The Line Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

The Line Blu-ray Movie Review

“That his line will continue forever and endure before me like the sun.” Psalm 89:36

Reviewed by Dustin Somner November 22, 2009

Looking back over the past two decades, I can only count a handful of films that have left a lasting impression on me. Contemplating my list of favorite films, I’ve arrived at the conclusion that the most enjoyable ones often contain some degree of profound revelation within the plot (The Usual Suspects, The Game, Fight Club, Dark City, The Matrix). I guess you could say I have a fascination with a film structure that plays with a viewer’s mind and elects the road less traveled in typical Hollywood fare. In many ways, the titles I’ve listed proved to be risky ventures, with some finding wide acceptance (The Usual Suspects, The Matrix) and others relegated to cult classic status. Whether you enjoy mind-trip films or not, you have to hand it to the writers for delivering a roller-coaster ride of a journey, and throwing conventional wisdom out the window.

By now, I’ve likely elevated your expectations for The Line, which tries desperately to reinvent the revelatory nature of The Usual Suspects. Alas, the reality of the situation falls far short of the goal, delivering a film that’s layered and surprisingly enjoyable, but unraveled by weaknesses in the “Ah ha” moment of the film.

The status of Tijuana’s leading drug cartel is in disarray. The former leader of the cartel (Andy Garcia) is afflicted with a terminal illness, which leads to his hasty transfer of power to a violently unstable successor named Pelon (Esai Morales). Following his appointment as the new leader, Pelon negotiates a deal with Afghani farmers to provide safe passage of any goods they elect to transfer across “the line” (a reference to the safe route for transferring goods between Tijuana and the United States), in exchange for financial benefit from the drug sales. Government operatives in the U.S. fear the new deal will lead to the trafficking and supply of terrorist weapons across the U.S-Mexico border, and send a highly trained assassin to eliminate Pelon. Arriving in Tijuana with the mission of killing Pelon, Mark Shields (Ray Liotta) recruits a fellow assassin and sets in motion a series of events that build to a gripping (yet preposterous) climax.

There’s certainly no shortage of crime films involving mafia-like drug cartels, so it’s not terribly surprising The Line was unceremoniously released directly to home video. However, assuming the film is simply a low-budget knock-off in an increasingly lifeless genre would be a gross inaccuracy. In truth, I found The Line much better than I’d anticipated, with dynamic characterization and a layered plotline that consistently kept me guessing. Directed by relative newcomer James Cotton and written by R. Ellis Frazier, there’s a level of professionalism in the production that raises The Line above the ranks of other average entries in the genre, demonstrating there’s at least a gallon or two left in the proverbial tank. I’ll definitely keep my eye on these two gentlemen in the coming years, since this spark might mark the beginning of something special.

Despite my overall enjoyment of the film, there are several glaring flaws that hold it back from true greatness. Beginning with the acting, I found the performance from Jordi Vilasusa extremely bothersome, as the cartel family’s perceived heir to the throne. I’m not entirely sure Vilasusa is supposed to be homosexual (though it’s implied on at least one occasion), but it seems he’s been instructed to show extreme emotion in every piece of dialogue he delivers. I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s literally sobbing in every scene, which seems preposterous when you consider he was raised in a violent atmosphere where respect is typically not shown to the weak. No matter how you look at the performance (which I perceived as unrealistic), the effect of his dialogue delivery is downright annoying. The second major problem is the addition of the prostitute as a love interest for our main protagonist. Her inclusion in the film is completely unnecessary, since she merely provides a shoulder to lean on, and a tacked on role in the ending. Considering the level of character development dedicated to other cast members in The Line, her part felt like an afterthought. The last disappointment I feel compelled to mention is the most glaring flaw, and nearly killed my overall assessment of the film. I can’t go into details regarding the ending (I’m not a spoiler kind of guy), but those of you who elect to give the film a shot will likely feel cheated by the blindside delivered in the closing minutes of the film. I certainly appreciate the attempt at delivering a profound revelation (as discussed in the opening paragraph of this review), but there are far too many unanswered questions raised by the revelation. A good trick ending should still make sense within the confines of the plot, and effectively further the story in a cohesive manner. The Line demonstrates there is such a thing as being too clever for your own good.

