Freelancers Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray of "Freelancers" by Lionsgate Films showcases a 1080p AVC encoded transfer framed at 2.39:1, delivering an experience both lauded and critiqued in various technical aspects. The transfer is impressively sharp with remarkable fine object detail, especially notable in close-ups where facial lines and pores are visually prominent. The rich and vibrant color palette is another highlight, capturing the environmental shifts from golden sunsets to the deep blacks of nighttime New York with striking accuracy. However, this is tempered by moments of blown-out white levels, leading to an intense reflective sheen on actors' foreheads which can detract from the visual integrity in certain daylight scenes.

The presentation maintains a consistent quality despite some hiccups. There is an occasional skew in color balance and contrast levels, potentially attributed to post-production digital intermediate (DI) tweaking. This might cause some viewers to find the aesthetics inconsistent, although this does not severely detract from the overall viewing experience. Notably, the film’s use of darker blues and slick visuals, reminiscent of gritty cop dramas, is effectively captured with good texture registration and decent dark levels. However, the sharpness occasionally teeters on over-aggressive digital enhancement, leading to aliasing issues during New York City aerial shots.

Despite these minor flaws, the transfer overall stands as a competent representation of "Freelancers." The detailed textures and stable image quality keep it above average, even though some flashback sequences adopt a different cinematic aesthetic that may be mildly distracting. In sum, while not perfect, the meticulous attention to visual sharpness and color vibrancy makes this Blu-ray release a commendable effort in presenting the film’s stylistic intent.

The audio presentation of "Freelancers" on Blu-ray, delivered via a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, significantly enriches the viewing experience despite some minor inconsistencies. The front three channels and subwoofer exhibit impressive activity throughout the film, with the subwoofers delivering deep, thumping bass that is sure to impress any audiophile. Gunshots, tire squeals, and collisions are rendered with startling clarity, both in the front and rear channels, immersing the viewer in the dynamic and often chaotic urban landscape effectively.

However, the balance between dialogue and the energetic soundtrack occasionally falters. While sound effects and ambient noise are consistently captured with stunning clarity, there are instances where dialogue becomes muddled, particularly during scenes with prominent musical scores. This necessitates frequent adjustments to volume levels to ensure comprehension of more dialogue-heavy sections. Despite this, when dialogue is clear, it is delivered with excellent fidelity, benefiting from a wide dynamic range.

In essence, the audio quality of "Freelancers" offers a robust and engaging auditory experience. The busy New York setting is vividly depicted through the nuanced use of rear channels to capture environmental sounds, despite their primary utilization for the film's underscore. While some may find the mix a bit hectic at times, the overall sound presentation ensures that action sequences pack a substantial punch. The solid balance and strategic use of surround sound elements make this Blu-ray’s audio a noteworthy feature, deserving appreciation even amidst its occasional dialogue clarity issues.

The Blu-ray extras for "Freelancers" offer a satisfactory array of additional content, despite the occasional lack of depth. The commentary, featuring director Jessy Terrero and actor Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, unfortunately suffers from sporadic and underwhelming commentary punctuated by trivial comments. Conversely, the deleted scenes provide 18 minutes of supplemental footage, including an alternate opening, which extends the storytelling. The Behind the Scenes featurette and the Extended Interviews offer a closer look into the film’s production and viewpoints from various cast and crew members, though some notable cast members are conspicuously absent.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Director Jessy Terrero and Actor Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson: Sporadic with minimal insight.
• Deleted Scenes: Includes 11 scenes and an alternate opening.
• Behind the Scenes with Interviews: Standard EPK featurette.
• Extended Interviews with Cast and Crew: Extensive interviews with key production members.
• Freelancers Trailer: Official movie trailer.

"Freelancers," despite boasting high-caliber actors such as Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker, struggles to rise above its clichéd and formulaic plot. The film follows Jonas “Malo” Maldonado (played by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson) graduating from the police academy and quickly becoming embroiled in a corrupt network of New York cops. De Niro's character, Captain Joe Sarcone, immediately recruits Jonas into his nefarious circle, and Lieutenant Detective Lurue (Whitaker) serves as Jonas’s drug-addled mentor. Their descent into corruption is rapid and almost unquestioned by the protagonist—the narrative careens through familiar, well-tread territory about police corruption, drug deals, and the moral ambiguities in law enforcement.

The screenplay, penned by novice writer L. Philippe Casseus, falls short in its execution. Characters narrate their backstories and motivations instead of letting actions reveal them, leading to a lack of genuine dialogue and development. The attempt at a gritty exposé on police misconduct gets muddled in an overly convoluted revenge plot where Malo struggles with duty versus ambition. Flashbacks are implemented to add depth but come off as predictable rather than intriguing. Even sequences meant to build tension, such as the conflicting training methods for three rookie cops, fail to elevate the film from mediocrity due to a lack of nuanced drama or intelligent commentary.

Director Jessy Terrero, known primarily for music videos, employs a straightforward filming style devoid of inventive cinematography or editing flair—perhaps a missed opportunity to inject some much-needed vitality into the lackluster narrative. The story ultimately devolves into mundane scenes of romantic entanglements and superficial displays of debauchery. The misused talent of De Niro and Whitaker is apparent as they deliver unremarkable performances that still overshadow Jackson’s mundane portrayal of the morally conflicted protagonist. In summary, "Freelancers" assembles an impressive cast only to squander their potential in a forgettable crime drama devoid of true substance or originality.

"Freelancers" unfortunately falls short of expectations, both in terms of narrative and character development. The film oscillates between various plot points without coherence, leaving viewers disoriented. Characters appear and disappear without much consequence, and critical moments, such as Malo's ethical dilemmas, are swept under the carpet with little to no emotional resonance. This lackluster storytelling is surprising given the involvement of high-caliber actors like Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker, whose talents are underutilized in this vanity project.

In terms of genre execution, "Freelancers" is a paint-by-numbers crime thriller that fails to deliver the requisite intrigue or complexity. The screenplay tries to juxtapose heroism and villainy but ends up presenting an uneven narrative with a perplexing climax. The movie underwent a brief theatrical release but is better classified as a direct-to-video experience due to its simplistic approach and lack of depth.

On a more positive note, the Blu-ray edition is robust, offering strong video and audio quality. It also includes a decent array of extras that somewhat enhance the viewing experience. Despite the advanced technical features of the Blu-ray, they cannot mask the fundamental issues of this film. While the behind-the-scenes elements might appeal to some viewers, the overall package doesn't compensate for the film’s narrative shortcomings.

In conclusion, "Freelancers" isn't downright horrible, but that's about the best thing you can say about it. The film lacked coherence in its storytelling and failed to utilize its stellar cast effectively. While the Blu-ray release boasted strong technical features and a solid number of extras, it couldn't elevate the mediocre base material. For those looking for quality crime thrillers, this offering underwhelms and leaves much to be desired.