colorful clothes and various environmental elements. The picture shows some noise in lower light throughout, and banding can be an issue. Look at the 46-minute mark for an example of some of the heavier banding in the film (again at the 58:05 mark), but even at this juncture it's not overpowering. The picture is not a standout, but it holds serve.
Priceless arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is acceptable, offering a listen that is foundationally acceptable but hardly striking in any category. "Adequate" may be the best descriptor of this track, which carries the essentials but does little of sonic interest with them. Certainly, the film is mostly dialogue heavy, and at least the spoken word is consistently clear, centered, and well prioritized for the duration. As it is, though, it's the highlight, which is not to say much for the rest of the listen. Would be-more intense effects, as scattered and infrequent as they may be, offer little sense of real muscle or engagement. For example, there is not a significant sense of power or depth when a truck is run off the road at the six-minute mark. Certainly, a few cursory surround elements are at work, but there is no real sense of power and engagement. Likewise, the sound design lacks muscle and verve when James flees a life-or-death situation on a motorcycle at the 50:40 mark. The would-be exciting action scene sounds very flat and uninspired, though offering a hint of surround usage to at least help build a cursory sense of atmosphere. Nothing in the track is aggressive, and clarity is only satisfactory. This one never rises beyond the level of "adequate," but at least at "adequate" it gets the job done to tell the story and share the basics.
This Blu-ray release of Priceless contains several extras.
There is definitely a feeling that Priceless plays as a precursor to, and as a companion film of, Sound of Freedom. The latter released several years later, but the similarities are unmistakable. This is film that is maybe a slightly less dark alternative, but both are emotionally charged and grim, yet still hopeful and ultimately spiritual, sister films about the horrors of human trafficking and the underground sex trade. Priceless also features the involvement of the popular contemporary Christian group For King and Country, and the one of the group's top hits serves as an anthem for this film. The Blu-ray is pretty mediocre, offering decent video, passable audio, and a few extras. Recommended at a Black Friday-level sale price.
2019
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