6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
The world's best art forger makes a deal with a crime syndicate to get an early release from prison, but in return he must pull off an impossible heist - he must forge a painting by Claude Monet, steal the original from a museum, and replace it with a replica so perfect that no one will notice. He enlists the help of his father and son and together they plan the heist of their lives!
Starring: John Travolta, Christopher Plummer, Tye Sheridan, Abigail Spencer, Anson MountThriller | 100% |
Crime | 69% |
Heist | 55% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1
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 | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Do Scientologists have the same metaphysical ability to blame the cosmic overlord Xenu for their misfortunes, in the same manner that believers of more mainstream religions can claim “the devil made me do it”? It’s a cheeky question, to be sure, but not one proffered with any hint of malice: I’m truly curious how John Travolta not only chooses whatever projects he appears in, but then reacts when his efforts are met largely with dismissal if not outright disdain. Travolta’s career has been something of a roller coaster ride at least since (the perhaps not so coincidentally Scientology themed) Battlefield Earth, and if The Forger doesn’t quite scrape the bottom of the galactic barrel the way that film did, it also tends to fritter away its dramatic energy in a number of cliché ridden ways, all in service of a story detailing the exploits of a highly skilled art forger who is attempting to navigate between “career” needs and some family trials that might be more at home in a “very special” Lifetime made for television film. Travolta actually acquits himself reasonably well in this film, with doleful eyes expressing a lifetime of regret, especially when his character Raymond Cutter is attempting to build (previously burned) bridges with his terminally ill son, Will (Tye Sheridan). Also on hand is Raymond’s crusty father Joseph (Christopher Plummer), as well as a coterie of violent criminal types, including Keegan (Anson Mount), the supposed mastermind of a proposed heist of a fabulously valuable Monet painting. The heist angle, which one might think would generate at least baseline amounts of suspense in the film, is actually repeatedly shunted to the side as screenwriter Richard D’Ovidio seems more concerned with the family dysfunctions of the Cutter clan than with a Mission: Impossible-esque set of plot machinations detailing the theft of the painting.
The Forger is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.38:1. Somewhat weirdly considering the film's supposed focus on its locale, director Philip Martin and DP John Bailey don't really exploit any Boston locations, and the film's outside elements tend to be anchored mostly around the Cutter home. There's a kind of slate gray ambience on display in a lot of this exterior footage, though occasional brightly lit moments, like a discussion between Ray and his dad in the home's yard, offer a warm and nicely suffused palette. Detail and fine detail are excellent, popping more in the brightly lit moments as should be expected. Some of the interior scenes are quite dimly lit and suffer from inadequate shadow detail as well as a marked diminution in overall detail. Some of the best fine detail comes courtesy of close-ups of paintings, where individual brushstrokes and the texture of the paint on the canvas is precisely recreated.
The Forger's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is certainly serviceable, but it only works up significant immersion and dynamism sporadically, with elements like the noise of the urban landscape providing good placement of ambient environmental effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly and the final act provides a somewhat more crowded soundstage that exploits the surround channels more consistently.
It's probably too facile to simply say The Forger is ersatz on any number of levels, but that's probably the best way to sum up this odd mash up of family drama and heist shenanigans. The family dynamic, while completely trite and geared toward yanking the old heartstrings as forcefully as possible, at least connects in fits and starts. The heist angle is so completely odd and shoehorned into the film so haphazardly that it almost seems like an afterthought at times. Travolta fans may want to check this out, and the good news for them is that the technical merits of this release are generally strong.
2010
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Inside Ring 'Le premier cercle'
2009
2009
2-Disc Special Edition
2008
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2006
The Director's Cut
2000
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Thick as Thieves
2009
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Extended Edition
2011
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