The Fifth Estate Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Fifth Estate" offers an impressive 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation, noteworthy for its pristine and razor-sharp quality. Detail rendering is exceptional, presenting nearly flawless visual acuity and fine articulation that brings out subtle nuances within the images. Colors are richly saturated with vivid primaries and warm tonalities, enhancing the visual appeal where necessary. The film maintains natural flesh tones with clear complexional separation among the cast. Bold contrast and consistent black levels provide excellent visual balance, especially during scenes with mixed content, while strong shadow detail elucidates textures in low-light conditions.

Shot on Arri Alexa cameras, the digital source is crisp and free from significant artifacts, though minimal grain-like noise appears occasionally. The color palette leans towards restrained but impactful tones, with teals, icy blues, and neon lights providing striking contrast. While primary colors can feel somewhat subdued, they remain arresting, contributing to an overall lifelike viewing experience. The presentation boasts deep, satisfying black levels, though nighttime scenes occasionally display slightly elevated blacks. Edges are remarkably crisp and clean, save for intermittent softness dictated by the cinematography.

Technically robust, "The Fifth Estate" excels with its artifact-free image and consistent performance across various settings. The film's faithful adherence to its intended visual style, combined with its meticulous grain management and avoidance of errant noise or aliasing, ensures a smooth and engaging viewing experience. Although the picture may not offer the absolute apex in sharpness or a consistently 'wow' factor, its competent and polished transfer stands as a testament to high-definition prowess. This Blu-ray presentation is a solid offering that will satisfy enthusiasts appreciative of well-rendered video quality.

The audio presentation of "The Fifth Estate" on Blu-ray is marked by a professional and technically proficient DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, alongside French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks, and optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles. Dialogue consistently remains clear, intelligible, and full-bodied, with no noticeable balance issues. The mix effectively emphasizes various technological effects, enhancing the coding and hacking scenes with immersive digital sounds that proficiently fill the soundfield. Standard ambiance like rain, crowded environments, and bustling offices are conveyed convincingly, adding depth to the viewing experience.

While the directionality may be lacking at times, the overall surround activity ensures a suitably immersive experience. The LFE output is robust, providing solid bass support where necessary, particularly notable during scenes set at raucous parties with a techno-influenced score that demonstrates excellent fidelity and dynamic range. Rear speaker activity is assertive and occasionally engaging, although some might find the sound design to be rather conventional.

Overall, the track does an admirable job with the material it’s given, making good use of its soundscape to enhance the film's technological theme. Notable aspects include smooth pans and solid dynamics that keep the audience engaged throughout. While not as nuanced or immersive as some higher-tier audio tracks, it competently supports the film's content with creative design work where needed.

The Blu-ray release of "The Fifth Estate" comes with a commendable array of extra features, all presented in 1080p HD with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound and consistent subtitle options. The extras provide a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the film’s creation processes, from visual effects to music scoring. Included are insightful featurettes that cover various technical aspects, such as the conceptual development of the Rubberhose set and the practical effects used for computer graphics. Composer Carter Burwell delves into the eclectic and techno-influenced score, offering an engaging narrative on its recording and mixing. Additionally, fans can enjoy a series of trailers and TV spots.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Submission Platform: Visual Effects: Explores visual effects work, design process for WikiLeaks' virtual office.
• In-Camera: Graphics: Behind-the-scenes on practical computer graphics effects.
• Scoring Secrets: Carter Burwell discusses the film's eclectic score.
• Trailer & TV Spots: Collection of eight promotional segments.
• Bonus DVD
• Digital Copy

Bill Condon's "The Fifth Estate," depicting the rise of WikiLeaks and its controversial founder Julian Assange, delivers a mixed cinematic experience. While the film strives to be a high-stakes thriller akin to "The Social Network," it ultimately falters due to an inconsistent screenplay and uneven direction. Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of Assange is somewhat marred by indecisiveness, reflecting his admitted fluctuating perspective on the character. The narrative oscillates between focusing on Assange and his partner Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Brühl), without ever finding a compelling core. The film's attempts to visualize the cyber-world of WikiLeaks often feel awkward and unconvincing, detracting from the story's potential impact and relevance.

The film’s structure is clumsy and fails to maintain a gripping focus throughout its runtime, despite being based on thrilling real-world events involving the release of classified documents such as the Afghan War Logs and Iraq War Logs. Dialogues are peppered with over-acted expressions and redundant exposition, which diminishes the authenticity of the performances. Despite this, Cumberbatch and Brühl strive to bring moments of honesty to their roles. The supporting cast, including David Thewlis, Anthony Mackie, Laura Linney, and Stanley Tucci, is underutilized, and their characters often feel one-dimensional.

Visually and thematically, "The Fifth Estate" seems trapped in a 1990s aesthetic, lacking the dynamic cyberpunk energy that the subject matter demands. Carter Burwell's techno score attempts to inject vitality into the film but falls short due to lackluster execution. The film peaks during brief moments that highlight the direct consequences of Assange's leaks, presenting shifting societal views and the scrambling of power-players. Yet, these moments are insufficient to save the film from its overall lack of depth. The rich, complex dilemmas concerning ethics, accountability, and information dissemination are only superficially explored, rendering the film an uninspiring and flat depiction of one of the most provocative sagas in recent history.

"The Fifth Estate" attempts to deliver a political thriller centered on the controversial rise of WikiLeaks but unfortunately, it stumbles in its execution. With scattershot direction and a slippery script, the film struggles to tap into the full potential of its inherently fascinating subject matter. Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of Julian Assange is a notable effort, but even his performance can't fully overcome the film's lackluster screenplay and Bill Condon's uneven vision. There are fleeting moments of promise that hint at what could have been a more incisive biopic, yet these instances are regrettably sparse.

The Blu-ray release by Disney significantly improves on the film's experience with excellent video quality and a robust DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. These technical enhancements elevate the viewing experience, providing crystal-clear visuals and immersive sound. The supplemental package, while relatively brief, offers valuable insights into the film's visuals and music. However, as compelling as the story of WikiLeaks is, the film only manages to scratch the surface of the rich material, leaving audiences wanting more depth and nuance.

In conclusion, "The Fifth Estate" provides a moderately engaging experience supported by strong technical elements in its Blu-ray release. While it misses its mark in delivering a thoroughly compelling narrative, it still holds interest, particularly for those intrigued by the real-life events that inspired it. For viewers keen on a dramatized account of WikiLeaks' controversial early days, this release might be worth a rental. However, one must temper expectations regarding the depth and cohesiveness of its storytelling.