Plot: What’s it about?
Let’s face it: nothing lasts forever and that’s what Harrison Ford must be thinking. Ford, at one time, was the biggest box office superstar and has starred in some of the highest-grossing films of all-time. These include “Star Wars†all three “Raiders†movies and “The Fugitive†just to name a few. For about 15 years, the guy was literally unstoppable. Then the millennium hit and after “What Lies Beneath†it’s been a rather rocky road for Mr. Ford. His movies haven’t been financially or critically successful since 2000 and both “Hollywood Homicide†and “K-19†left fans longing for the old Harrison Ford. With his latest effort in “Firewallâ€, I’d have to say it’s his best in a while. He plays the everyman so well that we forget that he’s “Harrison Fordâ€. And “Firewallâ€, with all of its tech-savvy glory, takes a new spin on how to rob a bank and runs with it.
Ford plays Jack Stanfield, a security executive at a bank in Seattle. He’s happily married with two kids and an ultra modern house to boot. His friend and partner, Harry (Robert Forester) introduces Jack to Bill Cox (Paul Bettany) under the guise that Bill is interested in retaining the bank’s services. After a brief drink, Bill ambushes Jack in his car, forces him home and then proceeds to hold Jack’s family for ransom. Now here’s the catch, Jack must transfer $100 million to Bill in an offshore account from Stanfield’s bank and not get caught doing it – else his family will perish. This is something we’ve all seen before, of course. Jack must figure out a way to not only outsmart the cunning killer, but he must also make it seem that everything’s going according to plan as well. Bettany plays a convincing bad man and that English accent can either sound very charming or very evil (take your pick). Virginia Madsen is relegated to the role of worrying wife/mother.
“Firewall†isn’t that bad of a movie, it’s not unlike anything the audience has seen before, but I’d consider it Ford’s best movie in a few years. Yes, there are some pretty unrealistic things that happen, like using an iPod to hold scans of a computer screen and then using those numbers to make a bank transfer (or maybe it is possible – I don’t know). But watching movies is all about suspending your disbelief and if you do that – you’ll have a pretty good time. The movie was directed by Richard Loncraine, who also helmed “Wimbledon†(also starring Bettany) and this time around, it’s a totally different result. “Firewall†has its pros and cons, but it’s a good way to pass a few hours – I’d recommend a rental before a purchase.
Video: How does it look?
I actually received two copies of “Firewall†to review, the standard DVD and an HD-DVD version that also contains the standard DVD version on the disc (now isn’t that clever). The 2.40:1 anamorphic transfer looks outstanding and the HD-DVD really shows off what a day and date release can look like. I also compared the HD version to its Standard DVD counterpart and though both look good, it’s clear (no pun intended) to see where the HD version excels. The main differences are the minor details, the backgrounds are much clearer and you get more of a feeling like you’re “thereâ€. Both versions are free of any artifacting and the little bit of edge enhancement that’s present on the SD version isn’t even a factor on the HD version. Flesh tones are precise and the dank setting of Seattle is personified by the constant rain (and you can actually see the individual droplets of water as well). Regardless of which version you choose, “Firewall†will look great though if you have the means, the HD version is certainly the one of choice.
Audio: How does it sound?
Again, the benefit of having both versions of the movie on one disc is that it’s easy to compare and contrast how the SD version compares to the HD-DVD version. The Standard DVD (SD) contains a fairly active Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack while the HD version holds a Dolby Digital Plus version that’s a bit more active. This isn’t the most dynamic audio you’ll ever hear, about average for an action/adventure movie. Dialogue is clean throughout both versions and though the surrounds seem a bit more active on the Dolby Digital Plus version (which it should be), the 5.1 track delivers as well. There isn’t as much of a difference in sound (as opposed to the video) here, but either version delivers the goods.
Supplements: What are the extras?
“Firewall†doesn’t have a plethora of supplements, mainly just two featurettes and a trailer. The first is a conversation with Harrison Ford and Director Richard Loncraine as they discuss the finer details of the movie. The second is a focus on the writing of “Firewall†which offers up some spiffy details, but not much else. The original theatrical trailer is also included and both the Standard DVD and HD-DVD share the exact same supplements.
