Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Gift Blu-ray Movie Review

This movie will keep on giving.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 5, 2015

Some people have long memories and deeply wounded souls. Some people have short memories and a blackened heart. In Writer/Director Joel Edgerton's debut feature The Gift, a dark past, an increasingly murky present, and a seemingly bright future all come into question when the bully and the bullied are reunited, when that wounded soul meets with the blackened heart that ruined it. The film takes an interesting look at where people go in life, why they've arrived there, and what set their direction. The film doesn't necessarily explore new ground, but it does introduce a few nice twists on old standby dynamics. It's an eerily dark, believably thrilling, well paced, and confident film, a film that explores two extremes and reinforces the old adage that says "the more things change, the more they stay the same"...or does it?

Gordo.

Simon and Robyn Callum (Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall) are moving back to Simon's old hometown where he's just secured a fancy new job. The house they find isn't everything they wanted, but they decide they can make it work. While they're out and about buying a few new items to go inside of it, Simon is approached by a man who claims to know him. Turns out they're old classmates. The man is Gordon "Gordo" Mosley (Edgerton), and despite Simon's reluctance, Gordo latches on to the young couple, showering them with gifts and making a point to show up around the house, usually when Simon isn't home. Robyn likes him well enough, but Simon grows tired of the company and severs ties with him. It turns out there's a deeper, darker history between the men, a history that, if not handled carefully in the present, could have grave consequences for the future.

A story of the bully vs. the bullied isn't exactly cinema breaking new ground, but Edgerton gives it a rawness that gets down to the deepest, darkest corners of human emotion. Where the film really works is in how simply it paints the characters while still presenting them in a light that's vague enough to keep the audience guessing and the story more fluidly dynamic and gray rather than predictably stale and black-and-white. The story evolves gradually and efficiently, slowly but surely painting its core picture and going back to retouch it with new details that don't alter the central idea but that do rearrange how the audience perceives it. Edgerton misses on a few of the surprises -- several moments that come back into play in the third act aren't at all surprising -- but what he does well is changing the rules and redefining what's happening and why while still only lifting the veil gradually, and not always uniformly, and not always fully. The movie works not because of its themes but because of the skill with which they are explored and the ever-evolving playing field on which the story unfolds.

Yet even as the central themes are relatively basic, Edgerton's sly manipulation and somewhat open-ended approach are a major asset. The film doesn't unravel every little detail -- particularly on Gordo's side -- which only enhances the sense of unease that builds throughout the movie. Edgerton's performance as the troubled Gordo reflects that. He's brilliant in the part, vulnerable on one hand but darkly manipulative on the other. The dichotomy can approach Jekyll and Hyde levels of ambiguity, but then again so too can Bateman's Simon. The difference comes in how fully the movie unravels them, exploring why they are who they are through the prism of their past and present actions alike. Both performances are fantastic, each necessarily approaching their characters in different ways but slyly finding a lot of similarities, too. But this is Rebecca Hall's movie. Her performance as the movie's true caught-in-the-middle victim is believably evolved throughout the movie and seems even more impressive in light of where she is when it ends.

The Gift Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Gift isn't the shiniest, brightest movie out there. Joel Edgerton's digitally photographed movie is rather dull and dim, revealing a consistently drained and dreary color palette that leaves even natural greens under optimal daylight conditions looking rather fatigued. Basic clothing hues, supportive background elements, and skin tones are likewise absent vibrance. Black levels are pale and washed out and favor an unnatural brightness. Like the transfer lacks vibrant color, it also lacks nuanced details. Skin and clothing textures serve up basic little textures but viewers won't find the sort of intimately complex elements seen on more precise presentations. A fair bit of noise hovers over much of the image, too. The end result is a watchable transfer that produces an atmosphere that suits the movie but doesn't exactly dazzle the eyes.

The Gift Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Gift's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack presents nicely. Music enjoys positive placement and definition, whether lighter notes or a few select and well-placed sharper cues throughout. Spacing satisfies and the low end features a good, healthy depth to it. The track features a number of well integrated support effects and atmospherics. Things like running shower water and light party chatter on the lighter end of the spectrum and a sharp, piercing car alarm and a few crashes and shattering glass effects later on prove realistically presented and placed in the stage. Dialogue dominates the movie, however, and there are no problems of note concerning clarity, placement, or prioritization.

The Gift Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Gift contains a commentary, a couple of very brief featurettes, deleted scenes, and an alternate ending. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are also included.

• Alternate Ending (1080p): With optional Writer/Director Joel Edgerton Introduction (6:36 runtime with introduction, 4:38 runtime without).
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Simon Beats Gordo in the Garage (1:13), Ron and Lucy (1:16), First Cop Scene (2:56), and Second Cop Scene (2:29). With optional Writer/Director Joel Edgerton commentary.
• Karma for Bullies (1080p, 1:54): A simple look at the film's plot and style.
• The Darker Side of Jason Bateman (1080p, 1:05): A short look at Bateman's role in the movie.
• Trailers (1080p): Trailer #1 (2:32) and Trailer #2 (1:27).
• Audio Commentary: With Writer/Director Joel Edgerton.

The Gift Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Gift is a smart, perfectly paced Thriller with a dark edge that explores humanity at its most wounded and vengeful on one side, its most non remorseful on another, and on the third, at the confluence of both, a victim of circumstance, secrets, and deceit. The movie doesn't break any new ground, but it's expertly assembled and nails the rhythmic undercurrents that make it work so well. Universal's Blu-ray release of The Gift features passable video and good audio. A few supplements, including a commentary track and deleted scenes, are included. Highly recommended, largely on the strength of the film.