Plot: What’s it about?
Daniel Clemens (Christian Slater) is a man of the cloth, but also a man of the world. His faith has been somewhat lost over time, as his focus has shifted from helping the parish to helping the church. Not the usual kind of help, but Clemens steps in when problems arise and the church needs representation. So Clemens has made a name for himself as the man who protects the interests of the church. He does what he can to put a positive spin on bad press or help distance the church from lost causes. In the process, he has lost sight of his divine goals, but a recent case has changed that. A young priest is accused of murder and while the case seems open and close, Clemens believes he is innocent. He has to make the stand alone and without the support of the church though, so his quest for the truth will be a difficult one. But as he searches for the truth, will he find more than he expects and what will his choice cost him?
This film, also known as The Good Shepherd tries to take a suspense thriller and throw in elements of religion to add to the tension. After all, a standard thriller is good, but a thriller with a subplot about lost faith is even better, or is it? Obviously the issue of faith can be used to enhance a story like this one, if done right, but here, it is just a cliche thrown in. As far as the thriller side of the coin, this is another in the long line of bland, cliched ones that take up too much space at video stores. The plot has huge gaps in logic, even by direct to video thriller standards, stuff you just can’t overlook. I appreciate the attempt to throw out false leads, but this one stacks too many and the real killer is quite obvious. But that wouldn’t be as bad if the story itself was good, but no chance of that here. The Confessor does have a few decent performances, but the movie is bad in all other respects and even as a rental, it is hard to recommend.
Video: How does it look?
The Confessor is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. I saw some minor debris on the print, but just small nicks and such. I know we expect pristine prints on new releases, but a few specks aren’t reason enough for rebellion. You’ll also see some jagged edges, but outside of those flaws, this is a dynamic visual effort. The colors are bold and rich, even in darker scenes, while flesh tones remain warm and natural. No issues with contrast either, thanks to some spot on black levels that never disappoint. So while this isn’t a flawless presentation, it is a great one and is sure to satisfy all audiences.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital 5.1 option is good, but doesn’t do much beyond the basics. The surrounds chime in to add to the tension when needed, but that isn’t often. This is also more about subtle touches than power, as power is not on showcase here. A few scenes could use a little deeper bass or extra kick of power, but that doesn’t happen, sadly. I do think the music sounds great and has a lot of presence, while dialogue and other lower impact elements come across well also. No additional language tracks or subtitle options have been included however, which is a let down from Sony.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
