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| Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jared Leto, Ethan Hawke, Ian Holm, Bridget
Moynahan Directed by: Andrew Niccol |
Theatrical Release: 2005
DVD Release: 2006
Released by: Lions Gate Home Entertainment Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen |
| Early Cage  Quick, name the sports movie: a scrappy
underdog with more determination than talent gets a shot at the big time and, after a few
setbacks (and a training montage), manages not only to hold his own against the big boys
but to beat them in a last-minute show of guts and grit. Rocky? The Natural?
Maybe it's Tin Cup or The Hustler or even The Cutting Edge. Maybe it
is every sports movie ever made, because we just can't get enough of losers who win.
In this case, it is the story of world-champion sculler Ned
Hanlan. It's the late 19th century, and Ned spends his days racing scull and his nights
ferrying moonshine around the bay. When the police come knocking, Ned takes the
opportunity to flee south to the States, where his troubles really begin.
The Boy in Blue is not a bad movie; it's just
unimpressive. It's Chariots of Fire in a boat, with nothing much to recommend it
other than a good early performance from Nicolas Cage, who manages to carry the film on
his often-shirtless shoulders.
Because this is such an unimportant movie, no doubt
released to capitalize on the popularity of Lord of War, Twentieth Century Fox Home
Entertainment didn't waste much effort on its release. The disc is a flipper, with
widescreen on one side, full screen on the other and no special features anywhere to be
found.
...Josh Barber
joshb@hometheatersound.com |
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Yuri Orlav (Cage) is a Ukrainian expatriate whose family
has immigrated to Brighton Beach, New York, and runs a restaurant. Yuri is trying to find
a way to get more out of life. His answer comes when he witnesses a gun battle between
local mobsters. He realizes that people will always want to kill each other and that there
must be some way to turn that primal need into cash. Welcome to the glamorous and
lucrative world of international arms smuggling!
Shut out of the big leagues of gun running by its old
guard, Yuri is barely turning a profit until one event changes everything: the fall of the
Soviet Union. There is a sudden surplus of guns and a shortage of people to watch over
them. With his uncle, a general in the Ukraine, Yuri starts moving Russian-made weapons
all over the world. In pursuit is Interpol agent Jack Valentine (Ethan Hawke), who knows
Yuri is breaking the law, but needs proof.
Lord of War isn't a comedy but a dark, often
depressing satire with an ending that will knock your feet out from under you. You'll
learn a lot of what goes on behind the scenes of the world's hot spots and see how easily
laws are skirted.
The story takes us to new and interesting locations. A
bombed-out back alley in Beirut, for example. Each port of call gets its own color scheme.
Although the cinematography in the original film is beautiful, the disc just doesn't do it
justice. In a few scenes the image is so dark that you can't really tell what's going on.
Though Lord of War was shot at 2.40:1, it was
originally released to DVD with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. When Lions Gate went back for a new
pressing, they restored the original ratio. Be sure to check the back of the package to
see which version you are getting.
The sound quality is good; the dialogue, music and effects
come through clearly. There is plenty of gunfire, so your speakers will get some room to
play. It's the unexpected that really works: a sudden explosion or a jet that seems to
come out of nowhere with a rumble through the rear surrounds. It is a shame that such
wonderful sound is attached to such a sub-par video presentation.
Lord of War was released in two editions: this
completely bare-bones single-disc version and a two-disc Special Edition. The only special
features on the single are a few trailers and a bit of animation on the menu screen. The
Special Edition, however, gives you an audio commentary from Andrew Niccol, a "making
of" feature, a look at the real world of arms dealers, trailers, deleted scenes and a
photo gallery. Though it was overlooked in theaters, Lord of War is worth watching.
Rent the single-disc version to see if this is your type of movie, and if it is, buy the
Special Edition, especially since it costs very little more. |
