Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

The Take Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 3, 2017

Art has a way of imitating life, and life has a way of imitating art, but the two collided when The Take, also known as Bastille Day, premiered in France on July 13, 2016. A day later, a horrific terror attack killed more than eighty people in Nice during the nation's Bastille Day celebrations. The film itself follows the story of the aftermath of a "terror attack" on the build-up to Bastille Day. The film was pulled from theaters days later. It seems it's no longer just one imitating the other; art and life are overlapping, and it's sadly overlapping with terror and large death counts the common denominators. Even today, as this review was in-progress, word of a foiled terror attack at Paris' famous Louvre hit the news wires, yet another reminder of the real world contrasted against the entertainment world. Even as The Take is simple entertainment, and its mild-twist third act and action-heavy characteristics pull it away from more deep comparisons to real-life events, it's a reminder of the state of the world and begs the question of whether this, and similar, movies can be labeled as simple "escapist entertainment" when they're so quickly reflected in the real world as they're actively commenting on it in the guise of something else.

On the streets of Paris, a common thief named Michael Mason (Richard Madden) takes the wrong bag from the wrong woman. Little does he know there's a bomb inside. He leaves the bag behind. It explodes. Four are killed, more injured, and he becomes the subject of a massive manhunt. He's pursued and eventually captured by an American CIA agent named Sean Briar (Idris Elba). Michael gradually convinces Sean of his innocence, at least his innocence in making and/or deliberately setting off the explosive. The two quickly find themselves on the run, under fire, and en route to unearthing a much larger conspiracy around them.

The Take might hit a little too close to home or strike the wrong nerve in hindsight, but take away any real-life parallels -- and there really aren't that many that amount to more than, admittedly disturbing, coincidence -- and what's left is a decent Action/Thriller in the Bourne mold. Rooftop chases and shootouts in a dense European city. Protestors on the street. Secret motivations. A city on edge. Shootouts, hand-to-hand fights, car chases, the whole nine yards are part of the movie. The film captures an unmistakable similarity to others of its kind, but it moves beyond a lack of identity with a fairly edgy, tight, and slickly made picture that's also lean and quickly paced and rather exciting in total. Even as it boils down to a very good but petty thief picking up the wrong bag from the wrong victim in the wrong place and at the wrong time, the film executes its straightforward machinations and maneuverings with an expert clarity and sense of purpose. Action isn't particularly new, but it's well-staged. Production values are high, and the movie gets all the mileage it can from practically every last bit it has on offer. There are deeper qualities on display for those interested in its take on current events beyond the unfortunate parallels, but the movie doesn't prove quite dramatically meaty enough to satisfy any serious exploration thereof.

Yet despite its action intensity, solid production values, and strong pacing, the movie doesn't really amount to anything more than a glorified time waster. Characters are in no way exotic, unique, even all that interesting. Michael is the typical "fish out of water," thrust into the middle of a dangerous situation of which he wants no part. Sean is a gritty American intelligence operative who can handle himself with a gun and in a fistfight. The plot around them takes an interesting, but not earth-shattering, twist in the final act. And even if it's all well made, none of the action pieces prove all that genuinely unique. Even the music can't escape genre cliché; much of it sounds like a fast-moving ticking clock with various riffs and beats around. Still, it holds its own. Performances are by-and-large impressive, with the cast doing a great job of bringing some personality to parts that are otherwise rather barren. Idris Elba continues to impress and prove himself to be one of the better actors working today. He brings a physical command to his part, but he also humanizes his tough-guy character to the point that people will care and not just see the typical "big guy with gun." Richard Madden brings a slick innocence to his part, a crafty clarity that doesn't mask his fear but that allows him to set it aside as the situation demands. The two share solid on-screen chemistry and are a big part of why the movie works as well as it does, even if it's made from carefully assembled but still off-the-shelf components.

The Take Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Take's 1080p transfer is a looker. Universal's presentation excels and serves as a top-tier example of digital done right. The digital shoot produces some terrific details. Never smeary, never betraying in-depth realism, the 1080p Blu-ray delivers sharpness and intimacy at every turn. Facial features are incredibly complex, showcasing extremely fine pores, lines, facial scruff, and other skin textures to the point of practically lifelike definition. Dense city environments showcase plenty of fine and broad textures alike, all of them effortlessly intricate whether near or far from the camera. Clothes are robust, too, as are little touches like wear on weapons. Colors are vibrant, showing plenty of punch, diversity, and transitional shading nuance. Even some of the earthier city backdrops look gorgeous, though it's certainly the diverse barrage of eye-popping primaries that dazzle the most. Black levels are rock-solid and flesh tones, too, appear accurate. Source noise is minimal and no other serious source or encode flaws are apparent. The Take looks fantastic through-and-through.

The Take Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Take features a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 loses soundtrack, and the added channels and availability of more immersive elements comes most welcome and proves a good format for the movie's sonic needs. The track is frequently intense, explosive, wide, deep, and highly enjoyable. Music is immersive, spreading to the stage's furthest reaches, and then some, seemingly rushing well beyond the theater's physical limitations. There's a nice, noticeable, usually even aggressive wrap through the backs, too, but it's still commanded by the front-end dominance. Whether score, pulsating beats from a distant club, or heavy-hitting bass in a car, the track is anything but timid and capable of pushing the low end's boundaries while still maintaining a pleasing tightness. Gunfire, explosions, crashes, and all sorts of mayhem are as genuine as they come. Gunshots hit hard and with plenty of authority; no half-power or timid shots here. Gunfire bursts with substantial bass and is apt to emanate from anywhere in the stage. Crowd chants, bangs, and other dense elements are wonderfully realized, too. The 44:40 mark brings one of the most intense moments in the track when, during a hit-and-run attack, a car is set ablaze and metal siding is beaten. Stage width and transparency there, and in the entire track, for that matter, is excellent. Dialogue is clear and natural, center positioned and well prioritized through even the most chaotic moments.

The Take Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Take contains one supplement. Making 'The Take' (1080p, 2:09) looks quickly at the story and characters. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

The Take Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Take is one of those movies that was never going to be much more than filler, but it's filler done right and about the best case scenario for second-tier cinema. Even if the movie's core plot mechanics don't amount to anything and the characters are rather flat, excellent production values, fine pacing, and good lead performances elevate it well above its middle-of-the-road slotting. Universal's Blu-ray is short on even brief supplemental content; only a two-minute featurette is included. Fortunately, video is excellent and audio is of reference quality. The Take won't be remembered on the annual top-ten list (unless this turns out to be a really, really lousy year for Blu-ray), but it's one of top second-rung releases for February and a worthwhile addition to any Blu-ray collection. Recommended.