A Common Man Blu-ray Review

Anchor Bay's Blu-ray presentation of "A Common Man" delivered in a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 transfer with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio is visually excellent, despite the film's narrative shortcomings. The transfer showcases razor-sharp clarity and stunning detail across nearly all scenes, with fine textures evident on clothing, faces, and cityscapes. The imagery maintains a natural appearance with realistic, balanced colors that pop without appearing washed out. Black levels are deep and stable, providing good shadow definition, while compression issues are virtually non-existent.

While the majority of the film's presentation is pristine, there are occasional inconsistencies. Some shots briefly appear less distinct as though captured with lower-grade equipment, resulting in visible noise and shimmering artifacts. These instances are rare and do not significantly detract from the overall visual experience. Additionally, the film employs a mostly cool color palette with vibrant hues like yellows standing out against the backdrop. Contrast remains generally strong, though there are minor fluctuations that render some scenes slightly dim or featuring blown-out white levels. These issues, however, are minor compared to the exceptional clarity and detail that dominate the transfer.

In conclusion, despite its narrative flaws and minor visual inconsistencies, "A Common Man's" Blu-ray visual quality is impressive and highly enjoyable. The high-definition transfer excels in delivering eye-catching, finely detailed images that significantly enhance the viewing experience.

The audio presentation of "A Common Man" Blu Ray presents a mixed bag, with its delivery showcasing strengths and notable flaws. Primarily, the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers an immersive experience through balanced bass, smooth surround details, and well-integrated ambient support. The film's soundscape is enriched by realistic effects including rumbling trains, traffic noise, and the din of police activity, lending an almost palpable ambience that captivates the listener. Moreover, the score exhibits crisp notes and wide dynamic range, providing robust and professional sound quality. Bass activity enhances explosions and music cues with deep resonance, contributing to the generally robust auditory framework.

However, the critical shortcoming lies in the dialogue synchronization. Voice-over work for characters is poorly dubbed, excluding Ben Kingsley, leading to a frequent mismatch in lip synchronization. This discrepancy is not subtle but spans entire words or sentences, creating a jarring disconnection between the visual performance and the audio. Compounding this issue, dialogue often sounds muffled and tinny, lacking the clarity and fidelity expected from a high-definition release. Additionally, foley effects are occasionally set at disproportionate levels, causing distractions rather than complementing the scene. The scattered sync issues persist throughout the entire film's duration, raising questions about quality control during production.

Ultimately, while the environmental sound design and music score of "A Common Man" manage to deliver an enthralling audio experience, the disappointing execution of dialogue synchronization severely detracts from the overall enjoyment. The pervasive sync issues and inconsistent dialogue fidelity transform an otherwise solid audio presentation into a source of frustration for viewers seeking a polished high-definition experience.

Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of "A Common Man" disappoints with its complete absence of special features. Despite the potential interest in understanding the film's production and background, viewers are left with nothing additional to explore. The disc includes trailers for "Chained" and "Pawn" which play before the main menu, but no further content is offered.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailers for Chained and Pawn: Previews shown before accessing the main menu.

"A Common Man," starring Ben Kingsley and Ben Cross, is a remake of the 2008 Bollywood thriller "A Wednesday." The film starts with an engaging and intense sequence as Kingsley’s character discreetly plants bombs around Colombo, Sri Lanka. Kingsley’s nuanced performance succeeds in creating suspense and uncertainty regarding his true motives – is he driven by revenge, a political message, or something else entirely? His actions, accompanied by advanced cellular masking techniques, set a promising tone early on. However, the movie's promising start begins to unravel shortly after.

Once the initial tension dissipates, the film's pacing falters and the supporting cast fails to sustain the narrative’s momentum. Ben Cross, playing lead investigator Morris Da Silva, delivers a performance that feels flat and stereotyped. The secondary characters, including a poorly dubbed female reporter and a clichéd computer hacker, do little to provide depth or relatability. These lackluster performances are further hindered by dialogue that is both stilted and frequently nonsensical, detracting from any potential dramatic tension the film might have built.

Technically, "A Common Man" is marred by various production flaws. The most glaring issue is the problematic dubbing of almost the entire cast, leading to a jarring and disengaged viewing experience. Additionally, the latter parts of the film struggle with repetitive and unexciting telephone conversations between Kingsley and Cross. Unrealistic action sequences and abrupt transitions exacerbate the film's overall lack of coherence and excitement. Despite its intriguing premise and a strong opening act, "A Common Man" ultimately fails to deliver a compelling or thrilling narrative, leaving viewers with a sense of missed potential.

"A Common Man" Blu-ray edition falls short of expectations in several critical aspects. Despite an alluring premise and the renowned Ben Kingsley in the lead role, the film's execution lacks the tension and engagement necessary for a successful thriller. After a promising start, the narrative takes a nosedive into slow and unimaginative territory, leaving much to be desired from its script and character development. Kingsley's performance, although initially compelling, loses its vigor as the story progresses. This is exacerbated by poorly dubbed performances and inherently nonsensical dialogue, reducing the drama to an unintended comedy of errors.

From a technical perspective, Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release is equally disappointing. Although it boasts impressive video quality, showcasing clear and vivid visuals, it is hampered by a mediocre audio track that detracts from the viewing experience. Furthermore, the absence of special features or any supplementary content is a significant letdown, failing to provide any added value for potential buyers or fans of the genre.

In conclusion, "A Common Man" is an underwhelming offering that neither thrills nor entertains in the way it intends. Its Blu-ray release, despite strong video quality, suffers from subpar audio and a lack of bonus content. Unless you are a Ben Kingsley completist, it's advisable to skip this one. If curiosity still piques your interest, renting might be a less regrettable decision. Proceed cautiously.