BLU-RAY REVIEW

Life Of Crime

Featured In Issue 192, December 2014

Picture4.5
Sound4
WSR Score3.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
46135
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$
(Disc Type):
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
101
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
(Closed Captioned):
(Regional Coding):
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Daniel Schechter
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

Based on the book “The Switch” by Elmore Leonard, the Life Of Crime is about a kidnapping gone awry. When a pampered housewife (Aniston) is kidnapped by a pair of blundering ex-cons in an effort to extort money from her sleazy real-estate tycoon husband (Robbins), the perfect crime becomes the perfect opportunity for the husband to ride off into the sunset with his sexy young mistress (Fisher)—until the housewife decides it is her turn to even the score.

Special features include commentary with Screenwriter/Director Daniel Schechter and Actor Will Forte; three featurettes: Life Of Crime (HD 10:06), Envisioning The Big Picture: Shooting Crime (HD 09:16), and Hit & Run: Choreographing Mayhem (HD 06:30); six deleted scenes (HD 10:20); upfront previews; and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.38:1 1080p AVC pictured was photographed digitally with the Arri Alexa camera systems in the Hawkscope anamorphic format. The picture exhibits a natural color palette, with nicely saturated hues and natural fleshtones. Contrast is balanced with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution is good and revealing of detail in close-ups, but otherwise softly focused. Overall, this is a pleasing visual experience with a vivid color palette.

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is conventionally produced with a focus on dialogue. The lively and aggressively enveloping music score features a nice bass guitar track that sounds naturally deep and full. Atmospherics and sound effects provide directional cues in the frontal soundstage but are otherwise limited in terms of surround activity. While dialogue focused, the music adds an engaging presence.