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Release Date: August 2nd, 2016 Movie Release Year: 2015

Manhattan Night

Overview -

Porter Wren is a Manhattan tabloid writer with an appetite for scandal. On the beat he sells murder, tragedy, and anything that passes for the truth. At home, he is a dedicated husband and father. But when Caroline, a seductive stranger asks him to dig into the unsolved murder of her filmmaker husband Simon, he is drawn into a very nasty case of sexual obsession and blackmail--one that threatens his job, his marriage, and his life.

OVERALL:
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Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
BD-50 Dual-Layer Disc
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
114
Aspect Ratio(s):
2.40:1
Audio Formats:
English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
English, Spanish
Special Features:
Theatrical Trailer
Release Date:
August 2nd, 2016

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

I review a lot of classic film noir titles for High-Def Digest, so I have great respect for the genre. And though I can empathize with contemporary directors whose affection for superior 1940s and '50s noirs like 'Double Indemnity,' 'The Big Sleep,' 'Out of the Past,' and 'The Big Heat' inspires them to emulate this seductive style of filmmaking, I wish they would leave well enough alone.

True film noirs flaunt a unique photographic style, but more importantly, belong to a specific time and place. Most provide a snapshot of an era and connect with a social mindset of alienation and paranoia that fuels the gritty stories. While a couple of brilliant modern homages - Lawrence Kasdan's 'Body Heat' and especially Curtis Hanson's 'L.A. Confidential' - dazzlingly evoke the tone and look of classic noir, most of today's copycat noirs feel as if they take place in an alternate universe that bears little resemblance to our current day and age. They're often stilted and stylized, brim with artifice, and lack the sting and artistry of their iconic predecessors.

'Manhattan Night' is one of those films. Brian DeCubellis' adaptation of Colin Harrison's acclaimed novel tries hard, but remains maddeningly inauthentic and never rises above "pale imitation" status. Though it often walks the walk of film noir, featuring such standard elements as cynical, unemotional narration, a gorgeous femme fatale, and a seemingly innocuous mystery that balloons into a tangled web of tawdry intrigue, this by-the-numbers thriller lacks the hard-boiled brand of elegance and poetry that help define the genre. The best noirs build like a symphony to a thrilling and cathartic crescendo of mayhem, despair, and retribution, but 'Manhattan Night' wallows in a sea of exploitative sleaze, and eventually drowns in its own muck.

New York newspaper columnist Porter Wren (Adrien Brody) is "always looking for a good story," but in the age of expanding digital media he believes himself to be an "endangered species." Grungy and unkempt (does this guy ever wash his hair?), Porter combs Manhattan streets, championing the downtrodden and investigating crimes the police have ignored. At a posh party for his paper's new owner, a portly, Trump-like magnate named Hobbs (Steven Berkoff), he encounters Caroline Crowley (Yvonne Strahovski), a smoky blonde siren who hopes Porter can uncover key clues in the unsolved death of her husband, noted film director Simon Crowley (Campbell Scott), and recover the remains of a broken jade statuette (can you say 'Maltese Falcon'?). Porter resists at first, but his chronic sexual frustration - due to his hectic family life with wife Lisa (Jennifer Beals) and two young kids - leads him into Caroline's web and bed. And so begins a torrid affair and methodical march into an abyss of mystery that yields one shocking revelation after another.

'Manhattan Night' has noir potential to burn, but several missteps drag it down. Bland photography lends the film a sterile look that keeps the story at arm's length, and DeCubellis fails to maximize his rich location. Though it was shot in New York, 'Manhattan Night' exudes little Big Apple flavor, thus relegating what should be one of the drama's major characters to bit player status and robbing the movie of essential atmosphere. More importantly, the twisted plot unravels too easily and is punctuated by outrageous and often inane events that strain credulity and dull its impact. The cardboard characters move about like puppets on a predictable path toward self-destruction, with questionable motivations fueling their desires and actions.

Worst of all, so much of the story is designed to shock, disgust, and titillate without any underlying point. The grotesque components continually pile up, resulting in a distasteful mélange of kinky sex, sadomasochistic mind games, and shameless exploitation that completely detaches the tale from reality and alienates its audience. Sure, noir films often transpire in a foreign underworld where corruption, illicit sex, and ruthless power plays rule supreme, but the kitchen sink approach of 'Manhattan Night' bathes us in filth for no apparent reason.

The acting, however, is the picture's saving grace, despite a script that favors graphic displays of sex and violence over innuendo and nuance. (Do we really need a scene of Caroline pleasuring herself in the shower? DePalma did that in 'Dressed in Kill,' but at least it served a purpose.) Though at first glance Brody seems an odd choice to play the hapless Porter, he nicely fits the everyman profile, and his angular features and hollow eyes complement his brooding portrait of longing, fear, and disillusionment. He and the beautiful Strahovski (who reminds me of a young Jessica Lange) create a steamy chemistry that serves the story well, but his tough guy moments don't ring true. Scott is appropriately creepy as the deranged douchebag who proposes to Caroline minutes after meeting her and proceeds to make her life a living hell, and Beals makes a stronger than usual impression as Porter's deceived and put-upon wife.

