Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Alliance Atlantis

Video: Alliance Atlantis Home Video

 

Disc:

Region: 'A'-locked (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:56:35.738

Disc Size: 30,338,572,226 bytes

Feature Size: 27,671,820,288 bytes

Video Bitrate: 25.00 Mbps

Chapters: 16

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: March 9th, 2010

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio French 3972 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3972 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Commentaries:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio French 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB / Dolby Surround

 

Subtitles:

French for the English dialogue, English, French, none

 

Extras:

• Director / Producer Commentary (in English or French)

• Director Intro (in English or French - optional for all supplements)

• 6 Deleted Scenes (12:20) with optional commentary

• Trailers (Teaser, English version, Quebec version and 'Canadian version)

• Tattoo Music video (3:42)

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: A dead body is found draped over the joint "Welcome to Ontario/Bienvenue à Québec" sign. There are obvious jurisdictional issues in investigating this case between the Ontario Provincial Police and la Sûreté du Québec, but neither side really wants the case. Finally, they decide to work on it jointly, with the two officers assigned being straight-laced Martin Ward, the "bon cop", and rough and tumble David Bouchard, the "bad cop". Beyond the organizational and language differences, Ward and Bouchard have different working styles that clash with each other. Despite their differences, they quickly learn that they have to work together to achieve their end goal of finding the killer. As they progress in the case, there are more victims, the similarities being that each is tattooed before and after death - hence the media nicknames the perpetrator The Tattoo Killer - and that the victims are associated with professional hockey. The murders seem to be related to the sale of Canadian hockey franchises to U.S. markets. Ward and Bouchard's job becomes one not only of catching the killer but also anticipating who the next targeted victim will be. But as Ward and Bouchard get closer, the Tattoo Killer begins a personal vendetta against the two police officers and their families.

Excerpt from IMDb located HERE

 

 

The Film:

The drama begins when a corpse is found perched on top of the welcome sign at the Quebec-Ontario border. It’s that police-story cliché: who has jurisdiction? In a characterization that steals liberally from Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon series, Patrick Huard plays David Bouchard, a rebellious Montreal cop who immediately clashes with Martin Ward, a straight-laced Toronto detective played by Colm Feore. One murder follows another, and it soon becomes clear that the serial killer is preying upon members of Toronto’s hockey community. Detectives Bouchard and Ward must overcome their differences and mutual dislike in order to save the day.

Director Canuel really pushes the hockey shtick: the killer wears a goalie mask and likes to hold a stick to the necks of his victims as though it were a butcher knife. Bon Cop Bad Cop is unadulterated fromage, but there’s something admirable about Canuel’s operatic style. The director behind Quebec box-office successes like Le Survenant, La loi du cochon and Nez rouge, Canuel is intent on pushing the boundaries of taste, making this a kitschy roller-coaster ride that revels in buddy-film clichés.

“In a sense, this really isn’t that original,” concedes Canuel during a recent interview at a Montreal sidewalk café, running a hand through his silver hair. “Patrick Huard approached me with the idea. At first it was a cop-buddy flick, but then it took on all these political overtones. Then the idea of a bilingual film became very appealing.”

Excerpt from Matthew Hays at CBC located HERE

 

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

Alliance Atlantis has been known to release some very substandard Blu-rays (ex. their 1.78:1 Se7en, single-layered transfers of From Dusk Till Dawn, Cold Mountain and their Good Will Hunting is interlaced) but this may very well be there best effort to date. Bon Cop, Bad Cop is dual-layered and progressive. Aside from some heavy blue-green bias (which I don't know is not intentional) I thought the presentation was a positive one. The image quality shows some minor grain and detail far exceeds SD. Colors (flesh tones) appear true and contrast is adept. This Blu-ray has a consistent appearance and the print is sparklingly clean. There aren't a lot of instances of depth but overall I was pleased and it gets a passing grade - if, certainly not, at the head of the class.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

Things get a little confusing here - the only lossless track is listed as 'French' - a strong DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3972 kbps but there is plenty of English in it. And the English track appears to have plenty of French. The film, like the country, is bi-lingual... in its presentation (both leads speaking both languages at times). Which is more than fine - we get subtitle options for both but I wager the 'French' track is supposed to be the original. It's not a big deal but for the English subs option you get it for all - French and English dialogue - where, on the other hand, there is an option for French - only translating the English. It's no biggie. There is some decent bass and some surprising range - gunplay and other effects are present and separations are quite good. Things are punctuated with some occasionally aggressive rock and roll. It is not demo material but it suit the film going above the call of duty. My Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'A' locked disc.

 

 

Extras :

We get a decent commentary from the director and producer in the choice of English or French. It is reasonably well-done with some salient points brought up beyond the usual production details. There is also 2.5 minute director introduction - available as a choice of either English or French - 12.5 minutes of 6 deleted (also English or French with optional commentary), some trailers and, finally, a 'Tattoo' Music video. It's nice to see the effort put in - especially by the director. Impressive.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Pretty cute film - and being a Canadian myself I don't feel it is only specific to those of the Canuck persuasion. This has good humor, acting (Feore is always very good - Huard a little hammy) and a decent crime/thriller story. The cool cop/ straight cop has been done many times but never in the Canadian cultural climate (unless they tackled it in Due South) the film is a lot of fun - not always original but still producing a very entertaining night in the home theater - back bacon sandwiches instead of popcorn. 

Gary Tooze

April 26th, 2010