Matteo Garrone's Gomorrah is a stark, shocking vision of contemporary gangsterdom, and one of cinema's most authentic depictions of organized crime. In this tour de force adaptation of undercover Italian reporter Roberto Saviano's best-selling exposé of Naples' Mafia underworld (known as the Camorra), Garrone links five disparate tales in which men and children are caught up in a corrupt system that extends from the housing projects to the world of haute couture. Filmed with an exquisite detachment interrupted by bursts of violence, Gomorrah is a shattering, socially engaged true-crime story from a major new voice in Italian cinema. (Tricia Spears)
Special features include the documentary "Gomarrah": Five Short Stories (SD 01:02:32); interviews with Director Matteo Garrone (SD 22:37), Actor/Director Toni Servillo (HD 13:54), and Roberto Saviano (SD 43:00)—who is the author of the best-selling book Gomorrah, which made him a marked man, now under constant police protection after receiving death threats from various godfathers. Also included is an Actors featurette (SD 10:32), six deleted scenes, the trailer, and an 18-page booklet.
The 2.35:1 1080p AVC picture is fluid, with camera movements and edits. The imagery has a gritty character, with colors that appear slightly filtered. Fleshtones are uneven and not always accurate. Contrast lacks good balance, and blacks appear crushed, with poor shadow delineation. Overall, the result is a darkly photographed film that effectively delivers a feeling of realism, using low-budget production values. (Gary Reber)
The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a low-budget production, with a monaural focus, though, atmospheric sound effects are present at times at a low level in the surround channels. Music accompaniment is limited, and when present is in stereo, with no surround. This is an undistinguished production but serviceable to the storytelling. (Gary Reber)