The Contract Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "The Contract" is notable for its excellent video quality, featuring a 1080p/VC-1 transfer that significantly enhances the visual appeal. The overall clarity is impressive, allowing detailed textures to be distinctly visible, such as the intricate lines and freckles on Morgan Freeman's face and the sharp contours of tree trunks. The film's Pacific Northwestern forest setting is vividly portrayed through a robust color palette including verdant greens and rich browns. Skin tones generally appear natural, despite a slightly yellowish tint in certain scenes. Black levels are commendably deep without losing shadow detail, and the contrast remains consistently strong, especially during daylight sequences. Grain is minimal and the transfer is remarkably free of technical issues like blocking, banding, smearing, or ringing.

Despite the solid technical execution, some directional choices subtly mar the viewing experience. Shot using varying film stocks and lighting techniques, the film presents an inconsistent visual aesthetic. Specific scenes exhibit overblown contrast or underexposure, leading to a somewhat disjointed perception. Notably, a few nighttime scenes introduce noise, although it is not significantly distracting. Day-for-night shots toward the film's end appear unrealistically filtered with deep blue hues, though this seems to reflect more on directorial decisions rather than flaws in the transfer itself. Yet, these minor shortcomings do little to detract from what is otherwise an impressively detailed and vibrant presentation for a straight-to-video offering. "The Contract" on Blu-ray stands out with its 3D-like visual depth and meticulous detail, achieving a commendable level of excellence in its technical delivery.

The audio presentation of "The Contract" on Blu-ray offers a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track that, while not without its limitations, provides a reasonably immersive listening experience. During pivotal scenes, such as an intense car accident and a helicopter crash, the surround channels effectively convey the chaos with metal smashing, glass shattering, and rotor blades slicing through the audio landscape. Environmental sounds like rain, rivers, and wildlife are well-articulated, enveloping the listener from all directions. Dialogue remains crisp and clear throughout, maintaining a natural balance even in the midst of action sequences. Normand Corbell's score, though somewhat forgettable and standard for the genre, is adequately presented and at times bombastic enough to keep the viewer engaged.

However, it's evident that the audio track struggles with the constraints of its low-budget roots and uninspired sound design. Effects such as gunfire and explosions often sound artificial and lack the realism needed to fully draw the audience in. Channel movement suffers from a lack of subtlety, with sound effects moving from one speaker to the next in a noticeably jarring manner. Additionally, ambient sound effects are generally confined to the rear channels, giving a somewhat two-dimensional feel to the soundscape. Despite these shortcomings, the audio mix does have its strengths, such as natural LFE support and adequately dynamic range management. While these strengths don't entirely make up for its flaws, they ensure that the track remains competent enough for a satisfactory viewing experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Contract" offer a somewhat conventional behind-the-scenes experience, primarily highlighted by the featurette Inside The Contract. This documentary segment delivers standard interviews with the cast and crew, accompanied by on-set footage. While the producers display an overenthusiastic facade, principal stars such as Morgan Freeman and John Cusack are notably reserved, reflecting a less-than-stellar perception of the film's overall quality. The inclusion of trailers for various films rounds out the extras but adds minimal value to the package.

Extras included in this disc:

• Inside The Contract: Behind-the-scenes documentary with interviews and on-set footage.
• Trailers: Previews for 'The Contract', 'Transsiberian', 'Sukiyaki Western Django', 'Meet Bill', and 'War, Inc.'

"The Contract" brings together heavyweight actors John Cusack and Morgan Freeman in a film that, despite the talent, ultimately falls flat. Directed by Bruce Beresford, known for acclaimed films like "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Tender Mercies", this thriller tells the story of Ray Keene (Cusack), an ex-cop hiking with his son Chris in rural Washington State. They encounter Frank Carden (Freeman), an assassin-for-hire captured by federal agents. What follows is a convoluted narrative involving government conspiracies, mercenaries, and unnecessary plotlines that dilute any potential tension or drama.

Beresford's efforts to punctuate the film with action sequences and complex character arcs are undermined by a messy script and broad cliché-ridden characters. The thematic confusion and disjointed direction lead to a lackluster viewing experience, despite some competent action scenes. Notably, Cusack and Freeman maintain professionalism but seem to navigate their roles with a palpable lack of enthusiasm, reflecting internal production issues. Ancillary characters fail to elevate the film, often resorting to overacted and hammy performances.

Technical flaws such as continuity errors and clumsy action sequences lend the film the unfortunate vibe of a low-budget cable TV movie. Most notably, scenes seemingly lifted directly from other action films detract further from its originality. Fans of Cusack and Freeman might find moments of interest in their interactions, but overall, "The Contract" remains a regrettable misfire for all involved.

"The Contract" Blu-ray release, starring John Cusack and Morgan Freeman, is a curious mix of capable performances from seasoned actors and disappointing filmmaking. The narrative falls short of its potential, diminishing the star power of its lead actors who struggle to elevate an otherwise lackluster script. While the film boasts a competent director, the storyline and character development fail to engage and captivate the audience. As a result, the overall viewing experience leaves much to be desired.

On the technical front, the Blu-ray’s video transfer is commendably sharp, especially for a title that went straight to video. The visual quality is crisp, with good color accuracy and detail that brings some redeeming qualities to home viewing. However, the audio is less impressive; although the inclusion of a TrueHD track promises high-fidelity sound, it ultimately falls flat. The blend and balance of sound elements are unimpressive, lacking the immersive quality that is expected in a high-definition release. Furthermore, the supplementary features on the disc are minimal and largely uninspiring, failing to provide any significant insight or value.

In conclusion, "The Contract" on Blu-ray offers a mixed bag. Despite enjoyable performances by Freeman and Cusack and a genuinely solid video transfer, the film’s unengaging story and underwhelming audio quality detract from its overall appeal. For fans of the actors involved, it may warrant a rent for curiosity’s sake but doesn’t justify a permanent place in one's collection. Despite its high-profile cast, "The Contract" showcases how even promising projects can falter in execution.