The Line Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 25Mbps), The Line looks fantastic on Blu-ray. From the wide shots of Tijuana to intimate facial close-ups, fine object detail is on par with some of the best transfers on the market. Look for the heightened clarity in the wrinkles and divots on Ray Liotta's face, or the subtle texturing of stubble on Andy Garcia's chin. Every intricate detail is replicated with stunning definition, making full use of the 1080p resolution. Adding to the proficiency of the transfer is the unique color scheme courtesy of cinematographer Miguel Bunster. Using a highly-stylized palette, Bunster takes viewers through the grimy, sun-drenched streets of Tijuana, creating an atmosphere that feels subdued one minute, and lively the next. If there's one trademark aspect of Mexico that sticks in my mind through my brief travels to our southern neighbor, it's the widespread use of bright coloring that adorns storefronts, hotel lobbies, and the outfits of the population. During the rare instances where the film escapes the drab interiors of the drug-trafficking warehouse, we're given a taste of the color-soaked buildings that line the city street, attempting to mask the poverty-stricken reality of the Tijuana underbelly. Adding to the proficiency of the visual experience, black levels exhibit above-average depth, and contrast is largely stable (though I noticed a dip in shadow detail from time to time and a tendency for darker shades to blend together in two indoor sequences).

For a low-budget production, I was pleasantly surprised with the proficiency of the transfer, and hope to see a growing catalog of titles from Maya Home Entertainment.

The Line Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Given this is an early title from a fledgling studio I'm willing to forgive the lack of a lossless track on this release. Having said that, I certainly believe compression plays a heavy role in preventing the audio experience from living up to its full potential. All of the components are in place for a lively, robust experience, but it never struck me as anything more than an average mix. Dialogue is decently clear, though you'll likely have a difficult time making out several of the softer lines spoken by Andy Garcia (as the former cartel leader with a terminal illness). Likewise, I noticed some volume deficiencies in several action scenes, which seemed to lack adequate surround separation to coincide with the hard-hitting events taking place on screen. For instance, there's a sequence somewhat early in the film, where Shields shows up at a bar and winds up in a fight. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there was something missing in that scene, as if the punches and breaking glass had been muted. It didn't ruin the experience for me, but I was still distracted by the idea that something didn't sound quite right. On the positive side, I found a lot to like in the musical score by David Torn, a well known musician/composer who's provided musical arrangements on several films over the years (Twilight, No Country for Old Men, Friday Night Lights, Lars and the Real Girl). Given Torn's pedigree, I'm rather shocked to see his involvement in a low-budget Mexican crime film. Nevertheless, his addition to the emotional weight of the film adds substantial value to the overall audio experience.

It certainly won't knock your socks off, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 track still manages to turn in an average performance that compliments the film.

The Line Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Behind the Scenes (480p, Dolby Digital 2.0, 16:39 min): Consisting of interviews with the main players in the film's production (actors, producer, writer, director), this featurette is heavy on praise for everyone involved, but light on actual content. I'd imagine most viewers will lose interest within the first few minutes.

The only other extra included on the disc is a high definition theatrical trailer for The Line.

The Line Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Line is a surprisingly effective film with excellent production values, a star-studded cast, and scenery that's drenched in atmosphere. If writer R. Ellis Frazier had tightened up the story a little more, and focused additional effort on the crippling ending, I'd have no reservations in recommending the film as a purchase. Unfortunately, the nature of the ending won't enhance the value of the film on repeat viewings, so there's a good chance it will sit around collecting dust for years to come. By all means, consider this as a rental, but only buy the film if it hits a price you won't regret.