Eric Bana (Troy, Munich) gives an incredible performance as real-life convict and author Mark “Chopper” Read in the twisted and savagely funny Chopper.

The son of a devoutly religious mother, Chopper dreams of making a name for himself as a legendary figure of infamy. But the wisecracking, would-be criminal mastermind turns out to be a criminal failure who gets tossed in a maximum-security prison. Bowed but unbroken, Chopper manages to twist his life around with a fascinating and wickedly funny retelling … and the press and the public can’t get enough!

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Video Quality

Chopper comes to Blu-Ray courtesy of Shout! Studios with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that is passable and a step up in quality from the ancient DVD from over 20 years ago, yet we wish it could be better. There are no specific details available about the transfer, but this is pretty clearly derived from a master that shows a healthy dose of DNR that covers up much of the natural texture of the image. We have heard reports that the Second Sight master from the UK does not have these issues, so it is a shame that could not have been the master used here. There are pleasing aspects to this one, but we wish the film could look its best.

Specks of print damage are not a common occurrence thanks to the baseline restoration efforts. The transfer smooths over much of its naturally filmic appearance to some degree which renders the potential detail overly soft in terms of the production design and clothing. Colors are muted in this universe with a sickly appearance that matches the vibe of the character. Black levels could be more impressive when it comes to depth to help with detail. Still, we did not experience major crush or other artifacts. Banding does pop up as an issue at various points. This Blu-Ray is a bit of a letdown compared to what it could be. Those who want better options may want to explore certain overseas options.

Audio Quality

Shout! Studios brings us this Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix that delivers everything it needs to without a hiccup. The environmental elements are defined consistently and given deft placement throughout the speakers. While not overly showy, the sounds of the world work with the score to bring additional life to the rear speakers. Dialogue comes through clearly without being swallowed up by the music or sound effects. The film features a few kinetic moments that engage the subwoofer to good effect, but it is not a standout in this regard. This track is a worthwhile one from the label. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentaries: There are two archival commentary tracks provided that offer fascinating perspectives on the material from a filmmaking perspective as well as a personal one. The track with the real-life “Chopper” is more engaging as you get a deeper insight into the psychology of the character, but Dominik holds his own with plenty of tidbits. There are some silent stretches, but the content you do hear is worth it.

- Audio Commentary #1: Mark “Chopper” Read

- Audio Commentary #2: Director Andrew Dominik

Weekend with Chopper – Actor Eric Bana Meets Mark “Chopper” Read: A 17-minute featurette that gives you a look at the real-life subject of the film talking to the filmmaking team as research for the picture.

Deleted Scenes: There are five scenes of unused and unfinished material totaling nearly 13 minutes. Three of the scenes are provided with optional commentary from Andrew Dominik.

Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided.

Final Thoughts

Chopper is a fascinating portrait of a notorious criminal who lived the type of life that seems too outrageous to be believed. You know that this man has carried out some of the most disturbing things you can imagine, but he is transfixing in the way that a car crash commands your attention. Eric Bana delivers one of his all-time best performances as the titular figure that is completely unlike most of what he has done since. Director Andrew Dominik does a fantastic job of bringing all of these unsettling elements together to create a movie that works really well. Shout! Studios has released a new Blu-Ray that sports a passable A/V presentation and a fine array of supplemental features. The movie is worth checking out in some form. Recommended

Chopper is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.