Catch.44 - DVD

Movie: It's actually a very simple deal that Tes (Malin Akerman), Kara (Nikki Reed) and Dawn (Deborah Ann Woll) are supposed to pull off at a small diner on behalf of crime boss Mel (Bruce Willis): a competitor is trying to smuggle drugs through Mel's territory, and the three ladies are supposed to intercept the shipment and deliver it to Mel. Too bad, though, that there's an unplanned shootout and it suddenly turns out that there's a whole other operation going on in the background, the outcome of which threatens to be more than bloody...

Catch.44 was directed in just twenty days on a mini-budget. Director Aaron Harvey and his team also had little time or money for post-production. From this point of view, his second feature film, a thriller peppered with Tarantino borrowings, turned out absolutely decent. Deep characters shouldn't be expected, because Harvey simply doesn't give his characters time for that. The viewer is thrust into the middle of the action, which builds up within the first five minutes and is then gradually unravelled by means of flashbacks.

It is clear from the film, especially in these flashbacks, that it would very much like to be cleverer than it actually is. Because even if the structure of the story can be described as successful, the many dialogues ultimately lack the bite and, above all, cult character to propel the film even close to a league with Pulp Fiction & Co. Harvey is visibly at pains to present the whole thing as entertaining, quirky and exciting as possible. But especially in the scenes that are only carried by the dialogues, it is always noticeable that this is only Harvey's second feature film and that he still has to learn a lot to reach the class of his idols. But the potential is definitely there.

Positive is that the director can rely on a good ensemble of actors. In addition to Bruce Willis, who once again makes a relatively small appearance, Malin Akerman (Watchmen), True Blood beauty Deborah Ann Woll, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and Brad Dourif in a delicious supporting role make sure that the film is fun to watch, despite some minor lengths and hangs. Far more experienced filmmakers have delivered far worse. If Harvey can detach himself a bit more from his idols in the future and find his own style and thereby emphasize the existing merits of this thriller comedy, then one can already look forward to his next film.

Catch.44 may not be the big one, but if you can forgive the up-and-coming director his weaknesses and take into account the short time it took to get this film off the ground for little money, you'll get an entertaining Tarantino clone that scores with some very good moments and a decent cast. Worth seeing!

Picture + Sound: The good coloration and decent overall sharpness console over the somewhat washed out contrasts in some moments. Overall, the very clean picture leaves a satisfying impression. The same goes for the audio, which is only allowed to show how good the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix really is in a few moments. But even in the many quieter, dialogue-heavy scenes, there's little to fault in the DVD's sound. Good!

Extras: The only bonus on the DVD besides the trailer and program tips is an audio commentary (unfortunately not subtitled) by director Aaron Harvey and his editor Richard Byard. The two men talk in a relaxed atmosphere about the making of the project, the shooting and the post-production that was completed in a short period of time. It becomes clear that this low budget production was a real labor of love for many involved, which puts some of the film's weak points in a slightly different light. It's a good commentary, but a bit lacking as the only extra.

Conclusion: Catch.44 is a very clearly Tarantino-inspired thriller that has some good moments and compelling actors, but doesn't match the cleverness of its obvious models. The DVD presents the film in good technical realization, only the bonus material turns out a bit meager. Nevertheless, despite dramaturgical weaknesses and small hangs in the production, this home theater premiere is well worth seeing!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp