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    • BLU-RAY REVIEW

    Contraband

    Featured In Issue 167, May/June 2012

    Picture3
    Sound5
    WSR Score4
    Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
    (Studio/Distributor):
    Universal Studios Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number):
    61120860
    (MPAA Rating):
    R
    (Rating Reason):
    Violence, pervasive language and brief drug use
    (Retail Price):
    $34.98
    (Disc Type):
    Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
    (Widescreen Edition):
    Yes
    (Full Screen Edition):
    No
    (Running Time In Minutes):
    110
    (Color Type):
    Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access):
    Yes
    (Closed Captioned):
    Yes
    (Regional Coding):
    Not Indicated
    (Theatrical Year):
    2012
    (Theatrical Release):
    Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release):
    No
    (Disc Release Date):
    04/24/12
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):
    No
    (Director):
    Baltasar Kormakur
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers):
    (Co-Producers):
    (Producers):
    (Academy Awards):
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
    (Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
    (Disc Soundtrack):
    DTS HD Lossless 5.1, DTS 5.1
    (Theatrical Sound):
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (DTS Bit Rate):
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
    (Additional Languages):
    (French Language):
    (Spanish Language):
    (Chinese Language):
    (Subtitles):
    (Cantonese Language):
    (Mandarin Language):
    (Japanese Language):
    (Italian Language):
    (German Language):
    (Portuguese Language):

    In Contraband, legendary international smuggler Chris Farraday (Wahlberg) has left his criminal past behind to be with his wife (Beckinsale) and sons. When a ruthless drug kingpin (Ribisi) threatens his family, Farraday must summon his old skills and contacts for one last run. Based on the film Reykjavik-Rotterdam written by Arnaldur Indridason and Oskar Jonasson. (Gary Reber)

    Special features include commentary with Director/Producer Baltasar Kormakur and Producer Evan Hayes, the featurettes Under The Radar (HD 17:02) and Reality Factor (HD 07:56), 12 deleted scenes (HD 06:24), up-front previews, D-BOX® Motion Code™, BD-Live functionality, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

    The 2.35:1 1080p AVC picture is extremely dark with a rough, raw stylized filmic appearance. Contrast is crushed throughout, with indistinguishable black levels and poor shadow delineation. The color palette is desaturated with suppressed hues. Due to the extreme darkness, resolution suffers. The exterior daylight scenes fair better but still are roughly photographed. This may have been a creative call, but the picture exhibits poor dynamic image quality. (Gary Reber)

    The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel is well crafted, with a dynamic presence, with aggressively directionalized soundfield envelopment. Atmospherics and sound effects, especially gunfire, sound real, with panned sonics in every direction during shootout sequences. The synthesized and orchestral music score is rhythmic and immersive. Then there's the Orleans's blues music that is quite engaging. Deep bass extension is solid with, at times, sub-25 Hz response. Dialogue sounds natural and generally well integrated spatially. This is a dynamically powerful soundtrack that delivers a lot of excitement. (Gary Reber)

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