Now on Blu Ray, THE FOREIGNER was one of my favorite genre type films of 2017; a bizarrely plotted spy thriller that takes the pulpiest moments of John Le Carre and mixes it in with a spy thriller and kinda, sorta Kung-fu movie with Jackie Chan. If this movie had the Cannon Films logo on it, the movie may have made my Top 10 films of 2017 list. Alas, what we get is an enormously likable thriller that you enjoy while it’s playing but you forget about after watching. There’s nothing terribly wrong with this, either!
After his daughter is killed in a terrorist attack, Chan stops at nothing to find out who was responsible for the bombing. Hiding the fact that he has a spy and military background, he creates havoc for both the British and Scottish government, including Pierce Brosnan in a great performance as a conflicted politician with a previous past in the IRA. Director Martin Campbell (famously known for directing a couple of James Bond films including CASINO ROYALE and GOLDENEYE) dials back his direction here a bit and while he keeps the action and dialogue tight and really lets you have a fun time guessing some of the twists and turns. I had a lot of fun with this movie, as flawed as it is the more you think about it.
About the Blu Ray: VVS Films has a beautiful 2.39:1 HD transfer here that showcases the grittiness of a terrorist attacked London and the overcast skies, while still maintaining a rich black level. The Dolby 5.1 soundtrack (both in core and True HD format, depending on your system) wonderfully showcases some great, if subdued, sound effects along with explosions. But the REAL star is Cliff Martinez’ rich and bodied score (be sure to let this movie play loud on your home system) that really gives the movie its unique character.
Overall: I know I was a lone supporter of the movie when it was released in theaters, I still stand by this slightly junky piece of pulp entertainment that had me completely engrossed throughout its running time. A solid purchase if you are a fan of the movie, but if you haven’t seen it yet I strongly recommend a rental first to see if you like the picture or not.
THE FOREIGNER is now available for purchase on Blu Ray and iTunes in Canada via VVS Films.