Unthinkable appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this single-sided, double-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. The movie came with a generally positive presentation.
For the most part, sharpness was fine. Wider shots tended to be somewhat soft, a factor exacerbated by light edge haloes. Still, overall definition tended to be good. No issues with jaggies or moiré effects occurred, but digital artifacts were a mild distraction, as they demonstrated some noise. Source flaws remained minor; I saw a few small specks but nothing more.
As expected from a dark thriller of this sort, Unthinkable came with a subdued palette. It went with a fairly sepia tone that favored a brownish tint. This meant the film lacked prominent colors and could appear a bit drab. Nonetheless, the hues were acceptable given the stylistic choices. Blacks appeared reasonably dark, while shadows showed nice clarity. Though this never became an impressive transfer, it looked pretty good for a DVD.
I thought the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack of Unthinkable also seemed fine but unexceptional. Though the subject seemed like something that would pack a lot of action, the focus on interrogation meant the material remained subdued most of the time. Music boasted good stereo presence, and effects offered a fine sense of place. For the most part, they did little more than embellish the environment, though. Though we found the occasional dramatic effect, those remained rare. This tended to be a chatty flick, and the soundscape reflected that.
Audio quality was fine. Speech remained concise and distinctive; I noticed no edginess or problems with the lines. Music appeared full and rich, as the score came across well. Effects didn’t often have much to do, but they seemed accurate and lacked distortion or distractions. The track remained too low-key for a high grade, but it seemed good and deserved a “B-“.
Only one supplement shows up here: an audio commentary with director Gregor Jordan. He provides a running, screen-specific look at the script and how he came on board, cast, characters and performances, research and working with the FBI, visual design and locations, pre-production problems, editing and an alternate ending.
Despite a few slow spots, Jordan offers a pretty positive commentary. He provides a nice examination of the film’s themes and backdrop, and he also gets into the nitty-gritty production details well. I especially like his honesty, as he admits the film was meant for an era with “W” in the White House; he recognizes that it seems dated in the Obama era. Expect an informative, engaging chat here.
Unthinkable can be viewed in either its theatrical cut or in an extended version. The latter adds one scene at the film’s end. This sequence examines a plot component left unresolved in the theatrical edition. In his commentary, Jordan notes that he prefers the original ending, and I agree with him. Yes, the extended cut tidies up a dangling story point, but it feels tacked on – which it literally is – and it doesn’t make the movie more satisfying.
A few ads launch the disc. We get promos for Shinjuku Incident, Harry Brown, The Square and The Runaways. These also appear under Previews along with promos for Defendor, The Road, Wild Things: Foursome and Chloe. No trailer for Unthinkable pops up here.
As a thriller, Unthinkable doesn’t really ignite. The basic subject matter ensures some drama, but it can’t quite fire as well as it should. The DVD gives us reasonably positive picture and audio along with a very good commentary. Unthinkable keeps us moderately engaged, but it never turns into anything particularly memorable.