Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

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Audio:

• 'Interview with Vincent D'Onofrio (2:19)

• Previews

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Description: In the shadow of Manhattan, the lives of three ambitious men intersect when Sully, a dim-witted septic tank cleaner, decides to rob $50,000 from the local mob boss. Starring Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofio, Seymour Cassel and Julianne Nicholson. Directed by James DeMonaco.

Sully Halverson is a septic tank cleaner who is desperate to give his unborn son the chance he never had. Jasper Sabiano is a deaf-mute deli worker who wants to escape the mobsters that have infiltrated his life and business. Parmie Tarzo, is a local mob boss, who dreams of crushing the competition and becoming infamous any way he can. These three men have two things in common they are all searching for better lives and they all live in Staten Island - the forgotten borough of New York City. Once their lives intersect, nothing will ever be the same.

 

 

The Film:

Auds may feel a sense of deja vu while watching the blackly comic crime thriller "Staten Island," which, given its tripartite structure and Ethan Hawke's role as a screw-up, could have been titled "Before the Devil Knows You've Changed Boroughs." Still, there's enough originality and verve in writer-helmer James DeMonaco's debut to make for compelling viewing. Although firmly embedded in Gotham's suburbs, the pic's quirky blend of striking violence and unembarrassed sentimentality betokens strong influence from French co-producer Luc Besson, whose Europa Corp. will release "Staten" in Gaul this March. Offshore, the pic could board the ferry to moderate biz.

 

Structurally reminiscent of, most immediately, Sidney Lumet's late masterwork "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" -- and going further back, "Pulp Fiction," "Sin City," "Amores perros" and any number of pics with nonlinear, Venn-diagrammatic plots -- "Staten Island" pivots around a superficially inconsequential but emotionally charged scene in a deli, where the pic's three main characters all meet before the action jumps back and forth to show what happened before that moment and what will happen after it.

Excerpt from Leslie Felperin at Variety located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.
 

I don't believe we have ever reviewed a disc from NEM (National Entertainment Media) before. This Blu-ray has some notable weaknesses - first and foremost it is 1080i (interlaced - see last large capture). Secondly, it is single-layered with only about double the feature disc size of a dual-layered DVD. The bitrate is equally as modest. While the image quality is lackluster - there are a few pluses. Detail and colors are acceptable while contrast is a shade weak and noise exists in monochromatic backgrounds with black levels occasionally crushed. The Blu-ray package still has a few redeeming features - the film itself, the audio (see below) and the price - 44% OFF at the writing of this review - actually a dollar less than the simultaneously released DVD. Some will find it definitely worthy of a spin.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interlacing

 

 

The DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at 3762 kbps handles all that Staten Island throws at it with relative ease. There is some aggressive violence with a few subtleties reaching the rear speakers. It's no demo when it comes to depth or range but I suspect that it is faithfully replicating the theatrical audio experience. There are optional English or Spanish subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

BOTTOM LINE:
I had some enjoyment with this black comedy. North American penchant for the Mafiaso world is still thriving with voyeuristic strength. Unfortunately, the timing may be off for this brand of cheap-mob entertainment and many could find it somewhat tiresome. Links to the superior "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" are appropriate. The Blu-ray has some significant weaknesses - but is hard to not justify a spin - based on the lead actors alone - for only $13.99. That seems a perfect price although I wouldn't endorse for a penny more. Buy at your own discretion.