Beirut Blu-ray Review

Universal’s Blu-ray presentation of "Beirut" delivers a respectable 1080p transfer that adheres closely to the film's design and source material limitations. Captured using Arri Alexa Mini and XT cameras and finalized at a 2K resolution, the film features a consistent color palette dominated by sepia and earthy tones, which effectively convey the gritty 1980s Middle East setting intended by its creators. Although the transfer retains solid detail in brightly lit scenes, with facial textures and the war-torn environment rendered clearly, it struggles in lower light conditions where black levels flatten, and softening occurs. The handheld shooting style further introduces some challenges, including notable aliasing and moderate noise during low-light shots.

Essential details such as Hamm's beard stubble and Pike's makeup are well-rendered, and the overall contrast maintains deep blacks with minimal crushing. However, digital compositing in certain overhead shots introduces artifacts and aliasing issues, detracting from the visual appeal. Despite these minor flaws, Universal’s AVC-encoded transfer retains the film’s intended look and consistent natural color rendering. This Blu-ray release doesn’t break new ground visually but competently showcases the film within its inherent aesthetic constraints, providing a notably clean image with reliable texture, albeit limited by design and execution choices.

While not groundbreaking, "Beirut" on Blu-ray stands as a technically proficient transfer, delivering a largely satisfactory viewing experience that accurately reflects the film's intended aesthetic. It balances clarity, color, and contrast well, albeit with specific areas, particularly darker scenes and digital composite shots, presenting challenges. This Blu-ray release exemplifies a solid, if not spectacular, visual presentation that stays true to the source’s demands without introducing substantial distortions at the encoding level. For viewers seeking an authentic reproduction of the film’s raw, war-torn atmosphere, this disc delivers admirably within its scope.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for "Beirut" offers a commendable, yet not extraordinary, auditory experience consistent with its video presentation. The soundtrack efficiently leverages the center channel for dialogue-heavy sequences, ensuring clarity and precise positioning. Surround channels become more engaged during cityscapes, adding a rich ambient chaos that enhances immersion. While the bomb blasts and gunfire add depth, they lack the expected raw power and intensity. The low-frequency effects (LFE) are present but subdued, leading to a slightly underwhelming impact during action sequences.

The overall sound mix is well-balanced, making effective use of space and ambient noise to maintain immersion even during quieter scenes. Notable moments include intense negotiation sequences juxtaposed with nearby explosions, maintaining a dynamic depth. Music is notably placed with good fidelity, blending fluidly across front and back channels. Ambient sounds, whether street noises or beachside atmospheres, contribute detailed yet unobtrusive enhancements that define the film's mood. Dialogues retain high fidelity throughout, ensuring clear and uninterrupted listening without the need for volume adjustments.

In summary, Beirut's audio presentation is solid and competent, albeit not groundbreaking. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 track delivers an engaging but standard listening experience with clear dialogue, well-integrated ambient effects, and respectable but not overpowering LFE performance.

The Blu-ray release of "Beirut" includes a couple of extra features that add some, albeit limited, value for the audience. The Story Behind Beirut offers a succinct overview with cast and crew interviews, discussing the plot and characters, and featuring a historian who briefly explores the era and location of the film's setting. This featurette also includes clips from the movie interspersed with these conversations. Sandy Crowder is an extremely short segment where Rosamund Pike and Jon Hamm touch upon Rosamund Pike’s character, but it ends before providing any substantial insight. Although these extras provide nominal information, they are lacking in depth and substantial behind-the-scenes content.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Story Behind Beirut: Cast and crew discuss the plot, characters, timeframe, and locations.
• Sandy Crowder: Brief insights from Rosamund Pike and Jon Hamm on Pike’s character.

