6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
An ex-convict working undercover intentionally gets himself incarcerated again in order to infiltrate the mob at a maximum security prison.
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, Karma Meyer, Ana de Armas, Rosamund PikeDrama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
That oft quoted "law of threes" is in full force in something as odd as a review queue, as The Informer now joins the recently reviewed Ghost Story and Drive as the third film in more or less a row (with an interstitial disc or two) that has arrived in my stack of review titles which bears the same name as another, arguably better known, film (in those particular cases, namely Ghost Story and Drive). While it's kind of strangely forgotten today (and looks like it hasn't yet received a release on Blu-ray anywhere in the world), 1935's The Informer bears the imprimatur of one John Ford, who was feted with the Best Director statuette at the Oscars that year for his efforts, and it also allowed Victor McLaglen to take home that year's Best Actor trophy at the same celebration (two other Oscars were also granted the production). That film concerned a rough and tumble type who was caught up in what might be called pre-"troubles" trouble from circa 1919 to 1921. This 2019 The Informer has some of the same elements as the 1935 film, including a rough and tumble protagonist, here named Pete Koslow (Joel Kinnaman), but the "international" conflict is ostensibly between Polish drug runners and American law enforcement types. The real conflict actually turns out to be between two elements of the ostensible "good guys", the FBI, represented in the film by two agents named Erica Wilcox (Rosamund Pike) and Keith Montgomery (Clive Owen), and New York's finest, as exemplified by a cop named Edward Grens (Common). That said, the 1935 film was based on a novel by Liam O'Flaherty, while this film was culled from what sounds like it may have been a relatively more pulpy piece of fiction called Three Seconds authored by the Swedish team of Anders Roslund and Borge Hellström, and in fact the source tome was set in Sweden.
The Informer is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Vertical Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. The IMDb doesn't have much information on the technical side of things, but I found some online data suggesting this was captured with Arri Alexa Minis, and I'm presuming the DI was finished at 2K. This is the first disc in a long time where there's been some aliasing, something that can maybe be made out in screenshot 19, but aside from that occasional distraction, this is a nicely sharp and well detailed looking presentation. Fairly traditional indulgences in a number of grading and/or lighting choices are employed, including quite a few dimly lit interior sequences, but on the whole fine detail levels remain secure. Aside from any stylistic choices, the palette looks natural and well suffused. Some of both the CGI and practical effects might strike some as artificial looking.
The Informer features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 audio choices. The surround track offers some good activity courtesy of the urban settings in a number of outdoor moments, but even some interior scenes, notably sequences in the prison, bristle with well placed ambient environmental effects. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly, with some Polish moments featuring forced subtitles, which can actually "get in the way" of some of the optional English SDH subtitles which are also available.
There are no supplements on this disc.
Koslow is a kind of veritable Job in this story, with one bad thing after another happening to him, but managing to come out of it all relatively intact. Both of the supposed "surprises" this film attempts to dole out with regard to various factions on the law enforcement side of things are probably going to be seen a mile off by many thriller lovers, but performances here are slickly professional, and there's a baseline of angst that keeps things moving along. Technical merits are generally solid for those who are considering a purchase.
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Filmmakers Signature Series
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