Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Williams delivers a riveting and heart-felt performance as a young wife and mother who suffers a devastating loss in the attack...which occurs while she's meeting her secret lover. Wracked with guilt and trying to piece her shattered life back together, she becomes embroiled in the police investigation of the attack - and discovers that the authorities will do anything to cover up the terrifying truth behind it.

I had never heard of this film before receiving it for review and given the talent involved I’m surprised this wasn’t released wide here in the states. The film features a spectacular performance by Williams who plays a woman who loses her husband and son to a suicide bombing at a soccer game. The plot thickens as her lover, who was supposed to be at the game as well, stumbles onto some evidence into more that was going on at the game. The film paints a personal picture on the effects of terrorism and tries to show the singular effect on a person rather than the blunt trauma of mass casualties. A very moving drama.

The HD presentation is solid with only a few quirks noticed. Some of the backdrops are done with CG and this causes some obvious digital artifacts around the live photography, mainly in the form of jaggies and light blocking. I only noticed it a few times, but it pops up on occasion. The rest of the film looks great with plenty of rich fine detail and a good sense of dimension. Colors are slightly muted but contrast levels are strong and help with the depth of image.

The soundtrack is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio and despite the one event of the film, this is a rather subtle soundtrack. The film’s score does a great job with the mood and atmosphere and the film’s dialogue sounds very natural in tone and balance. I didn’t notice some strain in one sequence when the actors where talking in the wind, but it was brief. The surrounds do a good job of opening up the soundstage and add a touch of ambiance to the mix.

Extras are limited to the trailer and a still gallery for the film.

This is a very moving drama that I’m surprised hasn’t been given much attention. Michelle Williams gives a solid performance and Image has done a good job with the Blu-ray presentation. Easily worth a rental.