Reindeer Games Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Reindeer Games" on Blu-ray by Lionsgate and Miramax features an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, which unfortunately falls short of professional standards for high-definition transfers. The film, predominantly set in dark environments, suffers greatly from inconsistent black levels, persistent crush, and a near-total absence of shadow detail, leading to a murky and muddy visual experience, especially during darker scenes. While the transfer gets closer to the original aspect ratio than previous releases, it fails to redeem itself due to the overwhelming digital sharpening that introduces notable haloing and gives the image a harsh, digitized look.

In brighter, naturally-lit sequences, there is a slight improvement, but it is undermined by a pervasive ice-blue filter that robs the image of fine detail and contributes to an overall softness. The transfer showcases excessive digital noise reduction (DNR), resulting in an unnaturally clean print that strips away textures and details. This excessive processing leaves character faces looking unnatural and textureless. On the positive side, the transfer features vibrant and richly saturated colors, particularly the reds, which contrast well against the snowy backdrops. Despite these color highlights, the presentation's overall sharpness is lacking due to significant edge enhancement, creating an artificial look that fails to utilize Blu-ray's true potential for high-definition content.

Ultimately, while the print is largely free from dirt and scratches, and the color reproduction is commendable, "Reindeer Games" on Blu-ray presents a subpar viewing experience due to its technical flaws. The muddy black levels, heavy-handed digital sharpening, and aggressive DNR detract significantly from the visual quality, rendering this transfer one of the least impressive from Lionsgate-Miramax's catalog releases.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Reindeer Games" features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that delivers a competent, albeit mixed, auditory experience. The sound profile is particularly notable in busy crowded scenarios like the casino scenes, where ambient sounds create a dynamic and immersive environment. Outdoor scenes also benefit from this audio treatment, with the snow-laden sequences effectively capturing vast open spaces and environmental nuances. The sound fidelity remains commendably high, with dialogue generally crisp and clear, ensuring that all spoken elements are distinct and well-prioritized in the mix.

However, not all aspects are executed flawlessly. There are instances where Ben Affleck's voice-over narration suffers from a hollow, metallic timbre that detracts from the overall listening experience. Despite this, effects and music are robust, maintaining high energy and clarity throughout action sequences. The rear and surround channels are frequently active, providing a comprehensive soundscape that places listeners at the heart of the ongoing events. Bass response is particularly strong, adding weight to action scenes and enhancing tension. Cleanup of the source material has been thorough, yielding a clean listening experience devoid of distracting auditory artifacts like cracks or pops.

In sum, the audio track, while not without its shortcomings, offers a solid delivery for "Reindeer Games." The effective use of surround sound and environmental integration elevates many scenes, making it a more engaging experience despite some inconsistencies in vocal mastering.

The Blu-ray extras for "Reindeer Games" provide a robust insight into the making and varied versions of the film, though unfortunately, all features are in standard definition. Director John Frankenheimer's audio commentary stands out as immensely detailed, offering insight into studio pressures and cuts needed for a different rating, despite some pauses. The behind-the-scenes featurette is a standard fare showing on-set footage and brief interviews with cast and crew. The original theatrical cut scenes present intriguing differences and variations compared to the Director's Cut, enhancing understanding of initial audience test responses and studio mandates. Lastly, a trailer amusingly diverges in tone from the actual film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary with Director John Frankenheimer: Detailed insights into the film's production and editing compromises.
• Behind the Scenes Featurette: Footage of scenes being shot and interview snippets.
• Original Theatrical Cut Scenes: Differences between theatrical and director's cuts.
• Trailer: A strangely-toned promotional clip.

“Reindeer Games,” directed by John Frankenheimer, marks a tumultuous pinnacle in a career characterized by its undulating highs and lows. The film follows Rudy (Ben Affleck), a man recently released from prison who finds himself posing as his deceased cellmate Nick to woo Nick's pen-pal girlfriend Ashley (Charlize Theron). This decision triggers a chain of unpredictable events when Ashley's brother Gabriel (Gary Sinise), a criminal mastermind, coerces Rudy into assisting with a casino heist under the pretense that he is Nick, who worked at said casino. The plot twists capably yet predictably unfold, largely rendering the narrative convoluted and laughably implausible.

Frankenheimer's seasoned expertise in directing action sequences surfaces sporadically, hinting at his former brilliance. Still, Ehren Kruger’s screenplay presents inherent flaws that even Frankenheimer’s deftness cannot rectify. The film’s initial gravitas starkly contrasts with the ensuing farcical tone, creating a jarring dissonance that undermines its coherence. Sinise offers a memorable performance as the unhinged Gabriel, and while Affleck and Theron provide committed portrayals, the characters’ development feels stymied by the screenplay’s erratic nature. “Reindeer Games” suffers from uninspired twists and tonal inconsistency, oscillating between deadly serious and unintentionally humorous.

The Blu-ray release includes Frankenheimer’s Director's Cut, adding around 20 minutes of footage that slightly ameliorates the pacing but doesn’t transform the film's overall mediocrity. While technically competent and sporadically engaging, “Reindeer Games” remains a discordant endeavor mired in its overambition. Despite its litany of twists and occasional bursts of excitement, it falls short of cinematic credibility—a testament to the complex gamble of constructing a narrative around incessant surprises. “Reindeer Games” may intrigue fans of Frankenheimer’s oeuvre and aficionados of Affleck’s career trajectory but ultimately stands as a flawed, if intermittently entertaining, piece in the crime thriller genre.

"Reindeer Games" lands in an ambiguous territory, where high-profile names such as John Frankenheimer as director and a stellar cast including Ben Affleck, Charlize Theron, and Gary Sinise fail to deliver a cohesive film experience. The movie tries to juggle between being a serious heist drama and a dark comedy caper—a struggle it doesn't quite overcome. The first half of the film feels heavy and serious, while the second half unexpectedly veers into over-the-top territory, creating a disjointed narrative. Consequently, it's easy to misinterpret the intentionality behind its latter portion's absurdity, which ultimately clouds the viewer's appreciation.

Technically, this Blu-ray release leaves much to be desired. The video transfer is notably disappointing, failing to deliver a significant improvement over its DVD counterpart. Complaints about the soft picture quality, excessive Digital Noise Reduction (DNR), and edge enhancement are prevalent and justified. Although the audio mix is generally adequate, the dialogue comes off as hollow and flat, detracting from the overall sonic experience. On the brighter side, the director's commentary is somewhat insightful but does not compensate for the otherwise lackluster special features included.

Considering the missed opportunities both in terms of film execution and Blu-ray presentation, "Reindeer Games" is hard to wholeheartedly recommend. While it could offer an amusingly terrible viewing if approached with the right mindset, its technical shortcomings and inconsistent tone make it more suited for a rental than a purchase.

Reindeer Games is an abject lesson in not judging a book by its cover, though perhaps in the opposite way this aphorism is usually applied. In this case, seeing a film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Affleck, Theron, and Sinise would probably augur well for some great entertainment. Unfortunately, just about everything in Reindeer Games fails to find its mark. This is the rare Lionsgate-Miramax catalog release that does not offer a substantial video upgrade from its DVD release, so it's hard to recommend anything other than a rental of this release for the curious.