6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Carter (Thomas Jane), a troubled veteran, gets a chance at redemption by protecting a 12 year-old girl from an assassin (Laurence Fishburne) after she witnesses a murder.
Starring: Thomas Jane, Laurence Fishburne, Ella Ballentine, Joanna Douglas, Jim Watson (XII)Thriller | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Action | 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, English SDH, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Writer/Director Adam Alleca's debut feature is Standoff, a Psychological Thriller with a title that couldn't be more simple or more descriptive of what audiences are getting with the movie. The film pits characters played by Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane in a battle of iron wills, a war of words, and a test of time when they clash over the fate of a little girl. The movie isn't particularly creative, but it's lean and largely intense, a fine example of how a film can succeed on a limited scope, a tiny character roster, and little breathing room. Alleca's film manages to blend dramatic intensity with a little violence and well defined character details that, as they're revealed, help to better shape and, by extension, evolve the story's greater dynamics. It's a tidy film that's well done and maintains interest for the duration.
Fight for survival.
Standoff arrives on Blu-ray from Lionsgate with a fair-to-good transfer. The 1080p image, sourced from a digital shoot, is at times very noisy, particularly in darker corners of the movie. Less intrusive, but still evident, are both banding and macroblocking. That out of the way, the presentation otherwise impresses. Fine details are quite good, particularly evident on the heavier fabric and stitches seen on Sade's mask. Wooden surfaces inside the house and grasses and leaves outside also manage to impress. Colors are fine, though heavily influenced by the movie's locations. Exteriors reveal a satisfying barrage of natural greens, but interiors are stuffy and drained, favoring shadowy browns with only cursory splashes of subdued color in the surroundings. Neither flesh tones nor black levels prove problematic. Though far from a reference image, Lionsgate's presentation gets the job done.
Standoff features a standard-issue DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Gentle country ambience sets the stage at various timestamps throughout the movie. Gentle breezes, rustling grasses, birds, insects, and other small details help set a serene scene, at least before the bedlam of the confrontation. Even inside the house, little creaks and drafts help better sonically define the musty environment. Music has no trouble with spacing, immersion, or definition. Action scenes are suitably potent, though not quite so commanding as one might expect. Sade uses suppressed weapons which dampens the sound, and Carter's shotgun blast offers a fair bit of oomph. A couple of good discrete effects are present; Sade throws a breakable off-camera at one point, and it shatters in the back. Dialogue delivery is clear and detailed with flawless prioritization.
Standoff contains one supplement. A Fight to the Death: The Making of 'Standoff' (1080p, 7:03) is a catch-all piece that examines story inspirations, the movie's style and structure, plot basics, characters and performances, shooting locations, symbolism, and more. Also included is a selection of previews for other Lionsgate titles.
Standoff is a solid movie that, despite its rather limited movement and dramatic diversity, holds a little replay value for the opportunity to look at it from a different angle. It's not profound, it doesn't really speak all that loudly beyond its story, but it's a solid bit of moviemaking that benefits from two strong lead performances and a script that holds up very well. Of note is that Writer/Director Adam Alleca also wrote the screenplay for the upcoming movie Cell, based on the novel by Stephen King. Lionsgate's Blu-ray release of Standoff is disappointingly short on extra content, but video and audio qualities are fine. Recommended.
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