Extras:

• (none)

 

The Film: 6
It's a movie that has promise: John Frankenheimer directing in what would be his last feature film; Charlize Theron (3 years before her Oscar turn in Monster), Gary Sinise (Of Mice and Men and Forrest Gump well behind him and CSI: NY just a few years ahead). On the other hand, there's the altogether too lovely Ben Affleck and the unreliable Ehren Kruger (who scripted Arlington Road and Scream 3).

There's a scene not far into the movie where Rudy (Affleck) and Ashley (Theron) are getting acquainted at a roadside café. Rudy has just finished a five-year stretch for auto theft. Ashley has been a pen pal to Rudy's cellmate, Nick (James Frain) for long enough for Rudy to fall in love with her. When Nick falls victim in a knife fight, Rudy decides to take his place once outside and connect with the girl of both their dreams. Nick had photos of Ashley, but was reluctant to reciprocate, so Ashley ought not recognize Rudy is really not Nick. Anyway, they have this conversation where they confess how each thought the other would find themselves unattractive. Mind you, these are Charlize and Affleck.

I don't think the scene is meant to be funny, but it certainly goes some way to make sure we are not credibly disposed – until the arrival shortly thereafter of Gary Sinise, all wild-haired and angry as hell that Rudy would have the chutzpah to nail his sister and then try to deny he's really Nick. It actually plays better than it sounds because Sinise is so wonderfully sinister and deranged – that is, until there are one or two too many twists that end up undermining what Kruger spent so much trouble setting up.

Without giving away anything crucial, the gist of the plot is that Gabriel expects Rudy (now, at the point of gun, having admitted he is Nick after all) to help him and his gang of low life thugs to break into a casino that Nick worked for just before being sent up – Nick knowing where the safe is and all the security protocols and such. All Rudy wants to do is go home and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with his family.
 

Coming to 4K UHD in Kino, HERE, in January 2025

Image: 4/8    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.
The first number indicates a relative level of excellence compared to other Blu-ray video discs on a ten-point scale. The second number places this image along the full range of DVD and Blu-ray discs.

The image is properly destaurated, with a flattened contrast and a cool blue color cast. It is also perceptibly oversharpened, perhaps to make up for the flat contrast. The bit rate for the AVC codec spends a lot of time in the teens before settling into the low-20s for most of the movie. Note especially that the original 2.35:1 image is cropped to 1.78:1.

Operations: 1
The only menu operation this disc offers is a choice of language/audio options. Not so much as a chapter menu, which makes it especially difficult if you want to locate an earlier scene.

Extras: 0
Zip!

Bottom line: 2
Whatever we might think of the movie, I should hasten to point out that this is not the "Director's Cut" which is some 20 minutes longer and in 2.35:1. This Blu-ray being 1.85:1 rules out this version before it gets out of the case.