"Beirut," a spy thriller set against the backdrop of the Lebanese civil war, attempts to navigate the complex political landscape and deliver a gripping narrative. The film opens with American diplomat Mason Skiles (Jon Hamm) residing in a peaceful pre-war Beirut. However, tranquility is shattered when Skiles’ adopted ward, Karim, is revealed to be the brother of a notorious terrorist involved in the Munich bombings. A subsequent attack results in the death of Skiles's wife, Nadia, and propels him back to the U.S. in grief. Ten years later, a disillusioned and alcoholic Skiles is drawn back to Beirut when his old CIA friend Cal is kidnapped by Karim, who demands an exchange for his imprisoned brother.

Despite the film's potential, it remains a formulaic execution of the spy thriller genre. Directed by Brad Anderson, "Beirut" features commendable performances from Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike. Hamm portrays a broken diplomat thrown back into the chaotic geopolitical climate of Beirut with gravitas, while Pike adds depth as undercover operative Sandy Crowder. The narrative threads together well-worn tropes of espionage, including KGB conspiracies and intelligence-driven manhunts, without innovating or providing fresh surprises. The movie's low budget confines much of the action within Morocco, replacing authentic Lebanese settings with makeshift backdrops that barely manage to emulate Beirut’s tumultuous environs.

The controversial aspects debating the portrayal of Arabs and historical inaccuracies pale in comparison to the movie’s primary shortfall: a lack of originality. "Beirut" draws on familiar beats from espionage narratives but hinders its impact by attempting to juxtapose the era's socio-political unrest with modern allegories. This effort dilutes the intended tension and turns the film into a serviceable but unremarkable time-waster. While it fulfills its role as a thriller and provides entertaining moments, it ultimately doesn’t distinguish itself from countless others in its genre. The film commands attention through its competent cast but falters in delivering an enduring cinematic experience.

"Beirut" is an engaging, albeit formulaic, spy thriller that delivers solid entertainment despite its shortcomings. Directed by Brad Anderson and written by Tony Gilroy, the film features commendable performances by Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike, which elevate the pedestrian narrative. The 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio renders the cinematography effectively, while the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track ensures a well-rounded auditory experience. However, the Blu-ray's supplementary materials are sparse and unremarkable, detracting from the overall package.

The plot of "Beirut" navigates through the well-trodden terrains of Middle Eastern espionage, offering little in terms of innovation. While the film effectively manages character arcs and showcases sharp dialogue, it is often bogged down by elements that could be perceived as unnecessary messaging. Universal’s Blu-ray presentation, though competent with both video and audio aspects, feels underwhelming due to its limited and inconsequential bonus content. This lack of substantial extras underscores the overall impression of the film as an enjoyable yet fleeting entry into the spy genre.

Despite its clichés and predictable narrative, "Beirut" is a competent film that provides a decent viewing experience. Its technical specifications meet industry standards but fail to stand out significantly. The film's release on Blu-ray by Universal is professionally crafted but does not elevate the material beyond what is presented onscreen. Nonetheless, "Beirut" remains a comfortable watch for fans of the genre.

In conclusion, I really do hope that micro and mid-budget films like "Beirut" do not fall by the wayside. I love my summer blockbusters, but the budgets for these films have become so bloated and unwieldy that it’s nice to see more intimately done pictures like this crop up on the theatrical radar. "Beirut" was a bit unjustly criticized during and before its theatrical run (mostly criticized for the wrong reasons, as there is ample room for criticism), as it is a competently done spy thriller, but it does fail to light the genre on fire. Acting is well done, the cast was believable, but it somehow mired itself in clichés that have been done a million times before in the Middle Eastern spy genre. Universal did a good job with the audio/video specs, but once again we’re left with a fairly minimal array of extras on the disc. While it may not be the greatest spy movie ever, "Beirut" is a comfortable watch and easily earns my recommendation for a solid rental.

Technical Specifications:

Starring: Rosamund Pike, Jon Hamm, Mark Pellegrino Directed by: Brad Anderson Written by: Tony Gilroy Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 5.1 Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish Studio: Universal Rated: R Runtime: 110 minutes Blu-Ray Release Date: July 3rd, 2018

Recommendation: Solid Rental