Safe Men Blu-ray Review
Score: 40
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Safe Men offers a clever comedy held aloft by Michael Lerner's standout performance, though the Blu-ray's technical presentation is underwhelming.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 38
Mill Creek's Blu-ray presentation of 'Safe Men,' encoded in MPEG-4 AVC at 1080p and 1.85:1, suffers from excessive DNR, resulting in a waxy, overly smooth image with poor detail retention, frequent digital artifacts, and oversaturated colors. While stable, it lacks the organic qualities expected for modern presentations.
Audio: 63
The Blu-ray of 'Safe Men' features an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that delivers clear and sharp dialogue, though dynamic balance occasionally falters, with small fluctuations noticeable when music intensifies. The soundstage is well spread, capturing ambient details, yet evoking a slightly dated, analog feel.
Extra: 0
The Blu-ray release of 'Safe Men' offers merely a minimal A/V upgrade from the DVD, lacking bonus features, a menu, and any supplemental content to enhance the viewing experience.
Movie: 46
Safe Men offers an offbeat, low-volume take on mafia comedy, featuring a predictable plot saved by Michael Lerner's standout performance. Despite inconsistent chemistry among cast members and a sluggish pace, its understated humor and mix of absurdity make it a unique albeit uneven heist film.
Video: 38
The Blu-ray release of "Safe Men" by Mill Creek Entertainment presents the film in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and encoded with MPEG-4 AVC at 1080p. Unfortunately, the overall visual quality is subpar and often hampers the viewing experience. The transfer is plagued by excessive Digital Noise Reduction (DNR), which results in a waxy and overly smooth appearance that detracts from detail and texture. Grain is poorly handled, with the remaining digital artifacts exacerbating the issues. The soft focus on close-ups often leads to smeary visuals, while wider shots, whether adequately lit or not, suffer from a lack of nuance.
The color reproduction, though bright, tends toward oversaturation, negatively impacting visual fidelity. Vibrant colors such as reds bleed excessively, and this over-saturation occurs at multiple points throughout the film. Black crush is noticeable, further reducing detail in shadowed areas and leading to a clipped contrast that strips away additional texture and depth from the frame. Despite stable image presentation, without significant artifacts like cuts or debris, the absence of organic film-like qualities underscores the inadequacy of the transfer.
In essence, Safe Men’s Blu-ray release does not effectively update the film for contemporary home viewing. The digital appearance seems more suited to a bygone CRT era than 2022 high-definition expectations. This release displays various technical shortcomings, including poor edge enhancement that introduces halos and reduces already sparse detail. Safe Men’s presentation fails to meet modern standards, disappointing those seeking a genuine upgrade from previous formats.
Audio: 63
The Blu-ray release of "Safe Men" features an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, accompanied by optional English SDH subtitles. The dialogue clarity is commendably sharp, ensuring that listeners can easily follow the script without strain. However, several reviewers noted that the dynamic balance has room for improvement, as minor fluctuations occur when music intensifies, somewhat disrupting the aural experience. These inconsistencies are not due to encoding anomalies but rather stem from mixing choices that may feel slightly outdated.
The 5.1 audio track succeeds in creating a lively soundstage, particularly adept at spreading ambiance in different environments. For instance, the presence of music from a jukebox predominantly emerges from the right and rear channels, offering an immersive setting in bar scenes. Outdoor scenes benefit from well-executed panning effects, with vehicles audibly traveling from one side of the mix to the other. While the bass exhibits some heaviness, there is a lack of precision, leading to sporadic, uncontrolled rumbles that could distract attentive listeners. The overall mixing leans towards a vintage, analog sound, which could be both a nostalgic touch and a limitation in meeting modern audio expectations.
Extras: 0
The Blu-ray release of "Safe Men" is notably lacking in supplementary materials, offering no extras, commentary tracks, or behind-the-scenes content that could enhance viewers' appreciation of the film. This absence is a missed opportunity to provide insight into the movie's production or to witness retrospectives with the cast and crew. Despite this, the disc does bring a technical audio-visual upgrade over previous DVD versions, albeit modest. The release, unfortunately, skips traditional navigational elements such as a menu and directs viewers straight to the film itself. While the media content meets expected high definition standards, it remains solely focused on the main feature, with no additional context or content to delve deeper into the film's creation or its thematic elements.
Extras included in this disc:
- Unfortunately, there are no bonus features on this release.
Movie: 46
John Hamburg's "Safe Men" lands on Blu-ray via Mill Creek Entertainment, presenting a whimsical take on the mafia mug shot genre with an offbeat comedy touch. Region-A locked, the film is offered in English with optional English SDH subtitles, yet lacks supplemental features. The narrative unwinds in Providence, Rhode Island, where Michael Lerner shines as Big Fat Bernie Gayle, a Jewish mobster grappling for dominance against Harvey Fierstein's Leo, another crafty criminal. Tasking his eccentric right-hand man, Veal Chop (played by Paul Giamatti), to recruit top safe crackers, Bernie inadvertently entangles Sam (Sam Rockwell) and Eddie (Steve Zahn), two ill-fated lounge singers, mistaking them for safe-cracking virtuosos.
