Spartan (2004) |
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General | Extras | ||
Category | Thriller |
Main Menu Audio & Animation Audio Commentary-Val Kilmer Trailer-The Statement, The Missing, Shattered Glass |
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Rating | |||
Year Of Production | 2004 | ||
Running Time | 102:08 | ||
RSDL / Flipper | No/No | Cast & Crew | |
Start Up | Menu | ||
Region Coding | 4 | Directed By | David Mamet |
Studio
Distributor |
Sony Pictures Home Entertain |
Starring |
Tia Texada Derek Luke Val Kilmer Jeremie Campbell Bob Jennings Lionel Mark Smith Johnny Messner Chris LaCentra Renato Magno Mark FitzGerald Tony Mamet Clark Gregg Ron Butler |
Case | ? | ||
RPI | $39.95 | Music | Mark Isham |
Video | Audio | ||
Pan & Scan/Full Frame | None |
English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) |
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Widescreen Aspect Ratio | 1.78:1 | ||
16x9 Enhancement |
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Video Format | 576i (PAL) | ||
Original Aspect Ratio | 2.35:1 | Miscellaneous | |
Jacket Pictures | No | ||
Subtitles | None | Smoking | Yes |
Annoying Product Placement | Yes, Johnson & Johnson at 44:15. | ||
Action In or After Credits | No |
The less said about the plot, the better; suffice it to say that someone very important has disappeared from her college dorm, and the go-to men of the American government are about to move heaven and earth to find her. Assisting them is the probably-pseudonymous Scott (Val Kilmer), a highly capable and experienced operative whose actual position is shadowy at best. As the clock ticks, and the likelihood grows that the missing girl will be killed, Scott’s warrior nature – his determination to carry out his mission without concern for whys or wherefores, or even his own life – leads him into actions he could scarcely have imagined.
Full of Mamet’s trademark dialogue, coloured by his cynical worldview, and peopled with many past collaborators, Spartan is nonetheless very different in tone and style to previous works like State and Main or The Spanish Prisoner. There are continuities between Mamet films, but he doesn’t make the same picture over and over again; he chooses a particular genre and explores it faithfully, whether it be the backstage comedy or the paranoid thriller. Spartan has an obsessive single-mindedness to it, a spareness of sound and look that suits the subject matter perfectly. Star Val Kilmer turns in a committed and convincing performance, totally inhabiting the physical and mental persona of his mysterious man of action. He is surrounded by an able supporting cast, including a very vulnerable Kristin Bell as the girl, and a thoroughly Rumsfeldian Ed O’Neill as government security chief Birch.
Beyond making a thriller, Mamet has two additional purposes here. The first is to examine the mindset of a man who is able to subordinate all goals, values and questions of morality to the larger call of duty. Spartan suggests that this discipline in fact grants a kind of freedom, a release from the constraints of judgment; yet it also leaves the warrior vulnerable to the manipulations of those to whom his duty is owed. This theme is well developed and thought-provoking. Mamet’s second goal is to portray the inner workings of the American executive branch. Prior political views will decide whether you find his take provocative or passé. I think it makes for a good movie, and a bad description of reality. But what do I know? Spartan is worth seeing, either way.
The transfer is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, and is 16x9 enhanced. The original theatrical ratio, however, was 2.35:1. Why the difference? I dunno.
The image is sharp and clear at all times. Spartan interweaves shadow and light to excellent effect; the transfer conveys plenty of shadow detail, and doesn’t mar it with low level noise.
The colours are naturalistic, neither washed out nor punched up; when occasional pure tones shine through, though, like the purple light at 19:45 or the yellow at 50:40, they are clear and attractive. There are no colour artefacts.
Remarkably enough, the transfer manages to avoid aliasing on the blinds at 11:00. There is some, however, on the hangar at 49:29. There’s also some shimmer on the roof at 75:55. Otherwise, there are no film to video artefacts. Oddly, for so recent a film, the transferred print was not pristine, and there is a smattering of small film artefacts.
There are no subtitles at all on this disc. This is exceptionally annoying for those of us – like me! – who would like to share Spartan with a hearing-impaired loved one. Boo!
Sharpness | |
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Overall |
There are two audio tracks: a default English Dolby Digital 2.0 track at 192 Kbps, and a commentary by Val Kilmer, also in Dolby Digital 2.0 at 192Kbps.
Dialogue was clear on both tracks, and unmarred by hiss, clicks or dropouts. There were no synchronisation problems.
The tense, percussive score is by the talented Mark Isham (Cool World), and is perfectly suited to the film that it accompanies; it adds pace and emotion, but always with subtlety and reserve. It sounds perfectly fine – though hardly enveloping.
The reason for the lack of envelopment is, of course, that this is a Dolby Digital 2.0 track. So no surround usage!
Nor is there a dedicated channel for the subwoofer. So not much joy there either, bar any bass your system might redirect.
Dialogue | |
Audio Sync | |
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Surround Channel Use | |
Subwoofer | |
Overall |
There’s only one significant extra here, but it’s a good ‘un.
NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
The Region 4 version of this disc misses out on;
The video quality is good – except that we’re missing part of the image!
The audio quality is fine – except that we’re missing the main soundtrack!
The extras are good. Well, the commentary is.
Video | |
Audio | |
Extras | |
Plot | |
Overall |
Review Equipment | |
DVD | Sony DVP-NS730P, using Component output |
Display | Panasonic PT-AE500E projecting onto 100" screen. This display device has not been calibrated. This display device is 16x9 capable. |
Audio Decoder | Built in to amplifier/receiver. This audio decoder/receiver has not been calibrated. |
Amplification | Onkyo TX-SR601 with DD-EX and DTS-ES |
Speakers | Jensen SPX-7 fronts, Jensen SPX-13 centre and rear centre, Jensen SPX-4 surrounds, Jensen SPX-17 subwoofer |