In The Tax Collector, David Ayer returns to his roots by directing a down and dirty crime thriller that explores the harsh streets of Los Angeles. Ayer efficiently weaves through a condensed time frame in the life of two “tax collectors” backed by an impressive array of cast members. As has become the norm, the movie may be most famous for the fact that Shia LaBeouf got real tattoos on his chest and stomach for the film, which complements that fact that he took out a tooth for Ayer’s Fury. While I have been rooting for the resurgence of Shia, especially after last year’s one-two punch of greatness The Peanut Butter Falcon and Honey Boy, this feels wholly unnecessary to the actual impact of the film. The Tax Collector offers up some brutal violence and some solid performances in a way that will feel comfortable for longtime Ayer fans.
For more in-depth thoughts on the film, check out my colleague Dom Fisher’s review here.
Video Quality
The Tax Collector comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a 2160p presentation that beautifully captures the gritty cinematography of the movie. Although this is a 4K disc, this presentation does not implement HDR which may cause the uptick in quality to seem less substantial upon first glance. This appears to be an all-digital production with some artificial grain added in post production. All in all, this looks pretty naturally applied to serve the visual aesthetic of the feature. This presentation really impresses as it provides detailed, natural skin tones with a substantial amount of detail in the set design and clothing. The warm color palette is well saturated with strong contrast and no instances of bleeding. The black levels hold up pretty well throughout with no evidence of crush. Overall, The Tax Collector looks amazing on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and represents the film as it was intended to be seen.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite powerful and pleasing from beginning to end. Environmental effects are a huge part of 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. Dialogue is balanced well within this track and is never overpowered by sound effects or music. Gun fire, explosions and other kinetic activity packs a punch that should engage your speakers quite capably. Activity in the low end delivers quite a jolt during much of the presentation. RLJE Films has delivered a fierce track for a film that excels in the sound mixing department.
Special Features
This combo pack arrives in Steelbook packaging with a glossy, reflective finish that features cover art based on the poster and a fun interior print, as well. Photos of this can be found at the end of the review.
- Deleted Scenes: Three deleted scenes totaling twelves minutes are provided here featuring an extended opening scene, David and Creeper instilling the fear of god into someone who owes taxes and David talking with his sensei. These are all solid scenes that are worth checking out for fans of the film.
Final Thoughts
David Ayer seems quite keen on plumbing the depths of the lawless streets of Los Angeles, as evidenced by his multitude of projects on the subject. The Tax Collector delivers some really wonderful performances and is great about conjuring up a realistically tense atmosphere, but something feels lacking in the overall narrative. While there is nothing wrong with sticking with what you know, I would prefer Ayer continue to broaden his horizons. RLJE Films has provided a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that sports a stunning A/V presentation housed in a beautiful Steelbook packaging. If you are a fan of Ayer’s previous journeys into the criminal world, you are more than likely to appreciate what he accomplishes here.
The Tax Collector is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray + Blu-Ray Steelbook, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD 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.
