Good Kill Blu-ray Review

"Good Kill" features an exceptional 1080p transfer, which is consistently sharp and free from any major technical flaws. The movie is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, with Paramount ensuring a top-tier video experience. Shot on the Arri Alexa XT, the digital source delivers a clean and crisp presentation devoid of any notable artifacts or noise. The clarity reveals intricate details, from the complex textures of military uniforms to the nuanced expressions on Ethan Hawke's face. The drone POV footage intentionally mimics compressed visuals to replicate the real camera feed, which maintains authenticity despite some expected softness in comparison to other shots.

The color palette is thoughtfully executed, adapting to different scenes with precision. While the drone control room scenes are cast in cool, slightly desaturated tones, the outdoor sequences show a faint teal/orange push typical of modern cinematography. Instances featuring the Vegas strip provide a burst of vibrant colors, and the glittering lights are rendered beautifully. Black levels are consistently deep, and contrast is meticulously balanced, ensuring no loss of detail even in the shadows.

The overall presentation demonstrates remarkable depth, particularly in desert scenes and perspective shots of the Vegas strip. Colors are vivid and well-saturated throughout various settings, whether depicting the stark colorless desert or the visually rich suburban environments. Flesh tones appear natural and accurate, contributing to a lifelike portrayal of characters. The Blu-ray transfer remains free from macroblocking, noise, banding, and other visual distractions, solidifying this release as a rock-solid presentation by Paramount with only minor nitpicks regarding CGI softness in drone footage.

The Blu-ray presentation of "Good Kill" offers a well-executed DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is both stable and immersive. The sound design prioritizes subtlety over bombast, emphasizing restrained atmospherics that enrich the film's emotional depth. Ambient sounds like computer beeps, external noises such as chirping birds and distant traffic, and the controlled cacophony of the drone control center are all adeptly positioned within the soundstage. The sound mix also incorporates a noticeable musical definition with proper spacing, enhancing the overall auditory experience without overshadowing the central focus on dialogue.

Dialogue clarity is a standout aspect of this audio track, benefiting from natural placement and clear reproduction, even amidst more complex scenes involving military operations. The soundstage remains fairly reserved, with minimal but effective use of surround channels to deliver ambient effects such as distant helicopters and general base activities. Environmental sounds like thunder and casino slot machines are seamlessly blended in, providing an authentic aural backdrop without overwhelming the primary audio elements.

Dynamic range is handled impressively, offering depth without distortion and ensuring balanced sound elements across varied scenes. Low-frequency effects are selectively impactful, adding heft to certain sequences like fast-paced drives through the Vegas Strip, where the LFE channel proves robust. While "Good Kill" doesn’t showcase any particularly standout audio sequences, the overall mix is competently executed and serves the film's primarily dialogue-driven narrative effectively. The audio presentation ensures clarity and immersion without any significant technical flaws, making it a solid component of the Blu-ray release.

The "Good Kill" Blu-ray includes a notable but limited selection of extras, centered around a single featurette. The primary extra is "Good Kill: Behind the Scenes," a 15-minute featurette presented in 1080p with Dolby Digital 2.0 audio. It offers interviews with the cast and crew, on-set footage, and discussions around the realities of drone warfare, character development, and the importance of authenticity in storytelling. Despite being succinct, this addition provides valuable insights into the film's making process. Buyers will also appreciate the inclusion of a DVD copy and a voucher for an UltraViolet/iTunes digital copy.

Extras included in this disc:

• Good Kill: Behind the Scenes: Cast & crew interviews and on-set footage discussing drone warfare, characters, and authenticity.

"Good Kill," directed by Andrew Niccol, presents a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of modern drone warfare and its psychological toll on operators. The film zeroes in on Major Thomas Egan (Ethan Hawke), a former fighter pilot now stationed at a Las Vegas Air Force base, who conducts unmanned drone strikes on enemy targets thousands of miles away. Egan is assigned increasingly controversial missions that challenge his ethical boundaries, culminating in a crisis of conscience and personal despair. As he navigates the moral quagmire of long-distance warfare, Egan's life unravels, affecting his professional standing and straining his relationships, particularly with his wife Molly (January Jones).

Niccol adeptly captures the dichotomy between the digital detachment of drone operations and their lethal realities. Employing well-composed close-ups and POV shots of Egan's targets, the director immerses the audience in the sci-fi-esque atmosphere of modern combat, abruptly juxtaposing this with scenes which reveal Egan's physical safety far from the battlefield. This visual manipulation underscores the eerie disconnect between the act of killing and its real-world consequences. Such nuanced storytelling fosters a sense of voyeurism, presenting the military as an omniscient entity wielding death from a distance with impunity.

However, despite its compelling character study and Hawke's standout performance, "Good Kill" falters due to its heavy-handed delivery of its political message. While Niccol's intention was to foster an open dialogue on drone warfare, the film often resorts to didactic scenes and caricatured portrayals, particularly of CIA operatives, reducing complex ethical debates to oversimplified dramatics. Despite these flaws, "Good Kill" remains a potent anti-war film that challenges viewers to confront the profound moral dilemmas inherent in contemporary remote warfare, facilitated by strong performances and compelling visual storytelling.

Andrew Niccol's "Good Kill" is a compelling and timely film that delves into the ethical and psychological dimensions of modern drone warfare. Ethan Hawke delivers one of his finest performances, playing a conflicted drone pilot whose sense of morality is put to the test. The narrative is engaging yet subtle, allowing audiences to ponder deeply the complexities of remote warfare. Despite occasional moments where the film feels overly didactic, the strong character work and thought-provoking questions make it a significant contribution to discussions about 21st-century military operations.

On the technical side, Paramount's Blu-ray release of "Good Kill" stands out with impressive audio and video quality. The transfer excels in delivering crisp visuals, and the audio mix effectively immerses viewers in the tension and realism of the war-room environment. However, the Blu-ray package falls short in its supplementary content, offering only a single featurette that, although insightful, leaves much to be desired for those seeking a more robust behind-the-scenes look.

It was recently revealed that a new Russian tank will be operated with a control pad modeled after PlayStation's famous DualShock controller. That's another example in the growing trend of the modern battlefield slowly, but surely, blurring the line between fiction and reality. "Good Kill" is a timely, pointed film that examines the ethics and morality of long-distance killing that also questions the balancing act between following orders and personal morality. It's a fascinatingly complex film that leaves audiences reflecting on the story, impressed with the filmmaking, and in awe of nuanced performances, particularly from Ethan Hawke. Paramount's Blu-ray release of "Good Kill" unfortunately contains only a single supplement, but video and audio qualities impress. Highly recommended.