Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Ted Crawford brutally murders his wife and calmly waits for the police to arrest him. With the weapon and a signed confession in hand, Deputy D.A., Willy Beachum, believes a conviction is a slam dunk; that is until the case completely unravels. Now, with little evidence, Beachum goes head to head with the cunning Mr. Crawford in a desperate search for the truth and the answer to one burning question: How is this guy getting away with murder.

Cat and Mouse films are few and far between and this one is a gem. Hopkins is great as the clever engineer who shoots his cheating wife, giving the illusion that the case is closed for police. But the twists ensue as soon as the trial starts and keeps the film going at a great pace. I had actually seen this movie before this review but still found myself captivated and almost guessing as to how it might end, despite seeing it before!

New Line delivers a great looking HD presentation for this one. The film isn’t that old and benefits from being a newer film print. Fine detail is excellent throughout and the image displays a healthy sense of depth and dimension. Contrast is exceptional, with plenty of deep blacks and shadow detail, and really goes a long way with the film’s dimensionality.

The TrueHD mix gives some excitement to the film and delivers a very spatial design considering the genre. Plenty of moody atmosphere and surround envelopment really add to the experience of the film. Dynamic range is good but this isn’t an aggressive mix. Dialogue sounds very natural in tone and timbre and imaging is consistent throughout.

Extras include some alternate endings, deleted scenes and the trailer.

I was hoping to see this one earlier on in the format but I’m glad New Line finally delivered it. It’s a fresh thriller with great performances and the presentation here is excellent. Recommended.