Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Paul Schrader’s (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull) THE CARD COUNTER is told with Schrader’s trademark cinematic intensity. An ex-military interrogator turned gambler is haunted by the ghosts of his past decisions. Redemption is the long game in this revenge thriller featuring riveting performances from stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, and Tye Sheridan.
For thoughts on The Card Counter, please check out my colleague Mike Vaughn’s thoughts here.
Video Quality
The Card Counter comes to Blu-Ray in a stunning 1080p presentation in its 1:85.1 OAR that truly wows in high definition. The clarity throughout is truly outstanding with subtle flourishes of the settings and clothing coming through crystal clear. Color saturation is great with the moody, cool color palette consistently represented throughout. Skin tones are natural with some sweat popping up on the brows of some competing players. The intricate game play environments provide a lot of opportunity for fine detail in the production design. Black levels are pretty deep and do not fall victim to any noticeable digital noise or errors of the sort. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has provided a transfer up to the level of excellence you would want from a new release.
Audio Quality
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track provides a perfectly satisfying audio presentation. There is pretty consistent environmental activity in these densely populated interiors, which gives ample opportunity to engage the speakers. This film is not an all-out action fest, but there are some brief moments that give the track a bit of a punch when they do pop up. Dialogue comes through clearly and never gets stepped on by any sound effects or the score. All of the sounds have an accurate sense of direction within the mix with noises such as footsteps moving around the speakers in compelling ways. The low end is rarely put to the test throughout, opting to rather give subtle supplemental texture for the majority of the time. This mix is pleasingly immersive but not an all-out powerhouse. It gets the job done well enough.
Special Features
- A High-Stakes World: A five-minute piece in which Director Paul Schrader discusses how William fits into a long line of characters that populate his scripts. Oscar Isaac and Tiffany Haddish also discuss getting into character, shedding old habits, working with Schrader, trying to achieve authenticity and more. The on-set poker consultant also discusses the most difficult scene to film. This is brief but there are some nice moments with the participants.
Final Thoughts
The Card Counter finds director Paul Schrader continuing to tell gritty and morally complex narratives that engage you from beginning to end. The film is very methodical in its pacing, but it is one that unfolds into something quite dense. Oscar Isaac delivers one of his best performances yet, and the rest of the ensemble rises to the occasion, as well. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray featuring a top-notch A/V presentation and one brief supplement. This is one of the better movies of the year and is well worth seeking out. Recommended
The Card Counter is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment 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.
