Jack Irish: Dead Point (2012)

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General		Extras
Category	Crime Drama	Main Menu Audio & Animation Featurette-Behind The Scenes-3
Rating
Year Of Production	2012
Running Time	83:20
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Jeffrey Walker
Studio Distributor	ABC Films Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Guy Pearce Roy Billing Shane Jacobson Steve Bisley Anthony Hayes Aaron Pedersen Neil Melville Colin Friels Marta Dusseldorp
Case	?
RPI	$49.95	Music	David McCormack

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     The ABC has been churning out some great drama over the last couple of years after a long lean period including shows like The Straits, Janet King, Miss Fisher and more. Another show to join this list is Jack Irish, now onto its third telemovie after two which were released previously. I reviewed them here. The films are based on novels by Peter Temple, an Australian writer who moved from South Africa in 1980 and began writing crime fiction in the mid-1990s. He has since gone on to win a number of awards including the Miles Franklin Award for Australian novels. This film, Dead Point is based on the third Jack Irish novel of the same name, published in 2000.

     All three films feature the titular Jack Irish (Guy Pearce) as the main character, and what an interesting and different lead character he is for a thriller/mystery plot. He is not a crusading cop, prosecutor, private detective or amateur sleuth as most protagonists in this sort of show are one or the other of. He is a gambler, involved with helping colourful racing identities, a debt collector, a sometimes lawyer and a cabinet making apprentice. He is a complex and interesting character who is trying to rebuild his life after his wife was murdered by a legal client of his 10 years before. He spends his days helping out his dodgy mates, collecting debts and hanging round his favourite pub, The Prince of Prussia which is one of the last bastions of belief that Fitzroy Football Club have not moved to Brisbane. His father was a Fitzroy star who died young in an alcohol fuelled fight. Characters which appear in all three films include his boss, colourful racing identity Harry Strang (Roy Billing) and his minder, Cam (Aaron Pedersen), a policeman, Det Barry Tregear who sort of helps Jack (Shane Jacobsen) and TV reporter/Jack's girlfriend Linda Hillier (Marta Dusseldorp).

     This third film involves a drug importation ring which is shipping drugs into Melbourne using exotic cars. At the same time an investigation has been launched into waterfront corruption presided over by Justice Colin Loder (Barry Humphries in a very different role) who also happens to be Jack's father-in-law. One of the exotic cars gets stolen from the docks and the driver gets found murdered. Loder asks Jack to try to find the driver as he was planning to give evidence to the inquiry. Things get murkier as revelations about Loder arise and bring in the owner of a stevedoring business, Mike Cundall (Vince Collosimo), and the owner of an exclusive and very private club for the rich and famous, Ros Haskin-Elliot (Kat Stewart). Harry Strang is also trying to pull a bit of a racing scam at the same time and wants Jack's help.

     This film is good but not up to the standard of the first two in the series although it features an excellent performance in the lead by Guy Pearce. The story here did not involve the audience as much as the first two. It is certainly worth watching but start with the other two. The movie has been very well shot (despite some shaky cam sequences) using the latest digital cameras and production design and stunts are of high quality. It is atmospheric (aided by the quality score), gripping and gritty whilst also having a nice vein of humour driven by some excellent dialogue. All three were directed by up and coming Australian TV director, Jeffrey Walker.

     These movies are definitely something to savour for fans of quality Australian movie making, whether for television or the cinema. Recommended.

Video

     The video quality is very good but not without issue.

     The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

     The picture was quite clear and sharp throughout. Shadow detail is very good.

     The colour is pretty good but certainly a little dull compared to the Blu-ray of the previous films.

     There was some minor aliasing from time to time and a little motion blur.

     There are subtitles in English for the Hearing Impaired which were clear and easy to read.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is very good for a DVD of a television show.

     This disc contains an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1. The soundtrack is clear and impactful with quite a lot of surround presence and front separation.

     Dialogue was generally clear and easy to understand although very occasionally it was a little hard to understand.

     The music by David McCormack plays a significant role in the production, adding atmosphere and style.

     The surround speakers were well used for helicopters, explosions, chase scenes and music and the subwoofer supported the music and explosions.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu featured music and scenes.

Airstrip (2:45)

The Docks (2:21)

Traffic Jam (2:11)

    This third film is available in the US as a Blu-ray/DVD combo. It only seems to be available locally on DVD at this stage. For DVD buy local.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is very good.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall