Synopsis

Nate Foster is a young FBI agent with a talent for interrogation. He is selected to infiltrate a white supremacist group suspected of possessing the materials to build a nuclear dirty bomb. After hitting several dead ends and nearly being exposed on multiple occasions, he is just about ready to abandon the mission when he gets a lucky break. Can he stop the deadly plot before he’s discovered?

Imperium - Blu-Ray Movie Review

Specifications
Imperium - Movie Cover
Lionsgate
2016, Color, Rated R, 1 Hr 49 mins
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 2.40:1 Aspect Ratio
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Toni Collette, Tracy Letts
Directed by Daniel Ragussis

Rating

Entertainment:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:

Violence: Brief
Sex: No
Language: Yes

Imperium - Blu-Ray Review

Commentary

I was quite anxious to see Danial Radcliffe in a role he could really sink his teeth into. My verdict – he needs a little more practice. The film itself is a good vehicle and the plot carries a fair amount of intensity. But as an undercover agent, Radcliffe’s Nate Foster is just too eager and gung-ho for the cause. I just wasn’t convinced he was fooling anyone yet he does manage to go quite deep into the inner circle of several white supremacist organizations.

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The subject matter is quite dark and the material is based on the accounts of Michael German, a former FBI agent and the writer of the film’s screenplay. If you can look past some of the over-the-top portrayals of various characters, the story offers some realistic insight into how people are indoctrinated and radicalized into believing some truly frightening things about the world around them. If anything, Imperium provides something of an education.

Imperium - Blu-Ray Movie

While this is far from a family film, violence is kept to a minimum. There are many intense moments but blood and gore are barely present. Language is the principal reason to watch this one after the kids have gone to bed. There are copious f-bombs and other racial slurs that firmly earn the movie its R-rating. Entertainment it’s not, but it is a reasonably good film suitable for rental.

Imperium - Movie Review

Technical

The image is presented with decent clarity and detail but most of the picture has a dark cast, as if the weather were continually cloudy. If the story were set in the Pacific Northwest, I’d buy it but it takes place in Virginia. Color is nicely saturated and natural with deep contrast and black levels. I just wish the director had turned up the lights a little.

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Audio is heavily dialog-centric and mixed with good balance and resolution. Ambient effects are sparingly used and don’t add much to the film’s atmosphere. Surround and sub channels will have little to do but the front soundstage is wide enough to draw the viewer in.

Extras

Bonus features total over two hours and include cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, a trailer and audio commentary from the screen-writer and director.