Body of Lies Blu-ray

Warner Bros. | 2008 | 128 mins | Rated R | Feb 17, 2009

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Video Video codec: VC-1 Video resolution: 1080p Aspect ratio: 2.40:1 Audio English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English: Dolby Digital 5.1 French: Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1... (more) English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 English: Dolby Digital 5.1 French: Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1 (less) Subtitles English, French, Spanish, Portuguese English, French, Spanish, Portuguese (less) Disc 50GB Blu-ray Disc Digital copy BD-Live

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Body of Lies Blu-ray Review

Sharp writing and strong performances deliver the goods...

Hotheaded method actor Russell Crowe and acclaimed director Ridley Scott (of Blade Runner and Alien fame) have forged quite a partnership over the last decade. Crowe's commitment to his craft and Scott's precise vision have been a perfect match, allowing the award-winning collaborators to charge through lavish productions, forgotten history, and controversial subject matter with great success. After inspiring a Roman revolution and taking home Oscar gold with Gladiator, the pair tackled love and prosperity in A Good Year, the rough-n-tumble criminal underworld of '70s Harlem in American Gangster, and, most recently, the disconnect between American and Middle Eastern interests in Body of Lies.

Crowe and DiCaprio's tense and oft-times amusing banter injects life into the proceedings...

Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), an undercover CIA agent working in Jordan, turns tragedy into opportunity when a botched assignment nets him precious intel concerning a terrorist cell led by an elusive mastermind named Al-Saleem (Alon Abutbul). Reporting directly to his supervisor at Langley, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), and working to maintain a shaky relationship with the Chief of Jordanian Intelligence, Hani (Rocknrolla's Mark Strong), Ferris struggles to appease both men, stop a recent outbreak of global terrorist attacks, and keep his head on his shoulders (quite literally). Caught between two warring factions and two diverse cultures, Ferris devises a clever plan he hopes will trap Al-Saleem, satisfy Hoffman's demands, and strengthen Hani's trust in his countrymen.

Body of Lies manages to rise above the genre fray with the help of screenwriter William Monahan's unconventional script and Crowe, DiCaprio, and Strong's electric performances. Ferris isn't simply a brash upstart; he has a keen sense of the situation, respect for Hani's authority and culture, and a distinct understanding of his own duty. Hoffman, on the other hand, is lazy, self-centered, and pushy; a man who constantly ignores cultural sensitivities in favor of blunt shock and awe. His encounters with Ferris dabble in the debate at the heart of American involvement in the Middle East. The two allies never turn on each other (as one might expect after watching the misleading theatrical trailers), but their constant bickering illuminates the internal arguments that have embroiled US agencies and officials for decades. Their's is a particularly refreshing relationship that defies the typical trappings of geopolitical thrillers and leads to plenty of exciting exchanges. Hani is the world-weary power-player caught between Ferris and Hoffman's differing methodologies; a man whose interest in his homeland far outweighs his need to engage in global politics. It's this trio of characters and performances that grabs hold of the story and molds it into a different beast entirely.

Thankfully, Scott and Monahan make few attempts to disguise their political agenda. While I'm sure some filmfans will interpret the filmmakers' analysis of the crisis as a petty criticism of the Bush administration's international policies (or lack thereof), both storytellers go to great lengths to focus on the cultural tug-of-war that continues to keep the world at odds. There's always a force who wants things their way, always a force who longs to reach a middle-ground, and always a force content with protecting personal interests. It's Scott and Monahan's experiments with these three philosophies that allow the film to emerge as a rare and effective political morality tale; a study of exactly what perpetuates conflict and what helps to subvert it. Unfortunately, Body of Lies stumbles upon reaching these lofty heights with a few tired developments. After incorporating a contrived romance into the story, fumbling around with the film's pacing, and devising a fairly anticlimactic closer, the filmmakers lose their grasp on what could have made the film so wholly and utterly unique.

Fleeting flaws and missed opportunities aside, Body of Lies works on several fundamental levels. It soars as a tense, action-packed thriller, earns legitimate laughs with a surprising dose of humor, and pits three fantastic performers against each other in a game of wits and lives. The film may occasionally meander and get lost in its own tangential subplots, but I still found myself enjoying it from beginning to end.

Video

Body of Lies barrels onto Blu-ray with a striking 1080p/VC-1 transfer that would be a perfect, reference-quality presentation if not for the use of some at-times glaring artificial sharpening. More on that later. Scott's skewed palette and overheated contrast results in stark, vivid visuals that quickly establish the comfort of Hoffman's cushy American digs and the chaos of Ferris' dangerous Middle Eastern stomping grounds. Regardless of the locale, primaries remain vibrant, blacks are flawless, and the image boasts considerable depth. I hesitate to toss out the term "picture window effect," but that's exactly what I encountered throughout the film. Detail practically reaches out and slaps you in the face -- whether rendering shattering rubble, facial hair, rusty grooves on a passing car, or the smallest text on a distant laptop, the transfer captures every inch of the image with crisp textures and impeccable clarity. Delineation falters a bit when Scott employs dense shadows in his seediest sets, but it's clear from his aesthetic style that any such shortcomings are completely intentional. Thankfully, the image is clean and stable. A fine veneer of grain is present at all times, but I didn't catch sight of any significant artifacting, source clutter, or oppressive noise reduction. Slight banding appears in a few minor shots (a helicopter landing in particular), but each instance was quite negligible.

