The Contractor is a competent action-thriller with a fantastic cast that only heightens an otherwise basic story. Out today on 4k and Blu-ray!
“Chris Pine stars in this action-packed thriller as Special Forces Sergeant James Harper, who is involuntarily discharged from the Army and cut off from his pension. In debt, out of options and desperate to provide for his family, Harper contracts with a private underground military force. When the very first assignment goes awry, the elite soldier finds himself hunted and on the run, caught in a dangerous conspiracy and fighting to stay alive long enough to get home and uncover the true motives of those who betrayed him. Also starring Ben Foster, Gillian Jacobs, Eddie Marsan and Kiefer Sutherland.”
There are some films that fly under the radar, and for me, The Contractor was way under the radar. With a major studio and a superb cast, I was honestly surprised I hadn’t heard more about this one. Despite its relative anonymity, the film boasts a simple yet engaging story that keeps your attention throughout, a definite surprise going in.
The film follows Chris Pine’s character James Harper, who is struggling to provide for his family as it is, and is then discharged from military service due to certain actions following an injury on a previous deployment. With little where else to turn, he’s welcomed into a small private organization that runs off-the-book operations for the government. Promising his wife (Gillian Jacobs) that it’s all safe and pays good money, he accepts an assignment with an old friend (Ben Foster), that takes him to Europe on a reconnaissance mission involving a potential terrorist scientist who is developing biological weapons. Things don’t go as planned, and when the mission takes a turn for the worse, Harper doesn’t know who to trust, and where to turn.
As I said, it’s a simple premise, done before in other films. While The Contractor really doesn’t bring anything new to the table, I will say that it’s well acted. Chris Pine is excellent as an aging soldier struggling to find a place back home, and when his entire identity is forcefully taken from him, the toll it takes on himself and his family is something I know a lot of people can identify with. Most surprising for me was Gillian Jacobs performance. Knowing her almost entirely in comedy roles, she does an excellent job as a concerned wife and mother, staying strong for her family despite the financial hardships and distance she feels being married to a returning solider. Perhaps not surprising is the acting of Ben Foster, who’s always been one of my favorites. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve seen him in anything, and although it wasn’t a major come-back role by any means, it was great seeing him on screen once again.
While the majority of the film is entertaining, complete with good pacing, good acting, and some nice action sequences, it just doesn’t stand out as anything spectacular. It really is just a paint-by-numbers story, but it’s done well, and has the production value of a big blockbuster action film. If you’re into these types of trust-no-one thrillers, there are certainly worse things you could watch.
Video
The Contractor is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen 2.39:1. The 4k presentation of this film is stunning, showcasing a wide array of vibrant colors contrasted with some very deep darks in some of the action sequences that take place at night. Life-like flesh tones, accurate coloring, while still maintaining the vibrant and detailed display is one of the highlights of this set, and given the choice between this and the Blu-ray, it’s a clear one.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. While the lack of an Atmos track usually disappoints me, this presentation was well above what I expected. For the majority of the first half of the film you’ll be hearing mostly dialogue and ambient noise from the surrounds, but once the action starts, you’ll experience the full range of well-balanced surrounds as gun-fire echoes throughout. Dialogue is clear and concise against the powerful action sequences, and despite being just a 5.1 track, it really does shine.
Special Features
This set unfortunately features no extras, nor a Blu-ray copy of the film that is usually included in 4k releases, but it does include a Digital Copy of the film.
The Contractor doesn’t set out to change the fabric of filmmaking, but it does present a well-balanced and entertaining story, one that I’m sure will entertain anyone who is a fan of the genre, or of these very capable actors and filmmakers. This one is out today on 4k and Blu-ray.
