Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Nicolas Cage plays a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is at scoring drugs - while playing fast and loose with the law. He wields his badge as often as he wields his gun in order to get his way. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves. Together they descend into their own world marked by desire, compulsion, and conscience.

This was a bizarre film that ended up being a hit or miss experience for me. I loved the performances by Cage and Mendes, but the tone and approach to the film itself was so different that it left me with a bad aftertaste in my mouth. It has been years since I’ve seen the first film so it is hard to compare, but this one didn’t remind me of the original at all. I would say see it simply to see how good Cage can be when given the material to work with, but the rest is too hard to call.

This is a great looking Blu-ray that looks to be sourced from a digital shot film. Detail is impeccable and I loved the strong contrast and colors. The soundtrack also delivers nicely with impressive dynamics and a very enveloping soundstage. The dialogue is always crisp and clear and imaging never disappoints.

Extras include a photo gallery from onset along with some production features that take a look behind the scenes of the film. The trailer is also included.

While full of great performance, this film left me flat as a whole. It journeys into some bizarre areas before it ends and seems like it could have used a bit more focus. The Blu-ray delivers the goods nicely though with a gorgeous transfer, so if you’re going to see it, this is the way.