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Crypto Blu-ray Review

“Crypto” lacks thrills.

In “Crypto,” the story revolves around an anti-money laundering officer named Martin who is reassigned to a job that brings him back to his hometown. While there, he not only gets caught up in family drama with his brother and father, but his job also leads him to becoming involved a deadly plot involving a shady art gallery, cryptocurrency, Martin’s family farm, money laundering to a criminal organization, cover-ups, bank corruption, and, eventually, a kidnapping. How does that all tie together? You’ll have to see for yourself.

Director John Stalberg Jr.’s “Crypto” bills itself as a thriller and a crime drama, but it’s severely lacking in the thrills department. For the most part, it’s a less than riveting drama about a family rift and investigating business financials that slowly (and I mean slowly) morphs into a thriller. Only in the last act does it come alive when all the story elements come to a head, but it’s too little too late by then. Had the movie ramped up the thrills and pacing, there might have been more to be engaged by here.

The script by Carlyle Eubank and David Frigerio (based off a story by Jeff Ingber) doesn’t fare any better here. The movie is called “Crypto” which, of course, refers to cryptocurrency, but it’s not even about cryptocurrency. It’s a small part of the plot. What little there is on the subject is vague and underdeveloped. Much of that story is shoehorned in by the fact that Martin’s friend Earl just so happens to be in that world. It’s quite possibly one of the laziest plot devices I’ve seen in awhile. The rest of the plot just feels like a typical conspiracy story that you’ve seen countless times before with added family drama and a potential romantic subplot between Martin and art dealer Katie (who isn’t what she seems). The family drama doesn’t really land, but at least it gives the character of Martin more depth.

The cast is really all this movie has going for it. Kurt Russell has little screentime, but he classes up the joint as Martin’s dad. Luke Hemsworth (the other Hemsworth) overacts as Martin’s angry war vet brother Caleb. An unrecognizable Vincent Kartheiser scene steals as an accountant named Ted. I actually wish he was in the movie more. Alexis Bledel of “Gilmore Girls” fame has a rather appealing character, but she’s wasted in the grand scheme of the plot. The highlight here is actually the lead actor Beau Knapp who is clearly the only one giving it his all here. The actor, who has quietly been popping up in numerous underrated films, has a unique screen presence.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.66:1 1080p. How does it look? The unusual aspect ratio shines in hi-def.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? A standard 5.1 track that does the job.

Extras:
* Digital copy
* Lionsgate trailers including one for “Crypto.”
* “Creating Crypto”- A standard featurette with set footage, interviews, character and story discussions, etc.
* An informative commentary by director John Stalberg Jr. and writers David Frigerio and Carlyle Eubank.

June 17, 2019 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Alexis Bledel, Beau Knapp, Crypto Blu-ray Review, Crypto Movie, Kurt Russell, Luke Hemsworth