Smokin' Aces Blu-ray

Smokin' Aces

 (2006)

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller



Mob boss Primo Sparazza has taken out a hefty contract on Buddy "Aces" Israel--a sleazy magician who has agreed to turn state's evidence against the Vegas mob. The FBI, sensing a chance to use this small-time con to bring down big-target Sparazza, places Aces into protective custody-under the supervision of two agents dispatched to Aces' Lake Tahoe hideout. When word of the price on Aces' head spreads into the community of ex-cons and cons-to-be, it entices bounty hunters, thugs-for-hire, deadly vixens and double-crossing mobsters to join in the hunt. With all eyes on Tahoe, this rogues' gallery collides in a comic race to hit the jackpot and rub out Aces.

For more details about Smokin' Aces on Blu-ray, see the Smokin' Aces Blu-ray Review

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta
Director: Joe Carnahan

Smokin' Aces Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Though brimming with gorgeous shots and memorable photography, Smokin' Aces is not a pretty film. Aggressive greens and oranges negate primary punches, skintones flare and fade as rapidly as Carnahan's edits, bottomless shadows swallow anything that approaches them, whites bloom and colors burst. However, Universal's 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer is incredibly true to its source, deftly handling Carnahan's most sordid intentions with confidence and poise. Mauro Fiore's stark palette looks exactly as it should; exactly as it did in theaters. Contrast is bold and blacks are oh-so-inky, lending depth to an image that could have easily flattened out. Detail is sharp, refined and revealing; any intermittent softness that haunts the screen should be attributed to the original print, not the studio's presentation. Likewise, fine textures are exceedingly crisp and delineation, though difficult to pierce, is faithful to the director's vision. DNR and edge enhancement are nowhere to be found, and it doesn't appear as if the image has been tampered with since it left Carnahan's hands. Brief bursts of faint artifacts dot the unforgiving Lake Tahoe skies, but significant macroblocking, aliasing, crush, unidentifiable noise, and ringing are apparently busy elsewhere, ruining the transfers of other, less proficient releases. Fans of the film will be ecstatic when they see the results.

Smokin' Aces Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Between Clint Mansell's score, Carnahan's thundering edits, and the Tremor Brothers' patented arsenal of death and dismemberment, Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track has a lot on its plate; a teetering plate it balances without incident. Dialogue is crisp, clean, and naturally grounded in the center channel, dancing a perfectly prioritized dervish with the chaos and insanity that tends to ensue the moment a gun is drawn. LFE output is weighty and persistent, infusing every boom and thoom with raw, unadulterated power. Rear speaker activity is brisk and lively, using heightened acoustics and ambient prowess to create an immersive, strangely convincing soundfield. It doesn't sound "real," so to speak, but it matches the intensity and surreality of a very bloody game of assassins' chess. Directionality is spot on and pans are polished as well. Bullets ricochet in every direction, sniper shots tear across the soundfield, and the crowded halls of the Lake Tahoe casino are continually seasoned with distant explosions and gunfire. It isn't the most subtle mix I've heard, nor the most realistic, but it is a memorable sonic storm that enhances Carnahan's overwhelming assault on the senses.

Smokin' Aces Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Smokin' Aces Joins its Sequel on Blu-ray in January - October 31, 2009

Smokin' Aces Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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