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Informant (The) AKA Gibraltar
R2 - United Kingdom - Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Samuel Scott (15th August 2014). |
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The Film
 ***This is a technical review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** Always lie. Never betray. When financial pressures escalate, Marc Duval (Gilles Lellouche, Mesrine), a Frenchman expatriated to Gibraltar, becomes a spy for French customs on the nation’s border. Navigating through debase trafficking and shady cargo, he slowly wins the confidence of Claudio Lanfredi (Riccardo Scamarcio), a powerful but dangerous cocaine importer. As Duval becomes further immersed in both the perils and temptations of the drug trafficking underworld he is forced to live on a knife edge, where only his lies can keep him alive. But it is when English customs land to arrest Lanfredi that Duval must take the greatest risk of all, placing his family in the heights of jeopardy. Inspired by true events, the writer of Mesrine and A Prophet brings a hard-hitting, suspense thriller that will make you question the very borders of the land you call home…
Video
"The Informant" is released on DVD in the United Kingdom by independent distributor Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment. The transfer is in the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and is anamorphic. Overall, this is a very solid transfer, with only a couple of minor blips. The palette of "The Informant" uses sun kissed orange hues to help give off the heat of the Gibraltan sun, whilst at the same time, using many beiges, browns and blacks for clothing, interior decor, and buildings. The blacks are inky and deep throughout, and skin tones appear accurate. Details are strong, with those in the shadows sometimes surprisingly so, which is good as several of the locations are rather dark (the bar for example). Closer details in faces look as immaculate as one should expect from DVD, and the light reflections in passing vehicles can really show off the depth of the transfer. One of the flaws with the transfer though, is the occasional background detail which can suffer from being slightly blocky, lacking sharpness and clarity. Another of the flaws is the minor aliasing that can periodically become noticeable, such as in the rims of spectacles, and the frames of doors and windows. Other than that, the transfer is clean, with no signs of damage. The feature is uncut and runs 111:10.
Audio
There are two audio options available: - French Dolby Digital 5.1 - French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo For my viewing, I opted to watch the film using the French Dolby Digital 5.1 track, which provided an enjoyable and technically good experience. The film is very much dialogue driven, often taking part in quiet office environments, meaning large chunks of the track are very front heavy. Dialogue is always clear though, and never sounds mumbled. The surrounds do get treated to some nice subtle environmental effects, and the occasional louder noises, such as gun shots, make good use of channel separation, and show good directionality. The score also makes full use of the sound field, never overpowering the dialogue or effects. There is no damage present on the track such as drop outs or scratches. Optional English subtitles have been included.
Extras
Start-up Trailers: - "The Body" (0:58) - "Much Ado About Nothing" (1:38) Theatrical Trailer (1:23)
Overall
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