Focus Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of "Focus" offers an outstanding 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation that accurately captures cinematographer Xavier Pérez Grobet's vibrant, heist-noir visual style. Utilizing Arri Alexa XT digital cameras, it delivers a remarkably sharp picture with vivid colors and impeccable detail. Blue and green tints dominate the palette, but skintones remain beautifully saturated throughout. The black levels are profoundly deep and inky, showcasing the film's aesthetic without causing distraction. Fine details are evident, from intricate textures in clothing and set design to the stubble on the actors' faces, all presented without issues such as macroblocking, banding, or aliasing.

The 1.85:1 aspect ratio enhances both depth and breadth, with breathtaking aerial shots over New Orleans during nighttime opening scenes providing a sense of endless depth. Even interior scenes maintain spatial expansiveness, with restaurant settings feeling naturally expansive. The Blu-ray transfer is free from noise and artifacts, ensuring a consistently high-quality viewing experience. Despite most sets being dimly lit, colors are vibrant and pop when needed, particularly in outdoor daytime shots and neon hues. Skintones are slightly warm and intensified, adding to the dynamic visual narrative without becoming distracting.

Overall, "Focus" on Blu-ray is a reference-quality transfer that serves not only as a testament to the beauty of its cinematography but also as an excellent showcase for high-definition viewing. Its combination of sharpness, color fidelity, and depth makes it an ideal disc for showing off home theater capabilities.

The Blu-ray release of "Focus" boasts an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, delivering an immersive and engaging auditory experience. Dialogue is consistently clear and neatly prioritized, ensuring intelligibility even during complex scenes. The soundtrack is dynamic, often subtle yet capable of dramatic flair, particularly evident during intense sequences such as the car accidents and the football game. Low-frequency effects (LFE) are particularly notable, adding depth and dimension to the more action-oriented scenes. Pans across channels are executed with precision, creating an enveloping soundfield that places the viewer in the heart of the action.

The surround sound presentation of "Focus" shines brilliantly, with rear speaker activity enhancing atmospheric presence through ambient noise—whether it's the bustling sounds of a crowded restaurant or the roaring engines at a Formula 1 race. The dynamic elements within the audio track bring a sense of liveliness and excitement, making scenes more engaging and realistic. The LFE output may seem underwhelming at times but excels during key moments like the Super Bowl scene, adding substantial weight and impact.

Additional audio options include an English Descriptive Video track and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in French, Spanish (Latin), and Portuguese. Subtitles are available in English SDH, French, Spanish (Latin), and Portuguese, ensuring accessibility for a broad audience. Overall, the DTS-HD MA 7.1 track on the "Focus" Blu-ray provides a reference-quality audio experience that effectively enhances its visual counterpart.

The Blu-ray extras for "Focus" provide an engaging and detailed look behind the scenes of this intricate heist film. The features delve into the technical artistry and character development, highlighting the efforts of the cast and crew to create authentic portrayals of con artists. One standout feature is "Masters of Misdirection," which explores the art of pickpocketing and scamming with insights from a special consultant. Character featurettes for Will Smith and Margot Robbie offer a deeper understanding of their roles, while deleted scenes and an alternate opening provide additional context and entertainment. This collection of extras enhances the viewing experience by providing a rich, informative backdrop to the film’s narrative and performances.

Extras included in this disc:

• Masters of Misdirection: The Players in a Con: The art of pickpocketing, scamming, and the professional con.
• Will Smith: Gentleman Thief: A character profile focusing on Smith’s performance.
• Margot Robbie: Stealing Hearts: A character profile focusing on Robbie’s role.
• Deleted Scenes: A mix of scenes cut from the final film.
• Alternate Opening: An alternate introduction centered around a jewelry heist.

"Focus," directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, presents an intriguing dive into the con artist genre. The narrative centers on veteran grifter Nicky Spurgeon (Will Smith) and his complex mentorship and romantic involvement with novice con artist Jess Barrett (Margot Robbie). Smith delivers a performance with remarkable control and depth, avoiding his trademark charisma for a more reserved, nuanced portrayal. His dynamic chemistry with Robbie injects vitality into the film, with Robbie adeptly selling each sleight and con, leaving audiences continually questioning her motives. While the film's structure is highly meticulous, featuring twists and turns that will keep viewers guessing, it isn't without its criticisms. Some find the predictability of its misdirections undermines the film's otherwise engaging plot.

The thematic essence of deception in "Focus" is artistically mirrored in its storytelling technique, reminiscent of "The Prestige," where every sleight is carefully designed to both conceal and reveal truths. The film challenges viewers to keep up with its layered narrative, rewarding those who engage deeply with its intricate plotting. Ficarra and Requa craft an experience where nothing is as it seems, yet upon closer inspection, one finds a meticulous design where each twist is accounted for, including those seemingly problematic plot holes that cleverly resolve upon rewatching key scenes.

Despite these strengths, the screenplay's conventionality in plot developments does detract from the overall suspense, leaving some viewers desiring more originality and unpredictability. The film's reliance on familiar genre tropes could make it less engaging for a seasoned audience accustomed to con artist cinema. Yet, even with these issues, "Focus" remains a commendable work thanks to its solid direction, excellent performances by Smith and Robbie, and polished visual and technical execution. For those willing to embrace its cinematic gamesmanship and overlook its narrative predictability, "Focus" offers a sophisticated and entertaining ride.

"Focus" is an impeccably crafted visual experience, showcasing an alluring cast set against strikingly picturesque locations. While Will Smith and Margot Robbie provide substantial charm and deliver commendable performances, the film struggles to transcend its fundamentally weak and foreseeable screenplay. Despite the engaging con artistry that lies at its core, the movie's momentum falters at times, leading to a somewhat underwhelming resolution.

The Blu-ray release of "Focus" excels in its technical presentation. The video quality is exceptional, emphasizing the film’s stylish visuals and vibrant settings with rich detail and clarity. Complementing this is the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, providing an immersive and robust audio experience. However, the supplemental package is disappointingly slim, with only a handful of extras that, while solid, are relatively brief and add little to the overall package.

Conclusion: "Focus" may split viewers but I ate it up, and didn't mind being an easy mark for Ficarra and Requa. Smith and Robbie deliver, the directors' writing is sharp, and the film has as much fun running cons as it does delighting in their details. Warner's Blu-ray release is terrific too, minus its slim supplemental package, which doesn't offer a lot. The disc's video presentation and DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track make up for any disappointment, though, and leave little to complain about. This one comes recommended.