Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

The Banker Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 2, 2020

Bill Webb's "The Banker" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Dark Force Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include archival audio interview with actor Robert Forster and trailers. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The maniac

Is it true that Quentin Tarantino frequently featured Bill Webb’s The Banker in his corner of the Manager’s Favorites shelf in the video store where he used to make ends meet? Prior to seeing the film my answer would have been Probably not. I don’t believe he did. But now I have seen it, and I am a believer. Below I am going to explain to you why I think Tarantino liked the film and promoted it to the folks that visited his video store.

The entire film is set in LA at the end of the ‘80s, which means that it sells a very particular look of the city. Neon-lit night clubs full of great looking people having a lot of fun. Exotic cocktails, cheap drugs, awesome music. Fast cars and beautiful vistas. You know the drill. But while the party is on a maniac (Duncan Regehr) driving a spotless red Ferrari emerges from the shadows, picks up an expensive call girl, takes her back to an unnamed luxury hotel and kills her. Oops, a small correction. First they have really passionate sex, Cinemax style, then he kills her. Before he disappears into the night, the maniac draws a cryptic sign on the wall behind the girl. On the morning after, a veteran cop (Robert Forster) arrives at the murder scene and immediately gets a headache courtesy of a nosy TV reporter who happens to be his ex-wife (Shanna Reed). Despite quickly forcing her out, later on she delivers a moving live report that attracts the maniac’s attention and he promptly kills another call girl. While the cop and his rookie partner (Juan Garcia) continue digging for clues, the maniac changes his tactics and goes after the reporter.

Tarantino liked this film because it has a pulp fiction-esque identity that is totally legit. However, instead of supersizing it like Tarantino usually does in his biggest hits, Webb wraps it up in a LA noir ambience which ultimately leaves the impression that the film wishes to be something entirely different. I guarantee you this is how a seasoned actor like Forster was brought on board. Someone sold a very different film to him and he got in. He did not do it for the money.

Now, how good is this chameleon?

Let’s start with the production values. The film wasn’t made with a large budget, but it looks really good. In fact, much of the nighttime footage is so cool that I would not be surprised to learn that Webb and cinematographer John Huneck were fans of Peter Werner’s No Man's Land. Someone picked a lot of great locations too, so the production was definitely not rushed. The acting is a bit rough, a lot like what you would typically get from a late-night TV thriller, but it is also loose in a way that makes the action quite attractive. Forster in particular nails his character and his frustration and anger look entirely believable. The necessary gorgeous female talent is there too. (Former Playboy model Teri Weigel and Miss California 1983 Julie Hayek are at the top of the list, but there are more girls that are actually not credited at all). So, this film has a lot to offer and you don’t even have to be in the right mood to appreciate it. You just have to understand where it is heading, and how it intends to get there.

Rather predictably, the film boasts a solid electronic score that is easily comparable to some of the best cinematic tunes Tangerine Dream produced over the years. It was composed by Reg Powell and Sam Winans.

*While the folks at Dark Force Entertainment were preparing their release of The Banker, Forster unexpectedly passed away. The release is dedicated to his memory.

The Banker Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.781:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Banker arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Dark Force Entertainment.

The release is sourced from a solid master. Clarity and depth are very good, plus the darker footage boasts plenty of fine nuances. Density levels are rather impressive as well. Also, the master is very nicely graded. The primaries look fresh and stable, while the supporting nuances are properly balanced and as a result the darker footage avoids problematic crushing. Image stability is good, though I must note that a couple of times I did notice some very light shakiness within the frame. A few blemishes remain, but there are no distracting large debris, cuts, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report. All in all, this is a very nice organic presentation of the film that makes it look almost brand new. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Banker Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

The audio is clean and stable. However, while viewing the film I noticed that a couple of times it became slightly 'boxy'. More than likely this is exactly how the audio was transferred on the master, but ideally this is something that can be addressed with modern equipment. Regardless, you don't have to worry about it because it is the type of cosmetic imperfection that is extremely easy to ignore. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report in our review.

The Banker Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Robert Forster - in this archival interview, Robert Forster recalls what it was like to work with Joe Spinell (Vigilante). Forster's daughter, Kate, also shares a funny story about the late actor. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 480/60i).

• Trailers - trailers for the following titles from Dark Force Entertainment's catalog:
  
  1. The Giant Spider Invasion
  2. Death Rage
  3. Teenage Hitchhikers
  

The Banker Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I knew that I would enjoy The Banker as soon as the maniac's sleek Ferrari appeared on the screen and the synth score flooded my speakers. These types of independent films need a proper atmosphere to work as intended and I knew right away that Bill Webb was on the right track. I would place The Banker somewhere between No Man's Land and The First Power, but my guess is that it would appeal to just about anyone that feels nostalgic about the '80s. Dark Force Entertainment's release is sourced from a very solid organic master. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.