Review of Gingerbread Man, The

Video

The Gingerbread Man is a thriller based on an original story from John Grisham who has written some of the most well known law thrillers to date – The Firm, The Rainmaker and The Client being three examples.

This film stars Kenneth Branagh, Robert Downey Jr, Daryl Hannah, Tom Berenger and the excellent Robert ‘Deep Impact’ Duvall, and although cuddly Ken plays the lead and speaks with an almost convincing American accent throughout the film, the film is full of suspense and atmosphere none the less.

It is a moody, dark, atmospheric piece that is presented on the DVD in anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen, split over 19 chapters. The video quality is high, considering the many darker scenes in the movie, and grain is kept to a minimum. Colours are moody and contrast is maintained throughout the darker scenes.

Audio

As you would expect, a 5.1 soundtrack accompanies the visuals. The action sequences sound tracks are full and varied, and the soundstage is full. Subwoofer action is well defined also with some rear channel action none of which is over intrusive.

Features

Menus are static and as for extras….

….oh dear – no extras at all. When will these film companies acknowledge that the British consumer is now increasingly after ‘value for money’ in their day to day purchases, and is now more choosy in how they part with their hard earned dosh.

The DVD is packaged in one of those plastic super jewel cases which seem to be increasingly common in new Region 2 releases.

Conclusion

John Grisham thriller buffs will enjoy this film, as indeed did I. I was a bit wary seeing Ken Branagh playing the American lead at the start, but he carries this very well, and you quickly forget this is the bloke who played Stephen Fry’s mate in ‘Peters Friends’.

As thrillers go it is quite a familiar plot line: hi power lawyer becomes obsessed with some girl, and is then drawn into ‘a web of deceit and danger’ (sports the inlay card proudly), but the nitty gritty bits of the plot make the movie worth seeing. It is a very dark, moody, atmospheric film that brings the best out of the cast, particularly Robert Duvall who plays the girls’ mentally ill father.

The DVD is nicely presented in terms of the film itself, as we do get an anamorphic print here, but the extras are sadly lacking. It is these things that will make a punter choose from the often more expensive Region 2 release to the cheaper but often not so easily obtainable Region1 release. I do not know what the Region1 version contains but prospective purchasers but may be well advised to check it out before parting with the cash.