Review: The American Side DVD

The American Side starts out well enough as a throwback crime-mystery before, for whatever reason, the writers decided to throw in a “Da Vinci Code”-like story arc that really failed to connect. On the plus side, the cast isn’t bad led by Greg Stuhr (who co-wrote), Camilla Belle, Matthew Broderick and Robert Forster.

 

 

The American Side
(2016)

Genre(s): Drama, Crime, Mystery
Sony | NR – 104 min. – $19.99 | August 2, 2016

Date Published: 07/21/2016 | Author: The Movieman

 

MOVIE INFO: Directed by: Jenna Ricker Writer(s): Greg Stuhr and Jenna Ricker (screenplay) Cast: Greg Stuhr, Alicja Bachleda, Camilla Belle, Matthew Broderick, Robert Forster, Janeane Garofalo, Robert Vaughn DISC INFO: Features: None Digital Copy: No Formats Included: DVD Number of Discs: 1 Audio: English (Dolby Digital 5.1) Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35 Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish Region(s): 1

 

PLOT SYNOPSIS

When Charlie Paczynski’s (GREG STUHR) raven-haired partner is caught in the crossfire of a blackmail scheme gone bad, he trails the prime suspect to the brink of Niagara, only to receive a cryptic warning. Thrust into a world populated by a whiskey-swilling storyteller, strangely bonded siblings (MATTHEW BRODERICK, CAMILLA BELLE) and a dubious government agent (JANEANE GAROFALO), Paczynski joins the quest for a long-lost design by enigmatic genius Nikola Tesla.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES – 0/5

No features were included.

 

VIDEO – 4.5/5, AUDIO – 4.0/5

Sony Pictures distributes The American Side onto DVD presented with an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio transfer that showcases some nice colors and dark levels are stark. The Dolby Digital 5.1 track offers good dialogue levels while the score gives it some decent depth.

OVERALL – 2.5/5

Overall, The American Side starts out well enough as a throwback crime-mystery before, for whatever reason, the writers decided to throw in a “Da Vinci Code”-like story arc that really failed to connect. On the plus side, the cast isn’t bad led by Greg Stuhr (who co-wrote), Camilla Belle, Matthew Broderick and Robert Forster. This might be worth a rental but not much more than that.