Wrath of Man Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Wrath of Man Blu-ray Movie Review

Follow the money.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III July 11, 2021

Guy Ritchie's Wrath of Man continues the director's recent return to form that started with 2019's The Gentlemen. This stylish and smartly constructed action-thriller stars Jason Statham as Patrick Hill, a recent hire at Fortico Security Group whose excellent credentials outshine his first week of training, where he skates by with a rating just barely good enough to pass. During his first assignment, "H" -- a code name given to him by training officer Haiden "Bullet" Blaire (Holt McCallany) -- shocks his partner Dave "Boy Sweat" Hancock (Josh Hartnett) with expert marksmanship and quick thinking, both of which saves his team's life from armed robbers. The higher-ups at Fortico are obviously surprised at his abilities -- enough to warrant a little background investigation, of course -- but they're just happy for the help, as a violent robbery several months ago left two Fortico guards dead along with at least one innocent civilian.

What starts off as a linear story turns out to be anything but, as Wrath of Man unfolds in four successive chapters that, among other things, depict that fateful robbery from several different perspectives, including a group of ex-soldiers led by platoon sergeant Jackson (Jeffrey Donovan). To discuss any of these separated but connected perspectives at great length would spoil the way in which Wrath of Man weaves its interesting narrative, but one thing's for sure: "H" is not who he appears to be, and he's not the only one with skeletons in the closet. It's the kind of film that almost demands a second viewing, and if you're like me you'll probably watch it again as soon as the credits roll. It's visceral enough to make a strong impact the first time through and accessible enough to follow, but successive viewings reveal early clues and subtle hints that reveal Wrath of Man as more than a simple, straightforward narrative chopped up just for show. There's a sense of purpose to its technique and, combined with its strong fundamentals, make Wrath of Man feel like a durable production that instantly recalls modern heist classics like The Town, Ronin, and of course, Michael Mann's Heat.

Performances here are mostly top-notch. Statham obviously leaves quite an impression (most of us forgot how good he is in "serious mode"), although a handful of supporting performances steal more than a few scenes as well. Perhaps the biggest standout is Holt McCallany (Fight Club, The Losers), who's perfect in his role and really gets a chance to shine during the film's lengthy and violent climax, a highly organized heist of several Fortico "cash trucks" on Black Friday. The least impressive showing was Scott Eastwood, a prominent member of the ex-soldier group who, like Holt McCallany's character, proves to a major factor in the film's home stretch. (He's fine enough, I guess, but just doesn't seem like a perfect fit for top-level villainy.) Even so, Wrath of Man is loaded with characters and, considering the film's non-linear narrative, most of them make a solid impact and are strongly represented enough to make this a film that's not "action first, emotion second". At the root of it all is "H" and a personal tragedy that's revealed slowly and surely, building to a very satisfying end point that, while not necessarily upbeat, feels like a fitting end to what comes before. It's all tied together with excellent cinematography by Alan Stewart and a terrific original score by Chris Benstead, a frequent collaborator of Ritchie; both of these elements help to separate Wrath of Man from its contemporaries while not feeling like too much of a departure from what made them great.

Sadly, Warner Bros. has not exactly gone all-out in giving Wrath of Man the extra attention it deserves on home video. While this is certainly a good looking and sounding disc, a separate 4K option has not been offered and it's completely devoid of bonus features -- complaints that don't apply to at least two current and forthcoming international releases. It's just another sad turn of events for the once-leading studio, who in recent months has all but completely ignored films that weren't enormous box-office draws.

Wrath of Man Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Although Warner Bros. has again not offered Wrath of Man as a 4K disc (an international 4K release is forthcoming, and linked below), this Blu-ray will get the job done for those unequipped for the newer format. This is a largely pleasing 1080p transfer with excellent color saturation and a real commitment to image detail, none more so than ultra tight close-ups and any of its countless establishing shots in and around Los Angeles. The majority of the film combines dominant earth tones and cooler blues, whether on one of many overcast days or in dimly-lit offices and warehouse. As such, colors are primarily muted with key exceptions, such as the fluorescent oranges and yellows of construction uniforms and gear, bright neons during at least one scene of the Fortico employees relaxing with beer and billiards, the bright flame of a blowtorch, city lights at night, and a colorful burrito truck visited by Statham's character moments before disaster strikes. A few specific style flourishes, such as a bright white flash and slow-motion sequence featured during the opening robbery, are preserved perfectly. All told, everything looks polished and well-balanced with no glaring digital imperfections aside from faint banding -- during at least two slow fade-ins, as well as the foggy aftermath of a gas bomb -- and black crush that creeps into a few of the film's darkest scenes. But this dual-layered disc is up to the challenge in all other respects and, considering the format's shortcomings in comparison to 4K, it's a best-case scenario under the circumstances. But I'd still have loved to see Wrath of Man in true 4K, as the film seems tailor-made for that higher resolution with ample opportunities to show off HDR color grading.

Wrath of Man Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio tells a similar tale, in that it's certainly good enough for most but still falls a little short of its true potential. Case in point: Wrath of Man earned a 7.1 mix for theaters but this Blu-ray rolls it back to DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio. It's a perfectly serviceable track, to be sure, with crystal-clear dialogue and punchy directional effects, not to mention a very full sound stage in more expansive locales with great support for the original score by Chris Benstead, a frequent collaborator of Guy Ritchie. Still, I've got a feeling that the rear-channel elements could've been tightening up during key moments, not to mention several opportunities where a full-blown Dolby Atmos mix could've been put to good use. Don't get me wrong: it's still a decent enough track that, depending on your setup, might even be a pretty ideal compromise. However... Warner Bros.' continuous habit of mucking around with original audio mixes earns at least a solid half-point deduction, and maybe more.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature, as well as a Descriptive Audio track.

Wrath of Man Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This one-disc release arrives in an eco-friendly keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork and a Digital Copy slip. Bafflingly, no special features are included here, although other region releases -- including this one from Canada -- have a few tidbits. It's pretty sad when a major studio abandons what made them great in the past.

Wrath of Man Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Guy Ritchie's Wrath of Man is a largely satisfying return to form for both the director and star Jason Statham who, in recent years, have been mostly content with utter garbage or goofy nonsense. It's not a perfect effort but much closer to what most fans probably want out of them. While even you-know-what didn't totally destroy the film's theatrical run, this one clearly deserved a better showing than its domestic box office sales suggest. Tell that to Warner Bros, though: their home video treatment is beyond underwhelming with no bonus features, theatrical 7.1 audio mix, or UHD option. If you're not equipped for 4K it's passable at best; otherwise, I'd probably wait for this one instead.