Plot: What’s it about?
A career criminal known as Gringo (Mel Gibson) has found himself in a Mexican prison, but he plans to leave soon and take his recent score with him. The local police officials took his duffel bag with millions inside, but Gringo knows the corruption runs deep and soon, his cash will vanish. But getting his money back and escaping the prison won’t be simple, as this prison is run by a crime kingpin and no one seems to leave alive. The prison is also unusual because the men inside are allowed to have their families inside with them, quite an odd situation. If anyone can pull off an impossible escape however, Gringo is the man to do so. But he also has to survive, which in this prison means fending off both the corrupt officials and the other inmates. Can Gringo escape and get back his haul, or has he met his match?
When it was announced that this film would bypass theaters for a video-on-demand premiere, my expectations for Get the Gringo dropped. And while the premise was a well worn one, I still hoped there would be some fresh blood within the movie. As it turns out, the film manages to breathe new life into the revenge thriller genre, as well as give us some old school Mel Gibson. This is one of Gibson’s best recent efforts, as he is back as the morally flexible action hero he plays so well. He is able to bring depth to the role and really carry Get the Gringo on his back. The rest of the cast is solid as well, but Gibson is the standout and I hope this triggers a return to form for his future efforts. The story is predictable, but the journey is well crafted, with a great blend of action, drama, and humor that seems right on point. Get the Gringo is a terrific movie that is a lot of fun to watch, so if you’re after a great movie night choice, this one is up to the task.
Video: How does it look?
Get the Gringo is presented in 2.40:1 widescreen. This transfer looks great and retains the intended visual design, so that is good news. The film’s visuals tend to run hot, with makes sense with the location and overall tone of the movie. So the colors are more orange tinted, though not an immense degree. The image shows remarkable detail, with even small elements visible, while contrast is dead on. A terrific visual presentation in all regards.
Audio: How does it sound?
This DTS HD 5.1 soundtrack offers an active experience that lets your home theater flex a little. The surrounds get a nice work out, with plenty of action driven moments on deck. These moments can pop out of nowhere, which really makes for a dynamic audio presentation. A lot of the film remains in the front channels, but even then the movie has a rich atmosphere. The music sounds great, while dialogue is clear and suffers from no issues I could detect. This release also includes English and Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to a DVD version of the movie and a digital copy, we have a brief behind the scenes featurette, music video, and three Blu-ray exclusive On Set pieces.
