Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Primal Fear Blu-ray Movie Review

Edward Norton debuts with an award-winning performance...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown March 2, 2009

Of the all the fresh Hollywood faces that emerged in the '90s and went on to earn box office attention and critical acclaim, Edward Norton is one of the only actors to establish himself as a true leading man. Since 1996, a variety of groundbreaking projects, diverse roles, and award-winning performances have allowed him to leave a lasting impression on moviegoers and industry professionals alike. His talents as a filmmaker have even given him the opportunity to rescue sinking productions like American History X, produce stories near and dear to him, and dabble behind the camera as well. Of course, none of it would have been possible without Norton's unsettling, career-defining turn as a mentally unstable young man in director Gregory Hoblit's Primal Fear.

No matter how much time the camera spends with Gere and Linney, Norton still steals the show...

When a mild-mannered altar boy named Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton) is accused of killing a revered archbishop in Chicago, an arrogant and relentless defense attorney by the name of Martin Vail (Richard Gere) decides to take the case to boost his own exposure and notoriety. However, when Vail begins to believe the young man might actually be innocent, he discovers a shocking secret that could potentially save Aaron's life and reveal the identity of the mysterious third party who committed the murder. As the lead prosecutor (Laura Linney) fights to unravel her opponent's complex theories in front of the jury, Vail has to do the unthinkable and draw the real killer into the courtroom.

It may sound cliché, but without Norton's resounding performance, Primal Fear would probably be yet another twists-n-turns drama-of- the-week that doesn't have the power or punch to stand out from other genre pics of the decade. His portrayal of Stampler is so complete and convincing that it survives a rather convoluted trio of plot twists; each one more dependent on the last. By the time the film reaches its sudden and surprising finale, Norton has created such a rounded and believable character that the entire script falls into place. I not only bought into what could have been a thoroughly contrived series of developments, I bought into each one without doubting the integrity of the story or questioning the cohesion of the overall plot. Honestly, Norton's performance is so effortless -- so utterly engrossing -- that it overshadows the fact that the film stumbles when it adheres to genre conventions or focuses on its relatively predictable main characters.

Simply put, Primal Fear is a rarity among courtroom dramas: its lawyers are reduced to agents of exposition as a supporting character (a defendant at that) grabs hold of viewers at every turn. It not only serves as a testament to Norton's talent and breakthrough magnetism as an actor, but proves a film doesn't need star-power or 25-million dollar headliners to leave audiences and critics reeling. Maybe sometimes all it takes to elevate a film is an actor's dedication. Perhaps all it takes to transform an otherwise standard genre pic into something special is the work of a relative unknown committed to their craft above all else. Either way, Primal Fear remains a film that will continue to thrill modern audiences for years to come.

Primal Fear Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Before I drop any adjectives that scare you away from the Blu-ray edition of Primal Fear, you should know that, overall, Paramount's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer manages to overcome the limitations of Hoblit's drab palette and his director of photography's uninspired lighting. In fact, aside from some lingering edge enhancement and an unnecessary (albeit minor) scene-specific application of noise reduction, the transfer looks quite good. While the film's colors are presented with strong and stable hues, skintones are pale, primaries are subdued, and blacks aren't as well-resolved as I would have preferred. Even so, delineation is more revealing than it is on the standard DVD, dimensionality is more remarkable, and detail, above all else, has received a noticeable boost in clarity. Sure, a few textures are undermined by the use of DNR and a few shots are softer than most, but object edges are usually sharp, fabric and stubble look fairly crisp, and several establishing shots and close-ups show off the disc's upgraded resolution. If anything, the transfer suffers from consistency issues -- some scenes look fantastic and others are underwhelming. Thankfully, artifacting is kept to a minimum, source noise only invades the image during a handful of shadowy scenes, and film grain is steady, faint, and unobtrusive.

Primal Fear won't reach out and slap anyone with its visuals; even longtime fans of the film. However, Paramount has handled the original print with respect, producing an above average presentation. As it stands, if it weren't for the presence of unnecessary post-production tampering, the studio's transfer would probably be worthy of serious praise.

Primal Fear Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Paramount improves matters with an unexpectedly immersive Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track. Sure, catalog courtroom dramas aren't usually the source of involving sonics, but Primal Fear delivers several standout sequences including visceral cross-cuts, bass-pounding revelations, and regularly convincing interior acoustics and ambience. LFE support is minimalistic but natural, granting vocal tones and violent outbursts the same attention. Rear speaker involvement is just as notable, creating a realistic soundfield that delivers precise directionality and transparent front-to-back pans. Even little details like the slight echo of the courthouse halls and the dampened dynamics of a holding cell have been carefully crafted in the soundscape. There are a few scenes in which an actor's voice sounds a bit muddled compared to other performers in the same space, but the discrepancy never becomes a persistent problem or a substantial distraction. For the most part, dialogue is crisp, intelligible, and nicely prioritized throughout the film.

While Primal Fear isn't the second-coming of catalog lossless tracks, I don't have any major complaints. Impressive, weighty, and realistic, Paramount's TrueHD offering should satisfy fans of the film and audiophiles alike.

Primal Fear Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Blu-ray edition of Primal Fear includes all of the supplements set to appear on the concurrently-released Hard Evidence Edition DVD. While there aren't any extensive documentaries to get excited about, Paramount has encoded the disc's video content in high definition.

• Filmmakers' Audio Commentary: Director Gregory Hoblit, Writer Ann Biderman, Casting Director Deborah Aquila, Executive Producer Hawk Koch, and Producer Gary Lucchesi sit down for a rather unfocused, tangential discussion about the development of the project, the production, the actors' performances, and the particulars of the film's twists. The track is rarely burdened by lengthy technical dissections, but it also rarely feels like a cohesive examination of the themes presented in the story. If they're anything like me, fans of the film will probably find this one to be little more than a passable, overcrowded bore.
• The Final Verdict (18 minutes): A talking-heads EPK from start to finish, this mediocre behind-the-scenes featurette offers a lot of solid information without really delving into the meat of the production. Still, the cast members have plenty of insight to share and I found myself wishing they were helming the disc's commentary.
• Star Witness (18 minutes): This secondary follow-up hones in on Edward Norton's casting, performance, and commitment to his role. While it's easily my favorite mini-doc of the bunch, I still couldn't get past the fact that it lacked legitimate depth when examining the creation of the character.
• Psychology of Guilt (14 minutes): An all-too-short look at the disorders, behaviors, and mental illnesses portrayed in the film. Its limited runtime reveals its promotional nature, but I nevertheless enjoyed its succinct parade of information.
• Theatrical Trailer (2 minutes)

Primal Fear Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

While some consider Primal Fear to be a one-trick pony -- the sort of flick that rests entirely on the impact of a single performance -- I find that it doesn't matter. Norton's work is so engrossing, so engaging, that the film's flaws are rendered inert. Regardless of how you feel about the film itself though, you'll likely be pleased with its Blu-ray release. While its video transfer has a few problems, its high definition visuals still offer a solid upgrade, its lossless audio track is impressive, and its supplemental package finally gives owners of the original barebones DVD some insight into the production. Anyone who hasn't seen Primal Fear should probably stick to renting it first, but fans shouldn't hesitate to drop some more cash on Norton's debut performance.