6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
An exploration of Ted Kaczynksi's life in Lincoln, Montana in the years leading up to his arrest as The Unabomber.
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Drew PowellCrime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
“Ted K” examines the developing madness of Ted Kaczynski, a man who, for decades, terrorized America with threatening manifestos and homemade explosive devices, earning the nickname, “The Unabomber.” Screenwriters Gaddy Davis, John Rosenthal, and Tony Stone (who also directs) don’t create a biopic of the monster, instead looking to understand the corrosive nature of his thinking while living in isolation in the Montana wilderness. The details of such a life aren’t prioritized by the production, with “Ted K” more interested in the subject’s screaming mind and his management of extreme intelligence, which led him down a deadly path of action that wounded and killed innocent people, much to his delight.
The AVC encoded image (2.00:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a crisp look at frame information, doing especially well with Montana expanse. Distances are dimensional and loaded with elements of nature, and detail also scores with body particulars, examining Ted's rough and hairy appearance. Interiors examine decoration with clarity. Colors are compelling, with rich greenery during forest events, joined by woodsy cabin living. Urban experiences secure defined primaries, joined by period costuming and vehicle paint choices. Delineation is satisfactory. Some mild banding is detected.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix is extremely active, with deep synth scoring cues particularly full, providing a circular sense of intensity, with sharp instrumentation. Orchestral additions and soundtrack selections are equally defined. Dialogue exchanges are clear, playing with position as Ted's inner thoughts and manifesto writings secure a wider, echoed presence. Atmospherics are inviting with nature tours and vehicle movement. Low-end provides a rumbling sense of industrial activity and airplane roar.
Bits and pieces of Kaczynski's life are investigated, including his lifelong struggle with the mysteries of women, but "Ted K" isn't too detailed with biographical material. It's more of a cinematic journey about an unstable man losing his already tenuous grip on reality, and it remains compelling on that level. Stone generates an intimidating visual and aural presence with the endeavor, and he guides Copley (an underwhelming actor) to the best performance of his career, as he finds the volatility of the part without diving into the deep end of showy acting. "Ted K" runs too long for the information it ultimately offers, as Stone gets a little too distracted with his directorial flourishes, and information about those wounded and murdered by Kaczynski is frustratingly limited. Still, the movie does provide an intriguing depiction of a mental decline, and the birth of deranged but methodical vigilante.
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