Though the film takes a few incisive swipes at our digitally obsessed society and the underlying narcissism and voyeurism that drive it, it's really just an unfocused hodgepodge of noir clichés spiced up by hefty helpings of crude sex and violence. I thought (and hoped) 'Manhattan Night' would be different than other uninspired - and decidedly mediocre - contemporary noirs. Silly me. Like many male noir heroes who turn out to be gullible saps, I was duped. 

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

'Manhattan Night' arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case inside a sleeve. A leaflet containing the Digital HD Ultraviolet code is tucked inside the front cover. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Once the disc is inserted into the player, a bunch of one-word titled previews - 'Misconduct,' 'Criminal,' 'Exposed,' 'Heist,' and 'Backtrack' - precede the full-motion menu with music.

Video Review

Ranking:

Color film noirs don't flaunt the striking contrast and stark lighting of their black-and-white counterparts, often preferring a drab, naturalistic palette instead. And 'Manhattan Night' snugly fits that profile. Grays predominate and aptly reflect the desolation of a wintry New York, while a desaturated look mirrors the desperation and angst that fuel the characters. And yet Strahovski is always photographed very warmly, with an almost angelic glow swirling about her. Black levels exude a pleasing depth, whites are crisp, and flesh tones remain natural and stable throughout. A few instances of crush crop up, but shadow delineation is generally good, background elements are easy to discern, and close-ups nicely highlight Brody's omnipresent stubble and Strahovski's beauty. No nicks or marks dot the pristine source material, and the various film stocks employed maintain their integrity while exhibiting solid clarity. No banding or noise is evident, and no digital enhancements disrupt the smooth presentation, which doesn't dazzle, but is pleasing  to view.

Audio Review

Ranking:

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track supplies clear, balanced sound that handles all the subtle nuances like whispered asides and atmospheric rain quite well. Though surround effects are faint at best, some decent stereo separation up front widens the soundscape, and expansive dynamic range gives the track freedom to breathe without any hints of distortion. Bass frequencies are especially strong, providing an ominous weightiness that enhances the story's dark mood, while superior fidelity and tonal depth distinguish the elegant music score. All the dialogue is easy to comprehend, and no imperfections disrupt the purity of the mix. The gritty aura of the city doesn't come through as distinctly as we'd like, but all in all, this is a solid track that complements the narrative well.

Special Features

Ranking:

A fair amount of extras enhance this Blu-ray release.

  • Audio Commentary - Writer-director-producer Brian DeCubellis, actor and co-producer Campbell Scott, and cinematographer David Tumblety sit down for a by-the-numbers, rather sedate scene-specific commentary that checks off all the boxes, but rarely provides much insight. DeCubellis rightfully dominates the track and begins by recalling how the original novel "planted a demon spore in my head." He also talks about how the New York City authenticity makes the movie special, explains how Strahovski's character differs from the typical femme fatale, and outlines a few differences between the novel and screenplay. Most of the track methodically chronicles each shot (locations, cameras, set-ups), and that becomes tedious over time. No anecdotes or discussions of theme or noir style are included, and that's a shame. This is by no means a bad commentary, but only diehard fans of the film will find it interesting.

  • Behind the Scenes Cast/Crew Interviews (HD, 4 minutes) - This slick, generic compilation of remarks from Brody, Strahovski, DeCubellis, Scott, and others features lots of mutual praise and not much substance. Brody calls the film a "straight, no-chaser" film noir and lauds the director and cast, while Strahovski terms her role the most challenging of her career. Interestingly, this piece refers to the movie as 'Manhattan Nocturne,' the title of the novel upon which it is based. Why the title was later changed to 'Manhattan Night' remains a mystery.

  • Deleted/Extended Scenes (HD, 18 minutes) - Four additional scenes are included, none of which add anything to the movie. The most notable scene is an uninterrupted take of Scott that's cut up and truncated in the finished film.

  • Featurette: "The Watcher" (HD, 5 minutes) - More behind-the-scenes footage dominates this brief piece comprised of cast and crew interviews concerning our voyeuristic society and the ever-increasing omnipresence of the camera.

  • Director's Notebook and Storyboards (HD, 4 minutes) - Writer-director Brian DeCubellis narrates this look at the pre-production process, which compares various storyboard sketches to finished shots in the film, and gives us a glimpse of his heavily annotated notebook, which was inspired by Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of 'The Godfather.'

  • Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2 minutes) - The film's original preview completes the supplemental package. 

Final Thoughts

It takes a special touch to create a modern film noir, but unfortunately, 'Manhattan Night' doesn't have it. Although writer-director-producer Brian DeCubellis possesses obvious affection for the genre and tries his best to craft a moody, gritty thriller, the tawdry nature of the tale and its salacious presentation drag what should be an elegant homage into the muck. Plot holes abound and the stylized screenplay often sounds pretentious and affected, which only makes us yearn for the classic noir films of yore. Lionsgate's Blu-ray presentation features solid video and audio transfers, as well as a meaty supplemental package, but such attributes and an array of good performances can't salvage this sleazy yarn that serious film fans should skip.