Even Money Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Even Money" from the MVD Marquee Collection delivers an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.84:1 aspect ratio with a level of detail that, while commendable, reveals a noticeable digital look at times. There is evidence of sharpening artifacts, notably halos, in several scenes, though this does not significantly detract from the overall visual fidelity. The transfer effectively handles close-ups and extreme close-ups, providing good detail levels where it truly counts. However, an intentional palette skew towards blues and purples introduces some peculiar gradings that may be distracting for some viewers.

Grain management is generally consistent, but there's a tendency for it to spike in heavily graded sequences and the numerous dark scenes. Despite these minor issues, the overall presentation remains engaging, maintaining a solid balance between clarity and atmospheric intent. The digital sharpening artifacts, while present, do not severely undermine what is otherwise a competent and effective transfer for this Blu-ray edition.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray for "Even Money" excels in delivering a rich and immersive experience. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix brings Dave Grusin's score to life, offering a warm, jazzy ambiance that is reminiscent of Pat Metheny. This adds layers of emotional depth to the film. The dialogue maintains clarity throughout, ensuring that every spoken word is crisp and understandable, crucial for maintaining the film’s narrative flow.

In addition to its musical prowess, the mix effectively captures ambient sounds, notably during scenes set in crowded casinos. The surroundings' bustling noises are intricately rendered, contributing to a more immersive viewing experience. Sound effects are balanced well against the dialogue and score, demonstrating fine fidelity across the board. This technical precision ensures that even the subtlest audio cues enhance the storytelling, making "Even Money" a compelling audio-visual experience.

The extras included in the Blu-ray release of "Even Money" provide a solid array of additional content that complements the feature film. The trailers section includes a clean, 1080p preview of "Even Money" itself, running for approximately 2 minutes and 16 seconds. This is accompanied by various trailers from the MVD Marquee Collection, injecting additional context and depth into the viewing experience. As a whole, the extras are curated to enhance the viewer's engagement with both the primary film and its broader cinematic environment.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailers: Includes "Even Money" (1080p; 2:16) along with trailers for other releases from the MVD Marquee Collection.

"Even Money" is a multifaceted narrative intertwining themes of gambling, crime, and desperation. Starring an ensemble cast including the likes of Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Ray Liotta, Forest Whitaker, Tim Roth, Jay Mohr, and Kelsey Grammer, the film grapples with several concurrently running and interlocking plot threads. Basinger delivers a compelling performance as Carolyn Carver, a novelist whose latent gambling addiction threatens her familial stability. Danny DeVito and Ray Liotta bring notable depth to their roles, elevating the film’s intricate tapestry of character-driven stories.

Grammer’s portrayal of Detective Brunner, complete with an odd prosthetic nose reminiscent of Orson Welles’ role in "Touch of Evil," offers a curious mix of gravitas and eccentricity. Additionally, Forest Whitaker’s character, Clyde Snow, battles mounting debts that force morally compromising decisions regarding his basketball player brother, indirectly contributing to the film's key conflict. Such performances underscore the distinctly chaotic yet tightly wound tensions that pervade the movie.

The narrative complexity of "Even Money" may be its Achilles’ heel as the numerous plot strands occasionally overwhelm the central storyline. However, performances by Basinger and Grammer stand out for their uniqueness and add a layer of intrigue, drawing viewers into a web of addiction and criminal undertakings. These grounded performances are complemented by technically polished cinematography and sound design that effectively amplify the film’s thematic concerns.

"Even Money" strives for depth with an ensemble cast and ambitious plotlines under the helm of an Academy Award-nominated director. However, the debut screenplay by Robert Tannen ends up over-extended, failing to fuse its many narrative threads into a cohesive whole. The attempt at a meta narrative, capped off by director Mark Rydell's closing cameo, likely misses its mark for the average viewer. The film's visual presentation occasionally looks overly digital, but the audio maintains a competent standard, enhancing the immersive experience without causing major distractions.

The English 5.1 Dolby Surround soundtrack is notable for its effective use of spatial audio, with dialogue primarily centered and ambient noises fluidly moving across channels. Dialogue clarity is mostly high, although some characters' low or muffled speech necessitates volume adjustments. The sonic landscape of the casino scenes is particularly well-executed, capturing the dynamic mix of dialogue, crowd murmurs, and slot machines that define such settings. Action sequences are punctuated effectively with impactful sound effects. Contrarily, Dave Grusin’s lush musical score, while enjoyable, often feels at odds with the visuals and might have benefited from a more dynamic tone.

Overall, "Even Money" presents an intriguing yet flawed cinematic experience. The film's technical aspects, particularly its audio design, elevate its watchability despite narrative shortcomings. For viewers seeking a complex drama explored through a multi-character lens, "Even Money" offers moments of genuine intrigue and technical proficiency, though it ultimately falls short of fully realizing its potential.