Criminal Activities Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray video presentation of Criminal Activities is commendable, offering a rich and detailed viewing experience. Shot on Alexa by cinematographer Seamus Tierney, the film benefits from RLJ/Image's competent 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer, most likely derived from digital files. The visual fidelity is impressive, with a saturated palette that enhances the movie's increasingly surreal events. The BD-25 disc supports a decent average bitrate of 23.98 Mbps, ensuring good compression performance. The transfer's black levels, contrast, and densities are solid, and there are no visible noise, interference, or artifacts that detract from the film’s visual quality.

Daylight scenes in Criminal Activities offer ample detail and vibrant colors, whereas nighttime sequences maintain appropriate dullness depending on the light source, mirroring the film's dive-bar aesthetic with low lighting. This results in colors that don't particularly pop but serve the film's tone well. Flesh tones are rendered accurately, and black levels are inky enough to provide substantial image depth. Although it may not be a groundbreaking transfer, it stands as a solid high-definition representation befitting modern Blu-ray standards.

"Criminal Activities" comes equipped with a robust English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, blending dynamic sound effects, a compelling score, and clear dialogue to good effect. The film's musical score, composed by Keefus Ciancia, utilizes electronic beats and textures to set the mood, standing in for more traditional ambient sounds. This score is expertly distributed through the surround channels, creating an almost omnipresent auditory layer that overlays the on-screen action, enhancing the overall atmosphere.

Dialogue is well-prioritized and sharply rendered, ensuring that conversations are never lost amidst the backdrop of busy soundscapes. Surround channels engage consistently, providing additional sensory details, even during quieter scenes. For example, nuanced sounds like waitresses serving drinks or the hum of passing cars are clear and immersive, contributing to strong audio imaging. However, during more chaotic scenes with overlapping dialogue and swelling music, levels can become slightly overwhelming. Keeping an eye on volume adjustments might be prudent during these intense sequences to maintain an optimal listening experience. Overall, this is a solid and immersive audio presentation that thoroughly complements the visual storytelling.

The Extras on the Blu-ray of "Criminal Activities" are a fairly standard offering, providing some insightful yet largely promotional content. The interview with John Travolta and Jackie Earle Haley, though clearly designed for marketing, offers an interesting glimpse into Travolta's experiences with various directors. The deleted scenes are brief and were likely cut for pacing purposes, adding minimal value to the overall narrative. Upon startup, the disc automatically plays trailers for "Pay the Ghost," "Return to Sender," and "Bone Tomahawk," which can be skipped with the chapter forward button but are not accessible once the main menu loads.

Extras included in this disc:

Interview with John Travolta and Jackie Earle Haley: Promotional yet insightful discussion about the film.

Deleted Scenes: Two brief scenes that were cut, likely due to pacing issues.

Introductory Trailers: Previews for other films that play at startup but can be skipped.

**Criminal Activities unfolds as an intriguing narrative with an offbeat visual style crafted by Jackie Earle Haley, marking his directorial debut. The cast includes notable performances from John Travolta, who delivers an eccentric portrayal of mob boss Eddie Lovato. His performance, along with the film's verbose and meandering dialogue, shows clear influences from Tarantino’s style, though it lacks the coherence of Pulp Fiction. The film revolves around four former classmates who, after sinking their money into a doomed investment, find themselves indebted to Lovato and forced into executing a perilous kidnapping. Haley's flair for fluid camera work and pace is evident, yet his dual role as actor-director seems to skew focus, giving him some of the best scenes while leaving other narrative threads underdeveloped.

**Although marketed as a psychological thriller peppered with dark humor, Criminal Activities struggles with tonal inconsistency. Moments of intense suspense are frequently undercut by humor, primarily through Haley’s character Gerry, who, despite delivering some strong scenes, feels superfluous to the plot. Despite the intriguing premise and vibrant performances—particularly from leads like Michael Pitt and Dan Stevens—the plot’s twists and turns often feel contrived, climaxing in an ending that may not satisfy all viewers. While the film’s dialogue works well as misdirection, its attempt to balance humor with high-stakes tension often disrupts narrative cohesion.

**Overall, Criminal Activities offers an enjoyable but flawed experience driven by performances more than narrative depth. Travolta’s colorful performance and Haley’s directorial ambition show promise. However, the film ultimately falls short due to its muddled tone and uneven character development. Future projects from Haley may benefit from more focused storytelling and restrained self-involvement, potentially allowing his directorial talents to shine through more clearly.

'Criminal Activities' presents a successful, albeit imperfect, directorial debut for Jackie Earle Haley. As an entertaining dark comedy/thriller, the movie showcases commendable performances that enhance its appeal. While it may not reach the heights of cinematic excellence, it delivers sufficient enjoyment to warrant at least a single viewing. The script wavers at times, perhaps reflecting the chasm between the film’s gritty narrative and the sophisticated pedigree of Robert Lowell, to whom the screenplay is attributed.

The Blu-ray release by RJL offers a decent A/V presentation that, while adequate, is far from groundbreaking. The video quality maintains a clean and sharp appearance throughout, but it lacks the crisp and immersive detail seen in more high-end transfers. Similarly, the audio track delivers clear dialogue and a reasonable dynamic range but doesn't particularly excel in terms of impact or spatial immersion. The extras included are minimal, offering only slight additional insight into the movie’s production and themes.

In conclusion, 'Criminal Activities' stands out as a film with modest yet palpable merits. It navigates its genre corners effectively enough to be engaging, and Jackie Earle Haley’s direction shows promise. However, it ultimately feels more suited for a rental than a permanent spot in one's collection. While the narrative’s connection to Robert Lowell may raise eyebrows, it remains an intriguing talking point and adds a subtle layer of curiosity to the experience.