Allegiance Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Allegiance" presents a commendable 1080p HD transfer in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio. Shot digitally on the Red system by cinematographer Daniel Vecchione, the film maintains a detailed and sharp picture with an impressive lack of the harsh digital edges typical of such cameras. This is notably achieved through the use of vintage lenses, which mitigate the digital sharpness without sacrificing detail. The image quality is further supported by good black levels, ensuring that even in dimly lit, crowded interior scenes, shadow details remain crisp and clear. The framing, often tight on groups of soldiers within confined spaces, enhances the film’s thematic sense of claustrophobia.

Vecchione and director Connors deliberately desaturated the film to near black-and-white levels, contributing to a somber and confined atmosphere reminiscent of classic war films like "Stalag 17." This choice to omit bright or saturated colors creates a uniformly muted palette that underscores the narrative's bleak tone. Despite this lack of color, the image depth is remarkable, allowing tiny imperfections and details to be clearly visible throughout the film. Technically, the presentation is clean and precise, showing no signs of edge enhancement, aliasing, or artifacting. The disc’s mastering is efficient and artifact-free, providing an exceptional video presentation of a 91-minute film comfortably fitting on a BD-25 disc without compromise.

The audio presentation of "Allegiance" on Blu-Ray features a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix that displays a remarkable balance between dialogue, ambient noise, and musical score. While the film eschews typical explosive war sound effects for a more nuanced sound design, viewers are treated to subtle yet effective auditory elements. Sounds of the base, such as helicopters, vehicles, and distant voices, are frequently positioned in the surrounds, creating an immersive experience. These auditory cues effectively enhance the atmosphere, making viewers acutely aware of the setting even as the action remains subdued.

Dialogue is consistently clear and precisely centered, allowing for a seamless narrative flow. The musical score, shared among four composers, perfectly underscores the film’s tone, offering a sense of urgency without overshadowing other sound elements. Though some rear ambient noises are occasionally quieter than expected, they still contribute effectively to the overall immersive quality. The mix ensures that no single element overwhelms the others, maintaining a balanced auditory field that supports the film's dramatic tension.

Overall, the DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix on this Blu-Ray is thoroughly competent. It prioritizes clarity in dialogue and subtlety in ambient sounds, which align well with the film's focus on narrative and atmosphere over bombastic action sequences. The audio mix might not deliver high-octane excitement typical of war films, but its strength lies in its ability to complement the film's more introspective nature.

The Blu Ray of "Allegiance" features a well-rounded collection of extras that provide significant insights into the film's creation and authenticity. The commentary track with Writer/Director Michael Collins, Producer Sean Mullin, and Actor Seth Gabel is particularly engaging, offering detailed background on the development of the project, production processes, and the filmmakers' efforts to achieve military accuracy despite the lack of official support from the U.S. military. The commentary also delves into the real-life experiences that inspired Collins to create the movie. Complementing this is a brief but informative featurette on the making of the film, as well as several trailers.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary with Writer/Director Michael Collins, Producer Sean Mullin and Actor Seth Gabel: Engaging commentary focusing on development, production processes, and military authenticity.
• The Making of Allegiance: Brief EPK featuring cast and crew interviews.
• Trailer: Promotional trailer for the film.
• Additional Trailers: Includes trailers for "We the Party" and "96 Minutes."

"Allegiance" is a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of the U.S. war in Iraq that deftly avoids political pitfalls, delivering an intense and credible portrayal infused with writer/director Michael Connors' personal military experience. Connors' directorial debut functions as a tension-filled chase film, akin to a prison escape thriller, maintaining an apolitical stance while exploring the intricate dynamics of National Guard deployments. Due to financial constraints, Connors cleverly confines the story to a single Army base over 24 hours, resulting in a claustrophobic atmosphere that intensifies the drama. His authentic touch is evident, given his background as an Army officer and the inclusion of military veterans in various roles within the film's production.

The plot unravels starting from a high-stakes teaser and rewinds twelve hours to October 2004 at Camp Sullivan, New York, where National Guard units face imminent deployment to Iraq. The narrative centers on Lt. Danny Sefton (Seth Gabel), viewed suspiciously by his comrades for supposedly leveraging his family's political connections to secure a transfer to a desk job, just as his unit prepares to deploy. The arrival of Lt. Alec Chambers (Pablo Schreiber), a seasoned West Point graduate reactivated through the IRR program, further complicates the atmosphere. The tension peaks with the storyline of Specialist Chris Reyes (Bow Wow), whose son is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Sefton assists Reyes in an AWOL bid when his compassionate reassignment request is denied by Colonel Owens (Aidan Quinn).

"Allegiance" effectively mimics a prison escape movie, blending meticulously crafted scenes filled with suspense and tactical maneuvers on a fortified base. The cast delivers outstanding performances, particularly Schreiber as the hardened, rule-abiding Chambers, making for an intricate portrayal devoid of clear villains. Each character's actions reflect a different moral compass under duress, contributing to a nuanced exploration of duty and personal sacrifice. The film's realism and attention to detail offer a unique addition to the war genre, prioritizing character-driven storytelling over grandiose combat sequences. This Blu-ray release underscores Connors' dedication to authenticity and craftsmanship, yielding a gripping cinematic experience.

"Allegiance" lures the viewer into its world with the simple mechanics of Specialist Reyes's predicament: How can he get off the base? Where can he hide? Who will help him? How can he rendezvous with the relative who is coming to pick him up? As a director, Connors takes the time and demonstrates the skill to make these logistics interesting and suspenseful. He has enough faith in both his material and his actors to let the larger questions raised by the specialist's decision unfold on their own, as those around Reyes are forced to react and choose a side. In the last twenty minutes of the film, as tempers flare and violence erupts, questions of duty and sacrifice that are so often debated in the abstract become all too real. Lives hang in the balance, and no one has even left America yet. Highly recommended.

"Allegiance" is one hell of a movie. It's tense, thrilling, and fun to watch. It offers a different look at the modern war genre and is quite refreshing in that respect. The video and audio are solid with a very good commentary track. Despite its lack of extras, this movie receives my recommendation. One of the better motion pictures I've seen set during the Iraq war with solid performances from everyone.

Connors' direction in "Allegiance" showcases his ability to maintain tension through meticulous pacing and character-driven storytelling. The film dives deep into themes of duty and sacrifice, avoiding easy answers while keeping viewers on edge. While the disc may lack extensive bonus features, it compensates with robust video and audio quality, enhancing the immersive experience.

In conclusion, "Allegiance" stands as a compelling war drama that balances intense action with thoughtful moral quandaries, driven by strong performances and excellent direction. Its technical presentation in Blu-ray format preserves the film's gripping atmosphere, making it a highly recommended addition to any collection.