Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Stillwater Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 21, 2024

Stillwater may not be a top movie in the lengthy Matt Damon canon, but neither is it the cinema equivalent of cannon fodder, so to speak. Stillwater is a rock-solid film made with something of a throwback feel that places the emphasis on characterization and plays the long narrative game rather than exist for the highlight reel moments. It's the sort of film that demands its audience be invested in it, and at well over two hours in length it proves itself unafraid of asking for that attention even in an attention deprived world. Though not a revolutionary film or a rewriting of the "International Thriller" rules, Stillwater nevertheless captures its genre's essence with a solid pace and good performances that are enough to hold attention for the duration.

Bill Baker (Matt Damon) is an unemployed Oklahoma roughneck who is making a living doing odd jobs, like tornado cleanup, while he seeks more gainful employment. He's a widower who lives with his mother-in-law, but his life has come to be defined not so much by his wife's death but by his daughter Allison's (Abigail Breslin) imprisonment in France. She has been convicted of murder but holds to her innocence. She's been in prison for several years. When Bill takes a trip to Marseilles to pay her a visit, she slips him a letter for her lawyer with potential new information for her case that might, if pursued, exonerate her. Her lawyer will have nothing to do with the evidence, which amounts to little more than hearsay. However, Bill takes it upon himself to track down the leads. Along the way, he finds an ally in a kindly neighbor woman, Virginie (Camille Cottin), and her daughter Maya (Lilou Siauvaud), who sees in Bill the father figure she has never had.

It's Matt Damon in France, but this is no Bourne film. On the contrary, Damon's character is more of the underdog hero rather than the international man of action he portrayed in the Bourne franchise. Here, he's skilled at odd jobs -- working with breaker boxes, fixing toilets -- but he's an unemployed roughneck, which may be a good thing because it gives him free time, and free reign, to tackle his daughter's case where other "professional" types refuse to touch it. He finds help here and there, of course, but also plenty of resistance along the way as well. Yet he shows that dogged determination that only a father could muster, and much of the film's success stems from his unflinching determination despite the obstacles, which include the language barrier, to work the case from the perspective of a layman who may not be a fit in France or in any of the communities in which he finds himself a part, but none of that matters to him: he cares only about clearing his daughter's name, and he will do everything he can to make that happen.

Damon plays the part of the "everyman" quite well. His Bill Baker embodies the everyman, struggling with personal loss, personal vices, unemployment, and the list goes on. He looks the part, wearing a goatee, plaid shirts, jeans, and a ball cap. He could be anybody, and that is what helps make the film so effective. He's not a hero, he brings no real skills that are obvious helps to the case, but he does bring heart, he does bring soul, he does bring a desire to fight where others will not fight and find what others refuse to even look for. The world has passed by his daughter's case, but Bill refuses to allow the passage of time, or the unwillingness of the "professional classes," to prevent him from seeking justice. One of the differences between this film and others that are in some ways like it is that this is not a revenge film. Bill wants his daughter free. He's not looking for blood (though blood cand and will find him), he's looking for justice, which aids in building that everyman persona that is so vital in making the film work as well as it does.

Stillwater Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The digitally shot Stillwater translates well to Blu-ray. The 1080p picture is certainly not a powerhouse or really even memorable for any reason, but it delivers an unremarkably solid viewing experience. The downsides are few, including minor aliasing and modest noise, the former of which is scant and the latter of which is minimally invasive. The picture is otherwise crisp and stable, offering satisfying details, especially on and around Bill, whose thick goatee and well-worn ballcap provide some impressive outlets for high yield textural goodness throughout the film. Definition on dense city streets also delights. Color output is fine, offering stable output, good saturation, and nice balance. There is no strangely tuned contrast or wayward temperature settings, leaving everything nice and neutral. Output offers enough pop as necessary and good depth and accuracy to earthy tones and skin. Black levels fare nicely, as does white balance. This is a solid effort from Universal.

Stillwater Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is the audio equivalent of the companion video: solid all around but doing nothing to stand apart from the crowd, satisfying in every way but not bolstered by any kind of nifty sound design. The track handles everything asked of it with expert precision, presenting music with fine clarity, good width, and balanced, though still modest, surround stretch and subwoofer engagement. Light atmospheric effects nicely pull the listener into the main locales, such as prison interiors and Marseilles exteriors. There are not many aggressive sound effects to critique, nor is there any kind of heightened bass extension or surround bonanza to report. Dialogue is the main mover and shaker here, and it remains well prioritized and center positioned, holding lifelike clarity whether the dialogue be in English or in French.

Stillwater Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Stillwater contains a few extras. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• An Alchemy of Viewpoints (1080p, 5:17): Looking at cast and performances, story themes, and more.
• An American in Marseilles: The Locations of Stillwater (1080p, 3:15): As the title suggests, this piece explores shooting locations and the locations' roles in the film, and the contrast between Marseilles, France and Stillwater, Oklahoma.
• With Curiosity and Compassion: Director Tom McCarthy (1080p, 3:25): A closer, but brief, look at the film's director: work with the cast, the writing process, the movie's scale, and more.

Stillwater Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Much of Stillwater depends on the "fish out of water" quality that helps define the story. Bill does not belong in Marseilles, but his heart cannot leave the place. His desire to prove his daughter's innocence propels him even in strange lands and different tongues, but he overcomes with some help and relentless drive to see his purpose to completion. It's not a particularly novel movie, but it's perfectly effective for what it is, thanks to focus on character and Damon's solid performance in the lead. Universal's Blu-ray delivers solid video and audio and a few extras. Recommended.