Tormented by his past life, garbage man Clean (Adrien Brody) attempts a life of quiet redemption. But when his good intentions mark him a target of a local crime boss (Glenn Fleshler), Clean is forced to reconcile with the violence of his past.
For in-depth thoughts on Clean, please see my colleague Brandon Lewis’ review from its theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Clean comes to Blu-Ray with a gorgeous AVC encoded 1080p transfer that showcases the look of the film really well. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail both in the clothing and the production design. Everything from the gritty interiors to the texture of the costumes is quite impressive. The cinematography features few pops of color with everything appearing to have a slightly soft, hazy quality about it. The film mostly subsists on a diet of dour color palettes where not much leaps off the screen. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. Black levels are admirable but could stand to be a bit deeper. Skin tones are natural throughout with some impeccable details present in certain shots. Overall, this is quite a powerful transfer that should please fans.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that has quite a bit of depth and is well balanced. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds. The music maintains a nice fidelity throughout. Activity in the low end is very subtle and is mostly used to add a bit of texture to some of the more kinetic moments. Environmental effects play a substantial role in the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite capably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully enveloping world works quite well. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as natural when coming from their respective points. RLJE Films has delivered a great track for this film.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on this disc.
Final Thoughts
Clean has some decent moments that show what this movie could have been under different circumstances, but what we have does not completely come together in the end in a satisfying way. Brody puts in a terrific lead performance and the villains are memorable, but this is only important when you have a good script. We have seen these bloody revenge stories before, and the rote execution and faux emotional backstory does not land as effectively as the creatives likely want it to. RLJE Films has released a Blu-Ray with a rock solid A/V presentation and a couple of brief special features. If you are a fan of the performers, it is still worth checking out if you temper your expectations a bit. There are exciting moments, but this does not break the mold in any real way.
Clean will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on May 10, 2022.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: RLJE Films 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.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
