Plot: What’s it about?
As a war rages in Afghanistan, a team of Russian soldiers find themselves lost, right in the middle of enemy terrain. The battle has been a blood laden one and one with minimal results, as the Russians and Mujahedeen guerrillas have taken heavy tolls on one another. This band of Russian soldiers is a tank formation, led by Daskal (George Dzundza) and while he might be a good military man, Daskal is like a dictator to his men. Daskal also no sense of mercy at all, as he forces his men to demolish peaceful areas and endanger innocent lives. Now the crew has been separated from the other units and must battle not only the Mujahedeens, but also internal conflict as they begin to second guess Daskal’s orders. The main division comes between Daskal and Koverchenko (Jason Patric), a more level headed tank driver. As time passes, the men must push ahead to attempt to reach safe grounds, but can they survive the onslaught of the rebels and their own dissension? These men knew what war would bring to them, but they had no idea the battles would fought between themselves, as well as with the opposing forces.
I happen to like war movies, so I was pleased to see this lower profile flick released, as I think it deserves a larger audience. This is not the usual explosions around every corner kind of war film however, as The Beast moves at a different pace. It has some action driven moments to be sure and a lot of tension, but it is a slower pace, more introspective kind of movie in the end. I wasn’t too displeased with the slow pace most of the time, but in a few stretches, I think things could have been more concise. The elements come together well however, so the pace is well planned and executed, as the story is told in fine fashion. I do think some parts are a little too predictable, but the characters are well drawn and so the impact remains, even if you can sometimes see the next turn before you get there. I wouldn’t call this a genre classic or even a great movie, but The Beast is an above average war movie and genre fans should be sure to give it a look. On a sad note, Columbia/Tristar has done little to enhance this release, so I think a rental will suffice in most cases. Even so, if you’re at all interested, make sure not to miss this one.
Although he hasn’t directed all that many movies, Kevin Reynolds has had more than his share of fame. Whether it was because a film of his was beloved or because a production railed off course, Reynolds has been involved in some memorable projects in his career. I don’t think this is his best film by any means, but he has delivered a more than solid picture and in the end, covered all the bases and then some. His direction here is always stable and effective, but never flashy and as such, style never distracts from the substance. I think his approach here was dead on and as such, he added another solid flick to his resume. Other films directed by Reynolds include Fandango, Waterworld, Rapa Nui, One Eight Seven, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The cast of The Beast includes Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, Solarbabies), George Dzundza (Species II, Basic Instinct), Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects, Threesome), and Steven Bauer (Scarface, Traffic).
Video: How does it look?
The Beast is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition included on the disc’s flip side. This movie uses a lot of browns and other natural tones, so don’t expect a vibrant, reference kind of visual experience. But the film’s dust laden visuals come across well in this presentation, with no real issues to discuss. The brown hues seem solid and without error, while flesh tones look as dirty and dusty as intended. No flaws in terms of contrast either, as detail is more stable and black levels seem dead on. A very competent presentation and given the difficult nature of the flick’s visuals, I am more than pleased.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a war movie, but there’s not a barrage of guns and tanks rattling off ammo like there’s no tomorrow. The included 2.0 surround track is good though and when needed, it allows the rear channels to expand and add depth to the environment. The music also sounds good, but as I said, don’t expect a powerhouse of an experience out of The Beast and this audio treatment. The dialogue is crisp at all times and never falters, which is important of course. In this version, the dialogue is subtitled when Mujahedeen rebels speak, but some previous editions have not. This disc also includes audio options in Portuguese, Spanish, and French, as well as subtitles in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Thai, and Chinese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some talent files, but no other supplements.
