By John Corrado

This is a review of the Blu-ray release. For my full thoughts on the film itself, including my star rating, please read my original review right here.

Director Tom McCarthy’s Stillwater was one of the better movies I saw in theatres this summer, and the film is being released on Blu-ray and DVD this week from Universal.

The film itself is a sprawling mix of character drama and crime movie that casts Matt Damon in the role of Bill, a working class father from Oklahoma who is visiting his daughter Allison (Abigail Breslin) in France. Allison is in prison for the death of her girlfriend, a crime she says she didn’t commit, and Bill is trying to prove her innocence.

McCarthy’s return to prestige filmmaking following his Oscar-winning Spotlight, Stillwater is a solid adult drama that spends time developing its characters. While it is a bit overlong and uneven in places, it’s a mostly engaging film that is built around a fine turn by Damon.

Bonus Features (Blu-ray):

The Blu-ray combo pack includes three short bonus featurettes, standard for a Universal release. A code for a digital copy is also included in the package.

• An Alchemy of Viewpoints (5 minutes, 17 seconds): McCarthy is joined by the film’s producer and their lead actors to discuss the characters and performances in the film.

• An American in Marseilles: The Locations of Stillwater (3 minutes, 15 seconds): This featurette looks at the experience of shooting the film on location in Marseilles, and capturing the unique textures of the port city on screen.

• With Curiosity & Compassion: Director Tom McCarthy (3 minutes, 25 seconds): A look at McCarthy’s direction, with testimonials by the producers and cast members.

Stillwater is a Universal Pictures Home Entertainment release. It’s 139 minutes and rated PG.

Street Date: October 26th, 2021