The Film
Director John Frankenheimer's tale about post Cold War rogue operatives gone freelance lacks the usual over-the-top James Bond stereotypes, but features more plot twists than the French roads used for the film's two signature car chase sequences. While many of the questions are never answered - "what is in the case?," "who is the client?" - the lack of answers actually helps make this one all the more believable, and in many ways all the more enjoyable. Sit back, because it is going to be a couple of really wild rides.
The Picture
The Blu-ray presentation is very good with no noticeable artifacts or other digital distractions, even throughout the intense car chase. While the director opted for a muted visual palette with no discernable bright colors, the picture actually looks quite clear. The 2.35:1 widescreen presentation is quite good, although it is this reviewer's opinion that it could look better. There is nothing especially distracting, and in some scenes the little details are there, but in others it merely looks as if someone might have said, "that's good enough."
The Sound
The filmmakers went to great lengths to ensure that this film would have just the right sound, from the roar of the engines to the snap crackle pop of gunfire. This level of clarity and realism carries over to the Blu-ray, while the somber music adds to the mood in key sequences. The DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio lossless soundtrack ensures that you'll hear everything, from the subtle audio cues of ambient sounds to some very loud moments that might just shake your walls.
The Extras
The question most asked is "what's in the case?" One new answer might be just be "the extras" that seemingly are missing from this Blu-ray presentation. As with other shortchanged discs, it is all but unacceptable that at the bare minimum this package couldn't have included those extras prepared for the DVD version that came out in 2006! With just a trailer as bonus features this disc is hardly worth the upgrade from the DVD.
Final Thoughts
Ronin is easily one of the best post-Cold War thrillers ever made. And with a car chase that seems as if Frankenheimer set out to one up his friend William Friedkin's To Live and Die in LA, Ronin is an excellent film to show off a big HDTV and surround sound system. Too bad the list price is so high and this Blu-ray hasn't any notable bonus features to make this one worth the upgrade for now. Now had they done a 10-year Anniversary Edition packed with extras, that would have been something worthy of a heist.
Where to Buy
Product Details
- Actors: Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone,Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean
- Directors: John Frankenheimer
- Audio Languages: English 5.1 DTS-HD, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish and English 2.0 Dolby Surround
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Korean, Cantonese
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: R
- Studio: MGM/United Artists
- Release Date: February 10, 2009
- Run Time: 122 minutes
- List Price: $55.99
- Extras:
