Blu-ray Review – The Package

Timing is everything in Hollywood, and 1989's "The Package" didn't have much luck during its initial theatrical release. A Cold War thriller issued as the Cold War was winding to a close, the feature was met with a yawn at the box office, perhaps waiting for a time when its premise could be assessed away from headline-fueled expectations. In 2014, immediacy isn't important to appreciate the picture's strengths, with director Andrew Davis (following up his Steven Seagal debut, "Above the Law") overseeing an intelligent take on the action film, managing a politically minded plot while working out the breathless details of car chases and shootouts, making sure the audience is sufficiently lathered up before returning to global concerns. "The Package" has a problem with payoffs, but it's exciting work, held together by stars Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones, who keep a modest manhunt effort alert with their professionalism and commitment to infusing their characters with needed idiosyncrasy. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com