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Pawn
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray A - America - Anchor Bay Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (5th July 2014). |
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The Film
 There are always multiple sides to every story, especially when it comes to a crime. Eyewitnesses can be difficult to completely rely on because everyone sees things differently; each vantage point provides a unique angle on how events have unfolded. It is the job of law enforcement to piece together these stories in hopes of learning the truth through this patchwork of recollections. “Pawn” (2013) is a crime drama that uses this notion to craft a “Rashomon” (1950)-style film that shows the events of a late-night diner heist as seen through the eyes of those involved. Nearly all of the story elements employed here have been used ad nauseum in similar pictures, but the use of the shifting perspective concept injects extra life into what might’ve otherwise been a rote thriller. Additionally, director David A. Armstrong has populated his little film with some very strong actors, all of whom deliver powerful performances. A late-night diner heist sets the scene for the events about to unfold, as Derrick “The Brit” (Michael Chiklis) and his men storm into a quiet diner and demand to have a safe opened. Charlie (Stephen Lang), the manager in charge, begrudgingly agrees to their demands and opens the safe in back, revealing nothing but paperwork. But Derrick is aware of another, hidden safe that contains a valuable hard drive (this is used too often in films these days) containing vital information. Charlie can’t open this safe, however, because it’s on a time lock. Faced with a wait of 30 minutes, Derrick, against the wishes of his men, decides they’re going to stay and wait it out. His insistence is their downfall, though, when a cop, Will (Forest Whitaker), unexpectedly strolls into the diner and causes panic and confusion amongst the thieves. Additionally, Nick (Sean Faris), an ex-con who was just released that day, finds himself in the bathroom when the heist goes down, leading him to call the police. Now the men inside are forced to deal with a cop in their presence, as well as numerous cops who have surrounded the premises. As the film progresses it’s learned that this is an inside job, with cops pulling the strings to ensure this hard drive, which contains the names of some shady officers, is secured at all costs. But in order to get the full story, viewers are taken on a journey through the backstory of some key players, allowing for a slow reveal of who everyone truly is and how they wound up in that diner. Tension is ratcheted up in “Pawn” thanks to the use of a singular, restricted location. There are a handful of scenes that take place outside the diner, but the majority of the picture sees the main cast relegated to confinement inside. Armstrong wisely keeps the picture tight and under 90 minutes, lighting a match at the film’s opening and waiting for the slow boil to occur. Forces both internal and external work simultaneously against those involved. The police have turned the situation into a hostage negotiation, but a few of the law enforcement officials involved have no concern for saving the lives inside; in fact, one in particular does all he can to pin the heist on Nick, seeing him as the perfect patsy to pin the crime on due to his ex-con status. The only issue is that Nick’s brother is a cop, working for internal affairs, and he knows this isn’t something his brother would do. Once you get past the continual retelling of events, what matters most in carrying this picture are the performances. A trio of leading actors adds a heaping dose of gravitas to the proceedings. Ray Liotta, though criminally underused here, is one of the finest character actors in the business. His character plays a small but integral role, and Liotta makes the most of it despite limited dialogue. He’s just got this commanding presence on screen, a raging intensity that few actors can match. Michael Chiklis is superb as “The Brit”, delivering a powerhouse performance that conveys terror both toward the hostages and internally, knowing that this heist is not going as he had planned. Finally, Stephen Lang is an actor who was mostly unknown until James Cameron cast him in “Avatar” (2009), but the man had been a dependable supporting actor for years before his days on Pandora. Now that his stock has risen, he’s been gracing many low-budget productions and, in the process, stealing the show from many of the leads in those pictures. All of these men are essential to selling this story. This isn’t to take anything away from Forest Whitaker, but his role is considerably less important than those mentioned. “Pawn” doesn’t break much new ground for this genre of film, but it does succeed in delivering a tight, tense story that unfolds nonlinearly, which allows for a continual reexamination of the evidence viewers are presented with. All of the actors deliver strong performances, and the few standouts held to anchor the picture. Those tired of seeing the same old song & dance in the crime genre might find this to be a welcome change of pace to the norm.
Video
“Pawn” hits Blu-ray with a pristine 2.40:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded image that excels in many areas. The picture is sharp and crisp, featuring excellent detail in both faces and fabric textures. The picturesque digital image allows for many small background details to shine through, as well. Colors are faithfully reproduced, appearing lifelike and natural in all lighting conditions. Speaking of the lighting, there’s a wonderful contrast between the brightly-lit interiors of the diner juxtaposed with the darkened streets where the police have set up shop. But even in those less lit areas, the image is allowed to come through with the same clarity thanks to well-placed light sources such as the constant shine of police siren lights and street lamps. Black levels are perfectly rich, with no areas of haze. There are a couple of soft shots during the opening, though they’re nothing to be concerned with. As far as DTV titles shot on digital go, this is about as good as it gets.
Audio
There’s not a whole lot to crow about regarding the English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound track (48kHz/24-bit), though that isn’t a knock against it; it’s just that there are few moments when it will really impress listeners. Dialogue is presented cleanly and centered, with a good balance amongst the other sound effects. Gun shots, which occur infrequently, do pack a nice wallop. Rears only come into play sporadically, though their subtle ambiance does well in making the experience more immersive without being overt about it. Subtitles are included in English for the hearing impaired and Spanish.
Extras
All that’s included is a featurette, but the package does also house a DVD copy if you’re into that sort of thing. DISC ONE: BLU-RAY “Pawn: Behind the Scenes” (1080p) is a featurette that runs for 23 minutes and 9 seconds. This rote making-of hits all the expected notes, featuring interviews with some of the principal cast & crew. DISC TWO: DVD This is a DVD copy of the feature film.
Packaging
The two-disc set comes housed in a Blu-ray eco case, with each disc housed on a hub opposite the other. The cover art has an abundance of tiny, floating heads.
Overall
“Pawn” tries to do something different with the standard robbery formula, and the film is slightly more effective because of it. Solid performances from dependable, seasoned character actors inject it with zest, and the methodical, non-linear reveal of the motivations behind the heist make for an intriguing watch.
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