McCanick Blu-ray Review

      Actors: David Morse, Cory Monteith, Mike Vogel, Rachel Nichols

Directors: Josh C. Waller

Format: Dolby, NTSC, THX, Widescreen

Language: English

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 1

Rated: R (Restricted)

Studio: Well Go USA

Release Date: May 20, 2014

Run Time: 96 minutes

 

       

        I have to give this film credit for its originality, however misdirected and horribly unentertaining it may have been to watch in execution. All that can really be claimed about McCanick in a positive nature is the fact that it is not a typical crooked cop film. The narrative holds back its final twists and turns as long as possible, almost as though the filmmakers understood that this was all that the film had to keep audiences interested. Someone needs to tell the filmmakers that being cryptic about the plot only works if your reveals are at least half as interesting as the suspense leading up to it. The problem with McCanick is none of it is interesting, despite all attempts at an uncensored performance by David Morse in the title role.

 

        Morse gives everything he has to the performance as narcotics detective Eugene “Mack” McCanick, and the film becomes an extended collection of cop clichés as he distances himself from the department in a personal mission of vengeance. Despite the warnings from his passive Chief of Police (Ciaran Hinds), McCanick goes off of the deep end when he hears about the parole of Simon Weeks (Cory Monteith). He sets out on a personal manhunt to find the young man which results in a series of violent encounters, despite the fact that nearly everyone encountered claims that Weeks has gone clean since being released from prison. The reasons behind McCanick’s obsession with Weeks are withheld beyond the point of logic, giving the audience little reason to continue watching.

 

        Much of the film is so cryptic in its withholding of its lead character’s motivation that the series of chase and interrogations sequences are all but inconsequential. This ultimately could have been a twenty-minute short film and spared the audience and Morse a great deal of anguish. The there is the final performance by Monteith, which is as underwhelming as the reasons behind the actor’s early departure from life and performance alike; it is all sadly pointless.

 

        The Blu-ray release includes a behind-the-scenes featurette, as well as a collection of deleted and extended scenes. There is also a trailer. 

 

Entertainment Value: 3.5/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 3/10

Historical Significance:  5/10

Special Features: 4.5/10



Follow Real Movie News on Facebook and Twitter