Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Four cops down: two dead, two likely. An NYPD drug bust has gone horribly wrong, and Detective Ray Tierney heads the investigating task force. He already has ties to this case. His brother was commander of the ambushed officers. His brother-in-law, a fellow officer, often partnered with them. The more Ray uncovers, the more those family ties are tested. And the more the fraternal order starts to fray.

I really feel sorry for this production. The film kept getting pushed back before its rather quiet theatrical release and the trailers made it out to be a predictable cop thriller that had been done so many times before. But this was one of the better cop thrillers I’ve seen in quite some time with really strong performances from all involved and great direction. The film has plenty of twists and turns and a very authentic feel, which is a rarity in this genre. The story is gripping and the intensity of the film really turns up in the second half. If you’re at all a fan of great cop thrillers, this is a must see in my opinion.

I was a bit worried when I saw a runtime of just over two hours plus a one hour documentary all stuck on a single sided Blu-ray disc. Warner seems to be favoring BD-25 discs more than any other studio and unfortunately this is shortchanging quite a few of their releases. Thankfully this one still holds up quite well in the presentation department. The image has a nicely detailed look with a very film-like quality. The image is strong in contrast with inky blacks and bluish whites and fine detail is preserved nicely. Overall dimension is good but not quite as impressive as some other more recent films I’ve seen but the sense of depth in the image is excellent. Color is a bit muted but it is obvious this is the intention of the director and it really lends to the overall feel of the film.

The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is excellent with nice dynamic range and a gripping score that really locks you in for the ride. Low bass extension is impressive at times but I was really taken with the force of the gunshots and the clarity of the action sequences. The mix has a very strong front soundstage that is wide open with nice extension to the sidewalls. Surrounds play their part too with plenty of directional cues and ambiance. Dialogue always sounds natural and I didn’t notice any strain.

Extras are limited to a documentary on the film’s production that includes a lot of personal DV cam footage from the director as he talks about his day to day experiences and the headaches involved with making this film the way he wanted to. This also includes a lot of onset footage and interviews with the cast and crew.

This is a really great addition to the genre and a strong movie from start to finish. Warner has done a great job with the presentation making this a strong recommendation for fans of great cop thrillers. Definitely recommended.