Rating summary
Movie | | 3.5 |
Video | | 4.5 |
Audio | | 5.0 |
Extras | | 3.0 |
Overall | | 4.0 |
The Interview Blu-ray Movie Review
Lil' Kim gets K.O.'d, but does he still win the fight?
Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 14, 2015
Here is one of the most historically important, widely discussed, heavily controversial, thoroughly dissected, and potentially landscape-shifting
movies of all time, and for all the wrong reasons. For anyone who may be out of the loop, here's a summary: Angry dictators! Hacked computers!
Threats of war and terror! Theaters caving to international pressure! Conspiracy theories everywhere! Fans who just want to see the movie! And
all
over a silly little Comedy in which one particularly ticked off, real-life dictator -- spoiler alert -- gets blown to bits at the end after being "exposed"
as, among other things, a Margarita-sipping, Katy Perry-listening, daddy-issues devastated young man who takes it all out on his people and,
despite rumor, does in fact go to the bathroom just like everyone else. The Sony hacking scandal, supposedly North Korea's retaliation for this
Seth Rogen/James Franco Comedy's mere existence, set off a chain of events quite
unlike anything in Hollywood history. The story behind the movie ultimately proves significantly more interesting than the movie itself -- which
isn't bad after all -- a story
worthy
of film and sure to one day at least end up as the centerpiece of a memoir or tell-all (sound familiar, Mr, Skylark?) from someone on the inside.
But as of now, it's all just a
matter
of scattered record that includes everything from news articles to Presidential comment, from water cooler chatter to Internet banter in what is
certainly thus far the story of the new
century in the world of film. The only question that remains is whether The Interview's story will curb future "potentially insulting" projects
or whether it will become a beacon of liberty and a de facto middle finger to anyone who can't take the heat but who can harshly punish his people for not sufficiently
mourning his father's death, a father, by the way, who was immortalized in puppet form in the raunchy Team America: World Police, a film from the creative genius of the
guys
behind South Park, they themselves entertainers unafraid of pushing the limits well beyond "the line."
Dave and Aaron wonder if there wasn't something more to Dennis Rodman's visits to Pyongyang.
The Interview tells the story of a tabloid television journalist named Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his Producer Aaron Rapoport (Seth
Rogen) who land an interview with North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-un (Randall Park) after they discover that he's a huge fan. Before flying over to
North Korea, the men are approached by the CIA with a can't-say-no request to assassinate Kim. Move along through the movie's fun middle muck
and
reach
the end where, again spoiler alert, Kim is blown to bits in a slow-motion shot, the result of a tank shell blasting his helicopter. And
enter
the controversy. As reported in an
article published by Variety, studio skepticism
and fear over fictionally assassinating a real-life figure emerged well before the first threats of "retaliation" from North Korea, particularly from
Sony's head man Kazuo Hirai, whose home nation of Japan lies well within striking distance of North Korean missiles. But fragile
international relations stretched to the limit over
a movie, and a movie as sophomoric as this one? Crazier things have happened, but it's
certainly a sign of the times when James Franco, Seth Rogen, and a movie crew can inadvertently manipulate and strain international relations to a
near breaking point, practically bring
a major studio to its knees, and invite a response so harsh that theaters chose to pull the movie rather than risk that threats of retaliation could
actually materialize. Suddenly, a story with legs ran more wild than
Forrest Gump and brought fundamental concepts like freedom of expression
and unflinching stoicism in the face of terror to
the forefront and, for a time, to their knees.
Indeed, the de facto surrender to terroristic threats -- not to mention the fallout of the computer hack -- effectively saw those who thrive on
freedom of expression capitulate to the demands of the very man
The Interview aims to comically destroy. Suddenly, a midlevel Comedy
gained
international headlines, the stars were surrounded by around-the-clock bodyguards, and even theaters that vowed to screen
Team America
in lieu of
The Interview
were told to stand down. Once Cramike Cinemas pulled the plug, the dominoes fell, and fell fast, leaving audiences to wonder if the movie, now
suddenly elevated in position from curiosity and mild obscurity to the top of everyone's must-see list, would ever be released. It was nowhere to
be found approaching its
Christmas Day 2014 release date (a date which was already the result of a politically based delay). At one point, trusted sources -- including the
aforementioned Variety -- posited that the movie may never see the light of day at all, not in theaters, not on digital, and not on DVD or Blu-ray.
