Plot: What’s it about?
When looking back at the film career of Woody Harrelson, it’s hard to believe that he got his start on televison’s Cheers nearly twenty years ago. The show was very popular and made it possible for many of the cast to go onto future projects. Harrelson could have got lost in the shuffle, but he’s made some rather unique choices when it came to his film roles. Perhaps his most controversial choice was playing Hustler founder Larry Flynt in 1996’s The People vs. Larry Flynt, a role which garnered him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor (he lost to Geoffrey Rush in Shine). He earned a second nomination for his work in The Messenger, by the same director of the film in question – Rampart, based on the true scandal that rocked the LAPD in the late 90’s.
Harrelson plays Dave “Date Rape” Brown, an intimidating member of the LAPD’s Rampart division. He lives with his two daughters and wives (yes, plural) who happen to be sisters. Though there’s no incest, his daughter somewhat questions the living conditions. Dave is caught on camera beating a suspect who had rammed him with his car. Naturally after the Rodney King beating, this can’t go unnoticed and Dave has to be dealt with. But Dave’s smart, logical and knows how to handle his particular situation. He uses every connection he has to keep up with his attorney fees, all the while still being on the job. Brown knows how to get what he wants through any means possible, but will he be able to talk his way out of his particular predictament?
Rampart teams Harrelson with Messenger director Owen Moverman. While this film isn’t nearly as poignant as that, it’s Harrelson’s performance that both stands out and carries the film. He’s in nearly every scene and crunches line after line of dialogue with the utmost authority. Make no doubt about it, if you didn’t think that Woody Harrelson couldn’t act, you’re mistaken. Despite the low budget of the film, the cast is made up of some Hollywood heavyweights with featuring Ned Beatty, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Buscemi, Ben Foster, Ice Cube, Robin Wright, Anne Heche and Cynthia Nixon to name just a few. While Rampart isn’t nearly as personal or emotional as The Messenger it features a great cast and possibly Woody Harrelson at his best.
Video: How does it look?
Despite the bevy of stars, Rampart is nearly as low budget as they come. But with technology as it is, even the lowest budget films can appear crystal clear on disc. This is the case here as the 2.40:1 AVC HD image looks crisp and clear throughout. What struck me was the texture, namely the ever-changing complexion of Harrelson’s character. His skin looks red and worn in some scenes and clear in others. There are some scenes that show so much detail, it’s hard to put into words. Robin Wright’s wrinkles in her forehead and around her eyes and so forth. Some of the darker scenes do tend to have the slightest bit of artifacting, however. Contrast is a bit inconsistent, though I feel it’s part of the way the film was made as opposed to a fault of the transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack also surprised me. I wasn’t expecting much, but maybe that’s why I was so impressed in certain scenes. Yes, there are some loud segments that really make use of the front stage, but it’s the discrete sound effects that really got me. Things like people chatting in the background, clicks and whirrs and the like. It’s something you could miss if you’re not really paying attention, but it really is an immersive mix. Vocals are also strong and impressive and get used to the sound of Harrelson’s voice – you’ll hear it in every scene. While not on par with an action/adventure film, this does deliver, albeit on a different level.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Unfortunately the film falls short in the supplemental department, though the included audio commentary with director Owen Moverman is very informative. Moverman talks of the script, shooting with such a wide range of stars, the real-life events that inspired the story and working with Harrelson for the second time. It flows well and is a must-listen for those who are fans of the film. We get a “Featurette” which is really much more than that and running at nearly a half an hour, it’s chock full of information from the cast and crew. It’s more like a visual commentary and there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.
