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Title:
Undertow
Region:
One
Genre:
Thriller
Stars:
Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Devon Alan, Jamie Bell, and Sheri Appleby
Writers:
Joe Conway and David Gordon Green
Director:
David Gordon Green
Extras:
Director and Actor Audio Commentary, Making-Of Documentary, Slideshow Photo
Gallery, Deleted Scenes, Trailer, and Previews
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Spanish and Portuguese Language
Dubbed Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Closed Captions and English, French, and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 20
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 2004/DVD Release: 2005
Theatrical
Distributor: United Artists
Home
Video Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Undertow”
is a compelling thriller set in rural Georgia. The story has subtle biblical
undertones with imagery that may remind viewers of both Old and New Testament
scriptures and yet the film has a strange otherworldly quality as well. There is
nothing glamorous or pretty about this motion picture. It is actually grittier
than some urban thrillers. Josh Lucas and Dermot Mulroney play brothers. One has
just returned home after serving time in prison and is jealous of his brother
because he perceives him as having stolen the life he should have had. There is
arguable evidence that suggests that this could be correct, but the other
brother is more of a straight-laced man, eager to keep his family enact while
giving his visiting brother a second chance to start over.
Things
soon turn ugly and the two sons are soon on the run after witnessing a murder.
From here on we follow the brothers on an odyssey through the rural south with
interesting characters along the way. The film also contains some imagery
related to Greek mythology as well. While definitely not a feel good feature
film, “Undertow” is an above average thriller worth checking out.
Presented
in an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio that preserves the manner in which the
film was exhibited theatrically as close as possible for home video users, the
picture quality on “Undertow” is superb. The English Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Soundtrack is a little too subdued at times. I suggest raising the
volumes 5 to ten decibels higher than normal for the best effect. A Spanish and
a Portuguese Language Dubbed Dolby Surround Soundtrack is also encoded onto the
DVD along with English Closed Captions for the hearing impaired and English,
French, Spanish, and Portuguese Language Subtitles as options. Actor Jamie Bell
and Writer and Director David Gordon Green provide an introspective and screen
specific feature length audio commentary track too.
Josh
Lucas gives an optional introduction (: 39) for a behind-the-scenes documentary
(27:50) he co-directed and produced with his brother while on location during
the production. There are two deleted scenes labeled as “The Pelas’ Baby”
and “On The Riverbank” that can be viewed individually or by utilizing the
“Play All” feature (6:21). A slide show photo gallery (4:42) and the
theatrical trailer (1:49) as well as bonus previews that include “Wakling
Tall”, “Code 46”, “Die Another Day”, and “Assassination Tango”
wrap up the extra value features on this DVD.
The
main menu is beautifully rendered with animated transitions to standard
interactive still frame menus that are easy to navigate. “Undertow” will
debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at retailers on and offline
courtesy of Metro Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2005 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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