The quality of the transfer makes the frequent use of edge enhancement all the more disappointing. While it's certainly not the worst I've seen (and will escape most viewers), some shots have an artificial sheen that undermines Scott's efforts. Even so (curse my hypocritical heart), it's tough to get too worked up over the EE when Body of Lies otherwise offers such a gorgeous transfer. Without the unnecessary sharpening, the transfer would have probably nabbed top marks from me. As it stands, it will wow all but the most hardened videophiles while falling oh-so-short of perfection.

Audio

If your wife and kids are asleep upstairs, you may want to find a better time to watch Body of Lies. Warner goes for the jugular with a robust Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track that handled deafening explosions, ear-splitting gunfire, and frenetic car chases with a polished and powerful swagger. Dialogue is crystal clear and perfectly prioritized -- lines are only lost when Scott wants them to disappear beneath his furious soundscape. The LFE channel never took a break, enhancing the distant hum of traffic and crowd noise in the quietest scenes and completely loosing itself during the action beats that erupt at regular intervals. Rumbling thooms and abrupt booms brought my arm hair to attention, drawing me into Ferris' experiences and elevating the sense of dread that permeates the film. The rear speakers keep busy as well, folding layers of subtle ambience into the Middle Eastern locales, enhancing the varying acoustics of apartments and torture rooms, and allowing the run-n-gun sequences to envelop the listener in chaos. Several subdued conversational scenes don't offer the same level of full immersion, but it doesn't detract from the overall impact of the track.

It all comes together with transparent pans, achingly precise directionality, and a series of throttled dynamics. If I have any complaint, it's that the film's musical score has been pushed too far into the background. Action scenes bring it hurtling forward, but intimate character interactions are often louder than the accompanying music. Nitpicks aside, Body of Lies sounds fantastic. Just watch don't watch it when the fam's trying to sleep.

Supplements

The Blu-ray edition of Body of Lies features a generous collection of special features, all of which are presented in high definition. More importantly, Warner has packed far more supplemental content onto the BD than the standard DVD. Interviews, deleted scenes, and more focus point featurettes... all exclusives that give fans a deeper, richer glimpse into the film's production.

• Audio Commentary: Director Ridley Scott, screenwriter William Monahan, and author David Ignatus discuss the original book, its adaptation, casting, location scouting, the shoot itself, and the tone and message points of the story and film. Scott is definitely the most interesting contributor of the three, but the entire track is so dry that it's tough to slog through in one sitting. Dry and flat, the participants have been recorded separately and aren't privy to the liveliness and fluidity of a group chat. Ah well, if you enjoyed the film you'll probably enjoy the trio's winding thoughts on US politics, the current crisis in the Middle East, and the manner in which topical issues were massaged into the film.
• Deconstructing Body of Lies (HD, 85 minutes): A series of nine extensive production featurettes that can be accessed in one of three ways -- selecting individual segments, watching a full-length documentary, or engaging an interactive Focus Points track that prompts you to click on-screen icons during the film. Uneasy Alliance introduces Hoffman and Ferris, Foreign Relations focuses on Ferris and Aisha, The Color of Toast is a costume and production design short, Master of the Craft explores Ridley Scott's efforts, Safe Haven winds through Morocco, Controlled Hostility documents the film's stuntwork and special effects, Safe House and The Terrible Room examine two key set pieces, and Author Provocateur digs into David Ignatius' book and career.
• Interactive Debriefing (HD, 19 minutes): While its menu is clumsy and overcomplicated, this jumble of interview bits gives Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe, and Leonardo DiCaprio the opportunity to discuss the story and characters, the collaborative nature of the project, and the film's distinct plot points and themes.
• Deleted Scenes & Alternate Ending (HD, 15 minutes): The four cuts Scott selected for this release wouldn't have added much to the final film, but as far as I'm concerned, the original ending was a bit better than the one used in theaters.
• BD-Live Functionality
• Digital Copy Disc

Body of Lies is a tense action thriller that boasts strong performances, stunning cinematography, and a sharp script. While it rises and falls in much the same ways Peter Berg's The Kingdom did, it nevertheless kept my attention and earned my respect. The Blu-ray release of the film is even better. A near-perfect video transfer, a powerful TrueHD audio track, and a generous collection of supplements (that include multiple exclusives) make it easy to recommend. I doubt everyone will enjoy Body of Lies as much as I did, but this disc will definitely impress fans, critics, and newcomers alike.



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