Every few years, Hollywood conjures up a fantastic story steeped in the science-fiction and action genres that could carry on a franchise of sequels and make audiences happy for the long haul. This is not the case with Infinite though, despite a remarkable cast and crew behind the curtain. With a stunning premise, some great visual effects, and great actors, Infinite doesn't stick any of its multiple landings and comes across as a laughable and forgettable action movie that tries too hard to be something it's not. The amazing tag-team of Antione Fuqua and Mark Wahlberg couldn't save this one and instead will be immediately forgotten until MST3K sheds a light on it.
Infinite is based on the 2009 novel The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz and was written for the screen by Ian Shorr (Splinter) with Fuqua (Training Day, The Magnificent Seven, Shooter) in the director's chair once again and Wahlberg front and center. Even with these great filmmakers aboard, it seemed like everyone was in sleep mode for this movie and rushed through everything, instead of making a compelling and fun story. Infinite is rooted in previous science-fiction folklore that resembles The Matrix franchise and several other tentpoles that have stuck with American culture. Sadly though, the execution and payoff never do anyone any favors here.
It's revealed that Earth is a place for two types of people - Believers and Nihilists, though most of them don't know what is actually going on and go about their daily lives like normal. Only about 500 people are considered to be Believers and know the true facts about what the world really is. Meanwhile, the evil Nihilists, who should believe in nothing, would rather wreak havoc on the world and destroy everyone in it so there will be no room for reincarnation and fruitful lives anymore. Again, think back to The Matrix films with the whole human race and agent relationships. That similar element with Infinite pushes the story forward, but without any of the poignant undertones and themes that made The Matrix great.
Wahlberg plays Evan, a schizophrenic man who makes samurai swords for people due to his ailment. One day people whom he doesn't recognize show up and tell him to remember his past in order to stop the Nihilists from killing everyone on Earth. As Evan begins to remember more and more about his past, little clues pop up with his arch-nemesis Bathurst (Chiwetel Ejiofor) that tell yet another storyline that fumbles its way through to the end. Luckily, there are some good visuals to go along with the action sequences, but the dialogue, acting, and camerawork don't elevate any of its visuals into a cohesive movie. It's cringe-worthy in most areas as characters recite dialogue in static form and the action scenes feel rote and bland, which is odd given that Fuqua and Wahlberg usually turn in stunning work.
Infinite is a rushed action-science fiction flick that could have been better if everyone was on the same page in what type of movie it wanted to be. There's a good story somewhere in the ruins of its stale dialogue and vague performances, and while there are some chaotic action sequences, it seems that Fuqua wasn't in charge of those days of filming, because he's shown far better numerous times before. Infinite isn't good, but maybe one day, it will find its glory as it's reincarnated into an MST3K classic episode.
Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Infinite reincarnates itself onto 4K via Paramount in a one-disc set. There is no companion Blu-ray disc here but is sold separately. The disc is housed inside a hard, black plastic case with a cardboard sleeve. The artwork features the main factors of the film looking out, similar to a Marvel film. There is an insert for a digital code.
Infinite comes with a 2160p UHD 4K transfer with Dolby Vision and looks great on screen. Colors are bold and rich in this stylized setting of an alternate universe. There are tons of blues and ambers that light up the screen, and with the help of the Dolby Vision, these colors are more nuanced and balanced. The sets, little lights in the background, and the uniforms look great in these elements. Other earthy tones and primary colors look great in every lighting condition, especially in darker scenes where the Dolby Vision enhances the color palette.
Black levels are deep and inky with no murky shadows or bleeding and the skin tones are natural and wonderful. The detail is exquisite in this movie with closeups that reveal individual hairs, pores, wrinkles, facial scars, and practical makeup well. The detail in lower-light conditions looks fantastic as well here. CGI effects never look soft or pixelated, but instead, they are full of intricate detail. There are no issues with banding, aliasing, or video noise in this 4K presentation that looks great.
This release comes with an amazing Dolby Atmos track that hits all of the right notes in its action beats. Sound effects are large and in charge, especially in the higher octane-fueled scenes. Whether it be chase sequences, fight choreography, explosions, or other science fiction aspects, the sound effects deliver on every level with high amounts of dynamic range and bass.
That low end of bass comes through in these bigger action moments along with music cues that never cross into rocky territory. There is some excellent directionality with the sound as well and keeps all of the centered audio elements from bleeding too much into the atmospheric sounds. Those tinier sound effects are boisterous in the surround speakers as well. Dialogue is clean, clear, and free of any issues. This is great sounding Dolby Atmos track.
There are about 36 minutes of extras that consist of cast and crew interviews discussing how the bigger action scenes were made with some fun behind-the-scenes footage. These are better than the average extra and are fun to watch.
Infinite has a great premise that seems to always miss the mark from being something spectacular. In the end, though, the movie has cringe-worthy moments and comes across as laughable rather than anything substantial, which is a shame due to the fantastic talent behind it. The 4K with Dolby Vision video and the Dolby Atmos track are wonderful and the few extras are short but great. For those hardcore Wahlberg fans, Rent It!