Then, suddenly, an abrupt and, in some ways, unexpected about-face. The film was announced to run in limited engagements in theaters that
agreed to screen it. Digital versions appeared on Xbox and other outlets on Christmas Eve. Fans rejoiced and freedom (and common sense) had
prevailed, yet conspiracy-minded questions remained as to whether this was actually some sort of elaborate hoax -- not the hacking scandal, but a
manipulation of the
situation -- to try and test the validity of the straight-to-digital market for a major motion picture (though certainly the magnifying glass on the
project and its wide coverage in news all but guaranteed skewered results), to drum up support for the movie and increase what was predicted to
be a modest-at-best box office return, or some other bits of juicy out-there talk that, as of now, really hasn't materialized as anything more than
wild speculation. The movie was unsurprisingly successful in its limited and unconventional debut, earning some $40 million and making it the
highest grossing digital
release ever, a result as predictable as the sunrise but still a healthy bit of cash all things considered.
And what of the movie itself? Sitting down to watch
The Interview, with months of chatter rolling off its digital file and tons of baggage
hanging off its virtual flanks,
seems almost beyond the point. After all, everyone knows the basics and then some, and no matter how good, great, dumb, or epically awful the
movie was speculated to be, it could never outshine nor outlive the narrative surrounding it. Indeed, the hype and controversy practically swallows
it
up and
refuses to let go, which might be a good thing, one might think before a screening, if the movie proves as lame and vapid as everything suggests,
effectively masking its shortcomings
and allowing it to stand more as a symbol, one way or the other, rather than an actual narrative piece. But then something amazing
happens. It turns out that, once it gets going,
The Interview actually holds up pretty well on it own merits. Sure it's largely empty beyond
some raunchy jokes and its infamous finale, but there's a surprising balance to it all that manages to allow the movie to at least rise towards the
level of all the good-and-bad hype and, even if it never overcomes it, absorb the viewer into its silly little world and do what it was intended to do
before all of this started:
entertain. Even as it's not at all politically savvy or insightful -- truly, any anger directed at the movie stems completely from its
superficialities rather
than its "commentary" -- it proves itself as a rather fun, tongue-in-cheek little thing that features strong yet silly lead performances and a
contagious rhythm that carries the movie with a clean, fast pace and an unflinching confidence that's apparent even when it had to be (and
apparently was) clear to all
involved that the film had the
potential to brew into a political tsunami. Yet
The Interview finds a surprisingly capable balance along the axis of total absurdity,
pushing
boundaries and going so grossly far over the top but keeping it in a harmonious world of nonsense that's made of equal proportions of the
characters
and the activities in which they engage. Sure it's vulgar and childish, but it works extremely well in its context, playing with a flow that's tight and
precise, not jumbled and manufactured or built around jokes that were forced in rather delicately inserted. The cast is equally strong, particularly
evident in the chemistry James Franco and Randall Park share.
Their scenes, from the time they first meet to the time the title interview concludes, are easily the film's best. It's that tight-knit togetherness and
the effortless sell that makes the third act so much more interesting and powerful than it would have otherwise been without them. And even as --
spoiler alert the third -- that tank shell hits
Kim's
helicopter, the image that everyone has seen a dozen times online prior to watching the movie, it suddenly
just becomes part of the movie
rather than a symbol of everything that went wrong, everything that was said, everything everyone thought and carried into the movie before
actually sitting down to watch it. And nothing else says "job well done" better than that.
The Interview Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The Interview's 1080p transfer is largely gorgeous. Sony's Blu-ray presentation is alive and vibrant, presenting as clear and clean and showing
an almost always perfectly defined appearance. Details are sharp and intricate, whether skin textures, clothing lines, or rocky terrain. Sharpness is
natural and effortless across the board, with even distance shots maintaining a healthy definition. Colors are vibrant and precise. The film captures a
wide range of hues, from bright clothes seen on the Pyongyang tarmac to cool CIA control room accents. Flesh tones are heathy and accurate. The
transfer's only major fault comes by way of heavy-handed and crushed blacks. Darker scenes often devolve into a soupy, undefined blob where
anything
remotely dark -- particularly clothing -- seems to melt into the void. Banding and aliasing are evident in a couple of spots but kept to a bare minimum.
On
the whole,
however, this is a very strongly defined, precise presentation from Sony. Note that there is an ongoing discussion of the aforementioned black levels
on the forum here as compared to the included digital version of the movie.
Note that users are reporting that the black crush issue has been corrected in some copies outside of the United States. As of now, this does
not apply to U.S. releases. I cannot personally vouch for the information. See the official forum thread linked in the "Forum" tab above for
more information.
The Interview Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The Interview arrives on Blu-ray with a reference quality DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This is a precise, rich, and enjoyable
track, one that gets everything right, from the softest ambient effect to the loudest burst of gunfire. Music is smooth and accurate with a healthy front
side spacing, a perfect surround compliment, and effortless clarity through the entire range, including both score and bursts of popular tunes. The
track is full of lively and beautifully defined support pieces, whether echoing song heard at the beginning when a child sings of her wish to see America
destroyed or bouncing voices and reverberating basketball dribbles heard in a key moment midway through the film in which Dave and Kim bond on
the court. Light rainfall beautiful envelops the listening area in chapter seven. Heavier effects are equally impressive. A barrage of gunfire rips
through the stage with startling volume and lifelike heft in one key scene late in the movie. A tank shell zips through the stage and explodes with
healthy authority midway through. The final showdown features a symphony of combat that involves automatic weapons fire and bullets bouncing off
armor. General dialogue plays cleanly and accurately up the middle. Overall, this is a terrific, well engineered, and fully engaging sound extravaganza
from Sony.
