The acclaimed debut of filmmaker Nick Gomez (New Jersey Drive), Laws of Gravity is a gritty, unflinching and frighteningly real look at small-time Brooklyn hoods who live and die by different laws. Peter Greene (Pulp Fiction, The Mask) and Adam Trese (The Underneath) star as Jimmy and Jon, two petty crooks who find the opportunity for a big score when Frankie, an old friend and ex-con, arrives in town with a load of illegal handguns for sale. The guns are the source of tension for the friends and their families. When a domestic dispute lands Jon in jail, Jimmy goes to sell the guns to raise the bail. But when Frankie discovers that his merchandise is missing, he goes after Jimmy and the guns. One of the hardest-hitting independent films of the 1990s, Laws of Gravity co-stars Edie Falco (TV’s The Sopranos), Arabella Field (Naked in New York) and Paul Schulze (Drowning Mona).
For thoughts on Laws of Gravity, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Laws of Gravity makes its Blu-Ray debut with a 1080p transfer in its original 1.85:1 that holds up fairly well from Kino Classics. While there are no specific details about the transfer, this appears to be derived from an older master that shows only occasional signs of damage and nothing in the way of digital tinkering. The transfer looks detailed and appropriately gritty for the majority of the film with only a couple of errant shots standing out with what could be described as density fluctuations in the grain field.
The image quality is fairly stable with some nice detail in the working class production design and the texture of clothing. Colors are well saturated within their limited visual ambition with a natural palette. Black levels are passable in their depth, but a few moments in shadow struggle with delineation. There are no overwhelming instances of compression artifacts or other digital anomalies in the transfer, but you will be reminded that this was not given a complete restoration as you have a fair bit of damage specks throughout. Overall, the presentation is one that holds up fairly well even if a new master might clean things up a bit more.
Audio Quality
Kino Classics brings audiences this new Blu-Ray with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that captures this material well. The very specific dialogue holds up well, coming through clearly for the most part with only a few instances where lines are stepped on by the commotion of the scene. The environmental effects are delineated nicely within the speakers even if they are not as dynamic as some major studio fare. The sounds of violence and automobiles bring some weight to the mix. The movie features a soundtrack which maintains a flawless fidelity. This is a presentation that works well in conjunction with the source material. Kino Classics is in fine form with this one. There are optional English subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Nick Gomez provides a very informative commentary track in which he delves into the origins of this project, how he developed the story to shoot on a shoestring budget, writing characters for specific performers, his inspiration for certain archetypes, what he learned about working with actors during this process, the big name that nearly got the lead role played by Peter Greene, memories of shooting locations, financial motivations behind certain creative choices and more.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer for Laws of Gravity is included here. There are also trailers provided for The Rich Man’s Wife, The Usual Suspects, The Underneath, Clay Pigeons, Thursday, Jason’s Lyric and Clockers.
Final Thoughts
Laws of Gravity is a fairly engaging early ‘90s indie drama which put a fresh spin on the crime drama at the time, but it is one that has lost a bit of potency in the interim. This is not a fault of the movie, but you cannot ignore the wealth of movies and television shows that have not only matched the quality of this film, but have far exceeded it. That being said, if you are looking for a gritty crime tale with simmering Brooklyn bravado and terrific performances, you will enjoy your time with this one. Kino Classics has brought this film to Blu-Ray with a decent A/V presentation and a great commentary track. If you are a fan of gritty ‘90s independent cinema, you should give this a shot. Recommended
Laws of Gravity 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: Kino Classics 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.