About me:Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Member since:11.07.2000
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Review rated by 11 Ciao members on average: very helpful
I've already offered opinion on the film in another section so I don't feel I have to repeat myself here, after all this is a dvd opinion but some like to have a bit of background on the film so here goes.
Russell Crowe plays a kidnap and ransom negotiator brought into deal with the release of Peter Bowman (David Morse) from a kidnap group. Meg Ryan plays Alice Bowman, the wife who's naturally quite worried but also a bit distant from her husband. Naturally there is some attraction between the two which seems wrong to both of them considering the difficult circumstances.
Proof of Life is meant to be an impossible love story but only once do we get a real moment of attraction in the whole two hours and that is the real problem. The film has no real direction and when the most interesting scenes aren't part of the film's desired theme you have a problem.
These problems probably helped steer the fim to very mediocre box office grosses. As a result the dvd is merely average and not the special edition it could have been if it had taken more money.
Warner Brothers track record on dvd transfers for their new films has generally been quite good. Proof of life is no exception with some strong clarity and very solid colour in the print. There are a few speckles on the print towards the end but overall a very good transfer.
The Dolby Digital sound mix is also quite solid. For large parts of the film the sound is confined to the front soundstage but at more action packed times you can expect some good rear action with the usual bullets and explosion type affair.
Some simple but nice animated menus lead you into a minimal amount of extras as well as the standard scene selections.
The HBO 'making of' is pretty standard fare but gives some good information on the film for it's short running time. There is a lot of behind the scenes footage and I actually learned something about the Kidnap and Ransom industry as a result of watching.
Director Taylor Hackford also contributes an audio commentary to the film. I previously heard Hackford's track for The Devil's Advocate and that was an entertaining listen. This is no exception with some good information shared about the movie and the logistical nightmares that came from shooting on location.
Finally there is a page that lists cast and crew but it's just a page of text with no biographies of any kind. It's interesting that there are no deleted scenes included on the dvd as a selection was classified through the BBFC. This process costs money so they were obviously planned but never materialize. I'm sure if the film was more succesful then you would have seen them.
This is a film that in my view is worth a watch but I wouldn't own it. However each to their own, if you like the film then a good sound and picture quality awaits you but a £15.99 price tage considering the extras would have been more viable.
modities: the exploration of an original idea. Kidnapping may have graced our screens in the likes ofRansom, but the revelatory material here exposes a billion dollar industry....
modities: the exploration of an original idea. Kidnapping may have graced our screens in the likes ofRansom, but the revelatory material here exposes a billion dollar industry....
The overall rating of a review is different from a simple average of all individual ratings.
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![Proof Of Life [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78542101.jpg)
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16.09.2001 19:39
Good op. I like DVDs because of all the extras, it's annoying when they don't add many.
15.09.2001 17:30
I wasn't that keen on Proof of Life - certainly didn't bother watching the additional features! :O)