Critics often criticize "Safe Men" for its reliance on anticipation in delivering predictable, clichéd situations. Hamburg, serving as both writer and director, conforms to traditional comedic caper elements and sidesteps fresh narrative risks. Despite this familiarity, such ensembles traditionally aim to amalgamate chemistry with comedic flair to compensate for story predictability. Lerner excels, infusing vibrant energy that the rest of the cast sporadically matches. Alas, the chemistry is shaky at best; Rockwell and Zahn struggle to sustain comedic momentum consistently. Notably, scenes like the Bar Mitzvah party appear underdeveloped amid Lerner's guidance.
"Safe Men" opts for a peculiar comedic tempo often likened to background chatter rather than an attention-commanding act. Its soft tone contrasts sharply with the late '90s loud comedy trend. Yet, despite its pacing flaws and persistent monotony, moments of absurdity—characters going up in flames due to faulty pants and a tongue-in-cheek heist of the Stanley Cup—provide reprieve. While romance and gun-staring threats could evoke more intensity, "Safe Men" chooses restraint. It is this intentional low-key quality—alongside Lerner's commendable performance—that keeps it uniquely entertaining within its own muted narrative rhythm.
Total: 40
"Safe Men" is a low-key crime caper that thrives on a comedy of errors and character-driven humor. At the heart of the plot is the talented Michael Lerner, who infuses the film with his adept portrayal of a bumbling yet affable Jewish criminal, providing a delightful anchor in a tale of mistaken identity. The film relies heavily on its ensemble cast's engaging performances, cleverly scripted personalities, and amusing antics, though its comedic value may not resonate universally.
The Blu-ray release by Mill Creek Entertainment, however, leaves much to be desired in terms of technical presentation. The video and audio quality do not significantly enhance the viewing experience when compared to previous releases, lacking the vibrant clarity expected from modern transfers. With no remarkable improvements or notable special features, this version does not compel one to add it to their collection unless found at a deep discount.
In conclusion, while "Safe Men" offers consistent laughs and charming performances spearheaded by Lerner's remarkable role, the Blu-ray edition doesn’t justify a premium purchase. It's a film best approached for casual viewing rather than as a collector's item, appreciated most by fans of the cast or comedy genre enthusiasts.
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Svet AtanasovRead review here
Video: 50
However, this is another area where plenty of meaningful improvements can be made because numerous supporting nuances are not healthy....
Audio: 80
There are small fluctuations that are a tad surprising, especially when the music becomes prominent....
Extras: 0
...
Movie: 60
When Lerner is in front of the camera, the laughs are good, at times even great, but there is plenty of footage where Rockwell and Zahn are expected to lead and they have a difficult time doing it and...
Total: 50
I had a good time with Safe Men because of Lerner's predictably solid contribution, but this may not be enough for other viewers to replicate my experience....
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 40
The little grain that’s left isn’t handled by the encode at all, further leaving behind digital remnants....
Audio: 60
...
Extras: 2
Debuting on Blu-ray, this is purely an A/V upgrade over the DVD (and barely an upgrade a that)....
Movie: 40
Unfortunately, that’s a rarity, and Safe Men is happy to exist in a murky, sluggish zone with everyone directed to stay monotone....
Total: 36
A quiet mistaken identity/crime caper comedy, Safe Men is held up by its cast and their cleverly written personalities....
Director: John Hamburg
Actors: Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn, Michael Lerner
PlotIn Providence, Rhode Island, two inept, struggling musicians, Sam and Eddie, are mistakenly identified as expert safecrackers by an incompetent gang member. This mix-up catapults the hapless duo into the world of organized crime under the intimidating leadership of Big Fat Bernie Gayle. Bernie is convinced they are the best in the business and gives them a daunting ultimatum: crack a series of safes or suffer severe consequences. Terrified and out of their depth, Sam and Eddie bumble through their first job, relying on surprising improvisation and sheer luck to avoid detection. They gradually become entrenched in this new life, trying to bluff their way through increasingly difficult situations while attempting to maintain their innocence.
Meanwhile, their antics catch the attention of Leo, a seasoned safecracker who feels his territory is being threatened by this unexpected competition. As the pressure mounts from both Bernie and Leo, Sam and Eddie's friendship is tested, with each heist forcing them to think on their feet and navigate the chaotic underworld where they don't belong. Along the way, they encounter an array of quirky characters, including an eccentric dance troupe leader whose paths intertwine with theirs in unexpected ways. As their bumbling bravado grows, Sam, Eddie, and the colorful cast around them weave through a chaotic comedy of errors that draws them deeper into a heist-filled misadventure beyond their original intentions.
Writers: John Hamburg
Release Date: 07 Aug 1998
Runtime: 88 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English