The Devil's Own Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Devil's Own" exhibits a commendable effort in upgrading the film's visual experience, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses across various reviews. On the plus side, the 1080p 2.40:1 image delivers a firm upgrade from its standard definition counterpart, bringing forth a more detailed and vibrant experience. Primaries are noted to be bold and vivid, with black levels receiving particular praise for their solidity and contribution to image depth. Scenes benefit from a higher degree of detail, especially in close-ups where textures in faces, clothing, and environments like Frankie's boat show significant improvement. This enhancement in clarity and object detail helps breathe new life into the film, offering a glimpse into the potential of high-definition treatment for catalog titles.

However, the transfer is not without its issues, demonstrating a range of technical shortcomings that detract from the overall viewing experience. Instances of softness and a lack of definition plague various parts of the film, with some scenes suffering from flatness and a loss of detail in darker areas. The image occasionally appears dark and bleak, presumably to match the film's tone, yet this choice sometimes results in drab visuals. Inconsistencies in flesh tones and contrast levels are recurrent themes across reviews, with occasional unnatural reds and shifts that can distract. Artifacts, grain spikes, and edge enhancement also sporadically mar the picture quality, indicating a mix of source material limitations and transfer decisions.

In sum, while "The Devil's Own" Blu-ray demonstrates notable improvements over previous home video releases, it faces hurdles in achieving technical excellence. The balance of vivid primaries and improved black levels against the backdrop of inconsistent detail and color inaccuracies results in a presentation that, while serviceable and at times impressive, falls short of the high expectations set by other Blu-ray catalog releases. Fans seeking an upgrade from SD will find value in this release, but those looking for reference-quality visuals might temper their expectations.

The audio quality of "The Devil's Own" on Blu-ray, presented in a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound mix, exhibits a commendable but uneven performance across its runtime. On one hand, the soundtrack excels in delivering crisp and clean dialogue, regardless of the on-screen chaos, ensuring that every word spoken by the actors is easily discernible and well prioritized within the soundscape. This fidelity is complemented by moments of genuine auditory immersion during action sequences, where the low-end LFE support lends a palpable sense of power to each explosion, gunshot, and ricochet. The mix impressively maintains this balance of clarity and intensity, also applying care to quieter scenes which benefit from a believable and naturalistic soundfield, integrating interior acoustics and rear channel ambiance effectively.

However, the soundtrack's prowess in dynamic range and spatial realization doesn't fully overshadow its shortcomings. The action scenes, while benefitting from the Dolby TrueHD mix's ability to create a vibrant soundscape during moments of gunfire and violence, ultimately fail to deliver the auditory punch expected from a film with such high-stakes sequences. Gunfire, in particular, lacks the visceral impact found in superior mixes, with bullets and blasts feeling underpowered. Additionally, the musical score—despite its adequacy and successful integration into the film's mix—falls short of being memorable or exceptionally impactful, serving more as a background element than a standout feature of the audio presentation.

In technical terms, the soundfield is notably clear with precise directionality and swift pans that enhance the immersive experience. Yet, some exterior scenes exhibit minor hissing and air noise, attributed to the original print rather than the mix itself. These imperfections mildly detract from an otherwise competently mixed soundtrack. It's clear that while "The Devil's Own" presents a solid audio experience that manages to bring life to the film through well-realized ambient sounds and clear dialogue, it doesn't quite reach the heights of audio excellence expected by audiophiles and enthusiasts seeking a more robust and engulfing auditory experience from their Blu-ray collections.

The extra presentation on The Devil's Own Blu-ray is Spartan at best, providing a minimalistic approach that aligns with previous releases of the title. Viewers looking for an in-depth exploration of the film's production or cast insights will be disappointed. The disc opts instead for a clear focus on the movie alone, sparingly supplemented by 1080p trailers for Damages: The Complete First Season and Rescue Me: The Complete Third Season, which seem to serve more as promotional content for other series than as meaningful additions to The Devil's Own release. There's also a generic Blu-ray promotional montage presented in high definition. This selection suggests a deliberate choice by the producers to maintain a bare-bones release, possibly due to perceived lack of interest or the unavailability of supplementary material relevant to the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailers for Damages: The Complete First Season and Rescue Me: The Complete Third Season: High-definition previews of other series.
• Blu-ray Promotional Montage: A high-definition compilation promoting Blu-ray technology.

"The Devil's Own," starring Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt, emerges as a paradox of talent and narrative, delivering a lukewarm thriller that fails to capitalize on its premise or the dynamism of its leading men. Under the direction of Alan J. Pakula, the film navigates through a plot that, while rooted in a potentially compelling story about the complexities of the IRA and moral dilemmas, unfolds in a manner that leans heavily on genre clichés without offering much in terms of originality or depth. Despite Ford and Pitt's presence, their interactions feel more obligatory than organic, lacking the intensity needed to explore the nuanced relationship between a cop and a terrorist with any meaningful tension or suspense.

Technically, Sony's Blu-ray presentation does its part, offering a sharp image transfer and a sound design that hints at aggression, but these elements serve more as consolation rather than redemption. The narrative's execution struggles with a clear direction, often sidelining potentially interesting character development for standard plot progression. The film momentarily shines when focusing on its core relational dynamic, suggesting what could have been if more attention had been paid to fleshing out the backstories and motivations driving its central characters.

Ultimately, "The Devil's Own" exists as an emblematic '90s experiment in star power synergy that misses the mark. While it's commendable for attempting to tackle themes of loyalty, vengeance, and the immutable past, it does so with a heavy hand, relying on contrived plot elements and undeveloped subplots that detract from its more ambitious intentions. Despite Ford and Pitt’s efforts to convey a complex relationship amidst political turmoil, the film remains an underwhelming entry in both actors' illustrious careers, marred by predictable storytelling and an inability to fully engage the viewer beyond its superficial thrills.

In our comprehensive review of "The Devil's Own" Blu-ray presentation, the film itself presents a narrative centered around the conflict in Northern Ireland, a premise that should hold promise yet somehow fails to captivate. Despite the potential richness of its story and the inclusion of Brad Pitt, whose performance is marred by an inconsistent accent, the film falters in maintaining narrative momentum. Its pace is uneven, hampered not only by its direction but also by behind-the-scenes production challenges, including script disputes and significant egos. Such factors contribute to a sense that the project never fully realized its potential, leaving much to be desired from the cinematic experience.

The Blu-ray release of "The Devil's Own" does little to amend these shortcomings. Technically, it represents a modest upgrade over its DVD counterpart, featuring a TrueHD audio mix that stands out as its most commendable aspect. However, the video quality disappoints, plagued by a lackluster transfer that fails to live up to the expectations set by high-definition releases. The presentation's subdued and bleak visual aesthetic further exacerbates these issues, doing no favors to a film already criticized for its failure to engage. Additionally, the complete absence of supplemental materials or special features diminishes the value of this release for potential collectors or fans of the film.

In conclusion, "The Devil's Own" Blu-ray presents a missed opportunity to rejuvenate interest in a film that struggles to define its identity. While the audio quality marks a high point, it is overshadowed by subpar video transfer and a stark lack of additional content. This release might appeal to die-hard fans or completists, but it falls short when compared to other high-definition offerings available on the market. We recommend viewers approach this one with caution, perhaps considering a rental before any purchase decision, as it offers minimal incentives to upgrade from previous formats.