Blu-ray Review: Body of Lies

By Samantha Clark -- Video Business, 2/11/2009

Ridley Scott’s terrorist/spy suspenser Body of Lies is crystal clear in its high-definition release. The explosions rocket off the screen as well as out of the speakers. A group of nine featurettes detailing every aspect of the film’s production make up the bulk of the special features. Although they have a certain amount of “he’s a genius” comments from the producers, the featurettes also offer plenty of behind-the-scenes footage of Scott discussing the film with the actors and crew. In “Safe Haven,” about shooting in Morocco, we learn that the crew didn’t have to take down the decorations for the market scene because the locals helped themselves after shooting was over. “Master of the Craft” examines Scott—called “Scott of Arabia” by Sam Sako, Middle East consultant, because Scott has been in Morocco so often. There’s even a featurette on David Ignatius, the author of the novel on which the movie was based, including interviews in which Ignatius talks about the research he did to develop the story. In a feature called “Interactive Debriefing,” viewers can choose interviews he wants to watch as well as person and subject matter.

Shelf Talk: Scott has a following, as have stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, so Body of Lies should do well in the home market. The genre fits with adopters of Blu-ray, and with the high-def format gaining more traction with households, Lies could see healthy business on the format.

Thriller, color, R (mature themes, strong violence, torture, language), 128 min., BD $35.99, reviewed on a PlayStation 3 with 118-inch Carada screen, Sony VW60 projector and HDMI connection
Extras: commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, Interactive Debriefing feature, digital copy
Director: Ridley Scott
First Run: W, Oct. 2008, $39.4 mil.