BLU-RAY REVIEW

Son Of A Gun

Featured In Issue 195, March 2015

Picture4
Sound3.5
WSR Score5
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):
46780
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$
(Disc Type):
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
109
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
(Regional Coding):
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
Julius Avery
(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):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

Son Of A Gun is the rough and tumble story of an unruly band of master thieves who launch a gold heist that goes terribly wrong. After breaking out of prison, Brendan Lynch (McGregor), Australia’s most torturous criminal, enlists 19-year-old JR (Thwaites) to accompany him and his crew in a gold heist that promises to deliver millions. However, as things start to go wrong, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.

Special features include commentary with Writer/Director Julius Avery, the featurette Partners In Crime (HD12:55 ), the theatrical trailer, upfront previews, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 2.40:1 1080p AVC picture exhibits a gritty and darkish appearance at times but with natural hues rendered on fleshtones, though, with variations depending on lighting. The prison and urban setting, as well as the mine, appear stark, except for some interior scenes. Contrast and shadow delineation are decent, and night scenes are realistic. Blacks are deep. Resolution is revealing of fine detail during closeups. While the imagery can appear a bit rough, overall the presentation is visually gripping.

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is generally dynamic sounding, with an expansive music score that extends to the surrounds, as well as atmospherics. Sound effects, such as machines and gunfire, sound realistic and at times are energized with deep bass. As the heist progresses, the sonics are further energized to create tension. This is generally a good-sounding soundtrack, though, dialogue, while decently integrated spatially, can at times be difficult to understand.