The Interview Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
The Interview contains a number of bonus features, most of which, beyond the commentary and deleted scenes, amount to little more than
fluff. Included in the Blu-ray case is a voucher for a UV digital copy.
- Audio Commentary: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg discuss the film -- and only the film -- with an even and insightful tone. They
share
some random anecdotes from the shoot and cover Eminem's early film performance (and Rob Lowe's cameo later), wardrobe, shooting locales and
sets, the Matthew McConaughey bit, cast and performances, music, story evolution and creative ideas, Randall Park's quick weight gain for the role,
digital effects, shooting the large scale finale in a short window of time, and even some insightful technical bits. Even if there's no mention of the
elephant in the room, it makes for a good, insightful, and fun track that's well worth a listen. With optional English subtitles.
- Deleted, Extended and Alternate Scenes (1080p): Dave Is in the Building (2:44), Dave Is in the Building Alt (2:31),
Kevin's Congrats (5:22), Cold Calling (0:26), Jerk Off Challenge (2:42), Jerk Off Challenge Alt (1:17), Bow and
Shake (0:43), Mission Briefing (4:17), Write a Tell All (0:35), People Just Tell Me Things (0:52), The Rape
Pond (1:20), I Honey Potted You (1:30), It's a Dildo (0:33), and Welcome to Flavor Town (1:14).
- Gag Reel (1080p, 7:03).
- Line-O-Ramas (1080p): Actors offer various takes on a few lines from the movie. Included are Stank Dick (1:52), Have
You Heard? (2:48), and Secure the Payload (4:50).
- Directors of This Movie (1080p, 6:41): Cast and crew heap the praise on Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The directors also discuss
their camaraderie and influences that shaped this movie. Also included is rehearsal footage and corresponding clips from the film and other bits from
the shoot.
- Spies Among Us (1080p, 7:24): A closer look at the film's lead performers and the characters they portray.
- Randall Park Audition Tape (1080p, 5:14): The actor proves himself worthy of portraying Kim Jong-un.
- Getting into Character (1080p, 4:47): A closer look at Randall Park's performance.
- Dating a Dictator (1080p, 1:10): "King Jong-un" makes a video for an online dating site.
- Puppy Power (1080p, 1:56): A short look at the puppy's place in the film.
- Here Kitty Kitty (1080p, 5:19): Working with a live tiger on the shoot.
- Joking Around (1080p, 1:54): Adding jokes into the film on-the-fly.
- Naked & Afraid (1080i, 13:47): The film's stars are tasked with surviving naked in the wild.
- Previews (1080p): Additional Sony titles.
The Interview Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Did The Interview cross any lines? Was it too much to depict the grisly assassination of a monstrous dictator -- a dictator who has at his
fingertips missiles
pointed at Japan and a large army amassed at the South Korean border, both capable of devastating two of the West's staunchest
allies in
the East -- in a raunchy Comedy? At what point does a heavy-handed dictator that starves his people and cannot keep the lights on at
night stop being
fair game and start being feared? When does the whim of a dictator dictate the way forward for the business, culture, and freedom of
expression enjoyed throughout much of the rest of the world?
If nothing else, The Interview and the Sony hack certainly shed quite a lot of light on how things (can) play out when most all of the cards
are on
the
table and the stakes are practically life and death. Obviously there's much more to the story than has been covered in this review and likely plenty
more that hasn't been made public. And then there's this. Suffice it to say, and no matter the
specifics, it's all part of a story that
will go down in both Hollywood and world history as one of the most
fascinating intersections of fiction and reality and politics and entertainment. Frankly, it doesn't look good from the outside looking in, but here's
hoping that one day all will be revealed and, who knows, maybe by way of a movie that could bring Sony back to the top of the heap. Hire David Fincher, who has worked with Sony before, to direct. Bring back Park to
play Kim (if the studio so dared depict him...again) and Franco and Rogen to play themselves (again). Just don't expect to learn that Angelina Jolie has been cast to play Amy
Pascal. Sony's much anticipated Blu-ray release of The Interview, a movie which actually stands up on its own two legs even with the weight
of
everything heaped on top of it, offers stellar video, reference quality audio, and a good bit of supplemental content. No matter what one thinks of it,
this is pretty much the must-own movie of the year. Highly recommended.