Beckett
Movie 6.5/10
Whilst holidaying in rural Greece with his Girlfriend, Beckett played by the ever likeable John David Washington is involved in a tragic accident. His life is turned upside down when he awakes and is mysteriously pursued by crooked cops and officials all out to put an end to his existence.
We the audience are every bit as confused as Beckett as to why these people are trying to kill him. This helps ramp up the tension and excitement allowing the audience to go along for the ride. For the most part 'Beckett' is a slickly paced thriller. The first ten minutes or so are sickly sweet as Beckett and girlfriend April played by Alicia Vikander constantly tell each other how madly in love they are. I believe this was DirectorFerdinando Cito Filomarino's attempt to make the consequences of the horrific car accident all the more poignant. Instead it becomes vomit inducing and painful to watch.
"I love you!" "No I love you more!!"
Oh just get lost will the pair of you!!!
Vikander's support is short and an actress of her calibre wasn't really needed for the role. Another familiar face is that of Boyd Holbrook who can play the sleazy bad guy in his sleep. It's no spoiler as you can see through his characters persona from a mile away.
As far as thrillers go 'Beckett' isn't a bad offering and the action is mostly grounded. However there's a couple of jarring set pieces that belong in say a 'Mission Impossible or 'James Bond' movie. A certain scene involving Beckett jumping from a ledge in a parking lot wasn't fitting with the films more down to earth approach. Another scene where he leaps off a cliff into a tree was reminiscent of Rambo in 'First Blood'. These scenes momentarily took me out of the movie and spoiled what would have been a believable thriller.
Picture quality 9/10
Available on Netflix'Beckett' looks sublime. Presented in 4K with Dolby Vision, this is a gorgeous natural looking movie. Very cinematic with a fine layer of film grain. Detail is razor sharp with facial closeups revealing every pore and wrinkle. Clothing fibre is rendered superbly with the fibres of material being very visible.
Buildings have a rundown appearance with crumbling brick and rock expressing deep textures. This isn't a flashy looking picture rather one that will show off the capabilities of a good TV or projector. Panning shots of the sumptuous Greek landscapes are majestic. Cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom is breathtaking. The Dolby Vision presentation elevates colours giving scenery a more natural and rustic appearance.
Sound quality 7/10
Unfortunately'Beckett' gets a standard Dolby Digital Plus mix. I'm puzzled as to why. We are gifted with a glorious Dolby Vision image only to be short changed in the audio department.
The 5.1 mix offered isn't a bad one but the fantastic musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto would have benefited from the use of height speakers. An Atmos sound mix totally makes more sense. However the mix on offer does a decent job. LFE is handled sparingly but effectively. The car crash scene offers realistic impact. Gunshots have a nice bassy pop but 'Beckett' is subdued in terms of dynamic sound.
It's all about the nuances and fine detail. Crowd scenes and the expanse of wilderness offer great atmosphere. All the more reason why a Dolby Atmos sound mix would have been the icing on the cake.
Final thoughts
I enjoyed'Beckett'. By no means a masterpiece of the genre but it is entertaining and showcases the fine talent of John David Washington. Like his father it doesn't really matter what he's starring in. They both elevate the production just with their presence.
Movie 6.5/10
Whilst holidaying in rural Greece with his Girlfriend, Beckett played by the ever likeable John David Washington is involved in a tragic accident. His life is turned upside down when he awakes and is mysteriously pursued by crooked cops and officials all out to put an end to his existence.
We the audience are every bit as confused as Beckett as to why these people are trying to kill him. This helps ramp up the tension and excitement allowing the audience to go along for the ride. For the most part 'Beckett' is a slickly paced thriller. The first ten minutes or so are sickly sweet as Beckett and girlfriend April played by Alicia Vikander constantly tell each other how madly in love they are. I believe this was DirectorFerdinando Cito Filomarino's attempt to make the consequences of the horrific car accident all the more poignant. Instead it becomes vomit inducing and painful to watch.
"I love you!" "No I love you more!!"
Oh just get lost will the pair of you!!!
Vikander's support is short and an actress of her calibre wasn't really needed for the role. Another familiar face is that of Boyd Holbrook who can play the sleazy bad guy in his sleep. It's no spoiler as you can see through his characters persona from a mile away.
As far as thrillers go 'Beckett' isn't a bad offering and the action is mostly grounded. However there's a couple of jarring set pieces that belong in say a 'Mission Impossible or 'James Bond' movie. A certain scene involving Beckett jumping from a ledge in a parking lot wasn't fitting with the films more down to earth approach. Another scene where he leaps off a cliff into a tree was reminiscent of Rambo in 'First Blood'. These scenes momentarily took me out of the movie and spoiled what would have been a believable thriller.
Picture quality 9/10
Available on Netflix'Beckett' looks sublime. Presented in 4K with Dolby Vision, this is a gorgeous natural looking movie. Very cinematic with a fine layer of film grain. Detail is razor sharp with facial closeups revealing every pore and wrinkle. Clothing fibre is rendered superbly with the fibres of material being very visible.
Buildings have a rundown appearance with crumbling brick and rock expressing deep textures. This isn't a flashy looking picture rather one that will show off the capabilities of a good TV or projector. Panning shots of the sumptuous Greek landscapes are majestic. Cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom is breathtaking. The Dolby Vision presentation elevates colours giving scenery a more natural and rustic appearance.
Sound quality 7/10
Unfortunately'Beckett' gets a standard Dolby Digital Plus mix. I'm puzzled as to why. We are gifted with a glorious Dolby Vision image only to be short changed in the audio department.
The 5.1 mix offered isn't a bad one but the fantastic musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto would have benefited from the use of height speakers. An Atmos sound mix totally makes more sense. However the mix on offer does a decent job. LFE is handled sparingly but effectively. The car crash scene offers realistic impact. Gunshots have a nice bassy pop but 'Beckett' is subdued in terms of dynamic sound.
It's all about the nuances and fine detail. Crowd scenes and the expanse of wilderness offer great atmosphere. All the more reason why a Dolby Atmos sound mix would have been the icing on the cake.
Final thoughts
I enjoyed'Beckett'. By no means a masterpiece of the genre but it is entertaining and showcases the fine talent of John David Washington. Like his father it doesn't really matter what he's starring in. They both elevate the production just with their presence.