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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 2.35:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  Subtitles
  • None
  Extras
  • Theatrical trailer - Steamboy, Raise Your Voice, The Forgotten

The Final Cut

/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment . R4 . COLOR . 90 mins . M15+ . PAL

  Feature
Contract

The Final Cut is set in a world where all your experiences are recorded by memory implants which are then edited into a post-mortem movie for your loved ones to watch and remember you by. Alan Hakman (Robin Williams) is a Cutter, one of the people responsible for editing out the worst memories and giving people only good memories of the recently deceased.

Given the sensitive nature of their profession, Cutters must live by a rigid code but when his latest assignment forces Alan to confront a memory from his own past and discovers a dark secret about his own being his life spirals into chaos.

The Final Cut has been likened to movies such as Gattaca and Vanilla Sky which is reasonable considering they all deal with a possible future and how certain technologies or societal attitudes will effect how we live but unfortunately The Final Cut just isn’t in the same league as those movies.

Despite an interesting premise and what should have been a strong cast, The Final Cut fails to generate any sort of intrigue or suspense. Robin Williams has honed playing a quirky social misfit to a fine art but Mira Sorvino who was brilliant in The Replacement Killers just doesn’t fit and Jim Caviezel wins the award for the worst fake beard in movie history. These miscasting could be forgiven if the execution of the story didn’t let them all down so badly. Unfortunately it does and The Final Cut doesn’t realise it’s full potential.

"I forgive people long after they can be punished for their sins. "

  Video
Contract

The Final Cut is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and is enhanced for widescreen displays.

Despite some minor grain in a few scenes the transfer on this disc is mostly very sharp. The colour levels are realistic but deliberately washed out at times and carry the subdued mood of the movie well. The blacks are deep and dark while the shadows retain the detail of the darkened areas well despite sometimes tending to be too dark.

  Audio
Contract

The only audio presented on this disc is a single Dolby Digital 5.1 track. While there are no major problems with the audio there is also nothing to deserve anything other than an adequate rating.

The bass channel only rumbles during the dramatic score at the beginning of the movie and the surround channels are used somewhat cheaply for flashback voiceovers during memory recall scenes. The centre channel is clear and sharp at all times as you would expect with a full 5.1 soundtrack, no problems there.

There are absolutely no subtitles on this disc.

  Extras
Contract

The completely static and silent menu system provides a slight hint that this DVD release is a bare bones affair and indeed there are no movie related extras on this disc at all.

The only extras we get are theatrical trailers for Steamboy, Raise Your Voice and The Forgotten, I'm not even giving one point for this token effort.

  Overall  
Contract

I generally try and find a positive aspect of each movie I review and not needlessly criticise (as I think some critics relish in). Unfortunately The Final Cut doesn’t give me a lot of leeway, it’s one of those movies that ‘just is’ despite some unexpected twists and turns. The story and cast had some potential but just wasn’t exploited and spending 90 minutes watching a movie just waiting for it to end isn’t a great use of time in my opinion.


  • LINK: http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=4919
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      And I quote...
    "It’s one of those movies that ‘just is’ despite some unexpected twists and turns."
    - Chris Hore
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Pioneer DV-676A
    • Projector:
          BenQ PB6100
    • Receiver:
          Yamaha RX-V995
    • Speakers:
          Wharfedale Diamond
    • Centre Speaker:
          Wharfedale Modus
    • Surrounds:
          Wharfedale Diamond
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard Optical
    • Video Cables:
          Standard Component RCA
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