The Hummingbird Project Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Hummingbird Project Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 2, 2020

For those who’ve been lamenting a lack of originality in modern movies, I give you “The Hummingbird Project.” It’s the rare picture to delve into the world of High-Frequency Trading, with writer/director Kim Nguyen trying to squeeze suspense out of a race to build a nanosecond financial system, with warring sides in competition to either dig their way to a Wall Street fortune, or take the prize through microwave signals. There have been few films with such a plot, giving Nguyen an opportunity to do something striking with the work, surprising viewers with his examination of power plays and anxiety as secretive plans to rule the speed of time turn into war. “The Hummingbird Project” isn’t quite that exciting, and the helmer doesn’t dazzle with invention, but he offers an acceptable ride of corporate subterfuge and paranoia, striving to remain as close to character as possible as the rest of the feature becomes a Fincher-esque procedural.

A stockbroker growing frustrated while working for Eva (Salma Hayek), Vincent (Jesse Eisenberg) is striking out on his own, mastering a major plan to commence a tunnel project that will stretch fiber optic cable from the Kansas electronic exchange to the New York Stock Exchange, potentially giving him a single nanosecond head start with Wall Street business, making him a fortune. Partnering with his genius cousin, Anton (Alexander Skarsgard), to mastermind the programming, and recruiting Mark (Michael Mando) to oversee the herculean job of laying pipe, Vincent is determined to make the project work, tasked with buying his way through America. Eva, growing aware of what the men are up to, endeavors to beat Vincent to the punch, erecting a microwave tower system, complicating his quest to take advantage of time and repay his impatient investors.

“The Hummingbird Project” opens in 2011, with Nguyen dialing the clock back a few years to successfully delve into Wall Street gamesmanship during a revival phase in the market. Sensing a shot, Vincent creates an opportunity for himself with other people’s money, envisioning a fiber optic cable that runs through half of the country, making its way through private property, waterways, and mountains, hoping to take off a single millisecond in informational transfer time. It’s major undertaking, and “The Hummingbird Project” is largely about the push to make the dream happen, with Mark the muscle of the job, while Anton, who has psychological issues, is the brains, toiling away in Eva’s offices, surrounded by those who can’t appreciate his tech skills. Vincent takes advantage of such frustration, soon moving forward with construction, hoping to squash Eva, setting up a traditional battle of the bosses arc for the screenplay.

Thankfully, Nguyen doesn’t play “The Hummingbird Project” that simply, but he doesn’t shy away from cliché either, turning Eva from a driven industry leader turned into a raving competitor, sending spies out to get a sense of the scope of Vincent’s plans. She also taps into her special relationship with Anton, who’s a submissive man, not fully understanding the woman he “betrayed” until she becomes his enemy, with her veiled threats getting under the skin, transforming him into a hotel room recluse growing obsessed with shaving down fractions of a millisecond. There’s a touch of corporate espionage to “The Hummingbird Project,” but Nguyen doesn’t drive the feature over the edge. He takes his time with character, curious about Anton and his growing guilt (also neglecting his family back in New York), while Vincent’s journey in the story takes many turns, watching the businessman juggle his authority with investors and deal with a special medical emergency that readjusts his world view, but does little to weaken his resolve to complete the project.

It’s interesting to watch the players work the game, with Vincent trying to buy his way across the country, dealing with busted drill bits and, later in the movie, private land owned by the Amish, offering the Godly people a small fortune to tunnel under their farms, only to be rejected in a way that makes him reassess his business ethics. Nguyen makes an effort to get away from pressure points to comprehend motivation, but “The Hummingbird Project” is compelling when dealing with disasters and tempers, highlighting Vincent’s self-destructive focus as he tries to manage everything thrown at him, even believing his own body to be turning on him during a particularly stressful time. It helps to have Eisenberg deliver one of his better screen performances as Vincent, working to get away from his normal acting tics to portray a man succumbing to the dangers of his vision, trying desperately to keep it all together. He’s matched well by Skarsgard, who also mutes much of his thespian bad habits to become Anton.

The Hummingbird Project Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation does well with detail, offering nature tours that remain dimensional, flying over dig sites that hit mountain ranges and waterways. Character particulars are present, with a healthy sense of skin surfaces, finding Skarsgard's bald head putting attention on the shave job, and Vincent's dwindling health registers as intended. Costuming is also fibrous, impressing with Eva's work outfits and Anton's descent into comfortable robes. Building interiors are sharp as well. Colors are exact, exploring a colder palette for business affairs, while greenery is vivid, giving outdoor events an appealing evocativeness. Skintones are natural. Delineation remains with very mild solidification, but deep blacks are mostly protected.

The Hummingbird Project Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides an immersive listening event, offering crisp dialogue exchanges that clarify the highly technical conversations found in the screenplay. Emotionality is supported as well, with argumentative behavior and mental health woes registering comfortably. Scoring is defined, with sharp instrumentation, and soundtrack selections (including a tune from the Beastie Boys) are loud, with a pleasingly thumpy low-end beat. Heaviness also registers with accidents and construction sites. Surrounds contribute compelling atmospherics as the action moves into the great outdoors, getting a sense of expanse and water flow. Group activity in office settings also delivers.

The Hummingbird Project Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scenes (6:34, HD) include an explanation of High-Frequency Trading, a nighttime meeting between Vincent and his Amish contact, and a "walk and talk" shot featuring business humor shared among Vincent, Anton, and Mark.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:23, HD) is included.

The Hummingbird Project Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Hummingbird Project" doesn't snowball into a thriller, with Nguyen looking to keep things character-based for as long as he can get away with, taking time away from the central rush of disaster to tap into clouded headspaces. Eva's side of the story is more formulaic, and Nguyen can't help himself when it comes time for the employees to strike back at their boss, leading the picture into a third act that's more about fantasy comeuppance than a continued exploration of business one-upmanship. "The Hummingbird Project" has much to examine when dealing with Vincent's corruption, Anton's unraveling, and the titular event, which supplies numerous setbacks and headaches to fuel an entire story. Nguyen gets a little cutesy instead, trying to make sure viewers leave with a few twists. There's still an interesting hour and change to hold attention, with the director capturing the rush of rivalry and the reality of defeat.