The 15:17 to Paris Blu-ray Review

The 15:17 to Paris, directed by Clint Eastwood and shot by his long-time collaborator Tom Stern, delivers visually competent but not groundbreaking Blu-ray presentation. Captured using Arri Alexa cameras and finished on a 2K digital intermediate, the film exhibits a natural and neutral color palette. The childhood scenes have a distinctive maroon and orange hue, lending a nostalgic touch. The high contrast, brightly saturated colors, and sharp details offer a vivid viewing experience. The overall video quality is consistent, with facial details and textures rendered sharply in close-ups. However, background shots sometimes appear soft. Black levels are mostly solid with minor crush issues in dark scenes.

Warner Bros.' encoding choices are somewhat puzzling, as the 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer occupies only 25.5 GB of the available 50 GB disc. This results in a moderate bitrate of around 23 Mbps, which suffices but leaves room for improvement. The disc space could have been better utilized to potentially enhance fine detail and reduce any compression artifacts. The bright, sunlit European settings look particularly striking, with eye-catching greens and reds, such as the red soccer jersey in the final act, standing out vividly. Night scenes maintain acceptable black levels and depth, although more generous compression could further enrich the visual texture.

Maintaining Eastwood's straightforward cinematographic style, the film balances between unobtrusive documentary-like shots and close-ups during action sequences. The consistent sharpness and clarity, combined with vibrant primary colors and strong lines, create an engaging visual narrative. Moments of intense action and character-focused scenes are treated with equal care, ensuring the image quality remains stable throughout. The Blu-ray presentation manages to capture the essence of Stern's cinematography, marking it as a solid but unexceptional offering in Warner's physical media catalog.

The audio presentation of "The 15:17 to Paris" Blu-ray is primarily dominated by its Dolby Atmos soundtrack, though it also includes a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track that defaults on the disc. Despite the film's largely dialogue-driven and laid-back nature, the Atmos mix proves surprisingly effective during the few noteworthy action scenes, most notably the climactic train sequence. The mix achieves a realistic balance between ambient noise, such as the roaring train, and the crisp, clearly rendered dialogue. The subtle yet immersive sound design enhances the atmosphere of various locales without overwhelming the viewer.

The film predominantly maintains a front/center focus due to its narrative structure emphasizing human interactions in confined spaces. However, it capitalizes on the Atmos capabilities during key moments like the active shooter drill and a pulsating dance club scene, where sound effects and bass frequencies are notably heightened. The final action scene on the train is where the Atmos mix shines, delivering a captivating experience with well-articulated verticals and surround engagement. The lively soundscapes in school interiors, city exteriors, and military vehicle scenes further contribute to an authentic ambiance throughout the film.

To fully appreciate the superior audio quality, it is essential for viewers to switch from the default DTS-HD MA 5.1 track to the Atmos mix via the settings menu. Overall, while the sound mix is modest in terms of bombastic effects, it is highly effective in creating an immersive and balanced listening experience that supports the film’s narrative and visual storytelling.

The Blu-ray extras for "The 15:17 to Paris" provide an insightful, albeit brief, exploration into the real-life events and creative choices behind the film. "Making Every Second Count" offers a first-hand narrative by the three American heroes—Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler—detailing their experiences during the attack. Meanwhile, "Portrait of Courage" delves into director Clint Eastwood's motivations for casting the actual heroes, alongside an account of their lives post-incident. Though informative and technically well-executed, these features lean heavily on Electronic Press Kit (EPK) style content, resulting in a somewhat surface-level examination that leaves viewers wanting more depth and engagement with the historical event.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making Every Second Count: Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler recount the real-life drama moment-by-moment.
• Portrait of Courage: Clint Eastwood and his team discuss what moved them about the story and why they cast the real-life heroes.

"The 15:17 to Paris," directed by Clint Eastwood, seeks to dramatize the real-life heroism of three young Americans who thwarted a terrorist attack on a high-speed train bound from Amsterdam to Paris. While the intention and underlying story are commendable, the execution leaves much to be desired. Eastwood's decision to cast the actual heroes—Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler, and Spencer Stone—to play themselves introduces a unique layer of authenticity but also exposes their inexperience as actors. The narrative attempts to build on their camaraderie and background stories, stretching what could have been an impactful short film into an unnecessarily prolonged feature.

The primary issue lies in the script by Dorothy Blyskal, which fails to sustain engagement over the film's 94-minute runtime. The screenplay meanders through the protagonists' childhoods and mundane adult lives without providing substantial character development or forward momentum. The actual climactic event on the train is intense and well-executed, but takes up only a fraction of the film's total length. This contrast between the gripping action and the otherwise lackluster buildup results in a disjointed viewing experience. Scenes like a protracted gelato shop visit typify the film's excessive padding and lack of narrative focus.

Ultimately, "The 15:17 to Paris" is an uneven effort that never fully achieves its potential. While the climax delivers genuine tension and showcases Eastwood's flair for action, the preceding exposition feels tedious and disconnected. Despite its documentary-style approach aiming for realism, the film suffers from a weak script and pacing issues that alienate the audience long before reaching its heroic denouement. While certainly watchable, the film fails to capture the true magnitude of the real-life courage it portrays.

"The 15:17 to Paris" directed by Clint Eastwood presents an intriguing concept, aiming to depict the heroic real-life events involving Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler. Despite noble intentions and a commendable effort from the non-professionals portraying themselves, the film fails to maintain dramatic urgency and focus. The script appears underdeveloped, hindering the movie's journey towards its climactic sequence. While the attack sequence is executed with tightness and tension, much of the build-up feels disjointed and lacks the necessary drive to engage viewers fully.

Technically, Warner Brothers has produced an impressive Blu-ray release featuring excellent video quality with a 2.39:1 AVC aspect ratio and robust audio options including Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core) and DTS-HD MA 5.1. Subtitles are available in multiple languages such as English SDH, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Unfortunately, the array of bonus features is rather limited and not particularly enticing. This further dampens the overall offering, especially for avid collectors seeking to expand their insight into the film's production and themes.

In conclusion, "The 15:17 to Paris" is a swing and a miss from the acclaimed director. While the final act provides a gripping reenactment of the real-life heroism, the preceding segments fail to captivate, making this more suitable as a one-time rental rather than a purchase. Nevertheless, it’s not without merit – fans of Eastwood and those interested in seeing the true events unfold may still find value in viewing.

Recommendation: Rental