God Only Knows (DVD): Review

The Film

After many years spent working for, and idolising, the Italian gangsters, a smooth-talking, ambitious Nick Tortano (Ben Barnes) finally proves himself to the boss and becomes a made-man. Once on the inside though, Nick encounters conflict from a Mafia moneymaker, and this in turn begins to drive a wedge between him and the boss.

God Only Knows is a crime drama about progress, and the lack thereof, and a story of relationships, whether approved of, or not.

Nick has a heart, he has his own moral code, and is not yet cut out for the life of a Mafiosi. He is unable to carry out the required killing in order to become part of the ‘family’, he falls for the wrong girl, his friend is pushing him to expand and create his own crew, and his father wants nothing to do with him.

God Only Knows takes us on a journey, where we encounter a whole host of relationships, and a string of choices, each shaping the next event. The film builds from a slow, almost pensive start, and intensifies to keep pace with Nick’s current mindset and moral decay. All this is presented in a more intellectual, than action driven manner, preferring to build characters rather than show events typical to the Mafia lifestyle.

With interesting cinematography, and a character driven story, God Only Knows is a slight departure to the run and gun that is often associated with a ‘mob family’, yet there are enough twists to the story, and variations in pace, to draw the viewer into the story, and hold them hostage right unto the end.

Disc And Bonus Features

The disc is encoded at a high bitrate, meaning it can be scaled up to a higher resolution and screen via hardware or software, if desired. The soundtrack is presented in 5.1 surround, and while there is not non-stop action through out the film, this does serve to expand the on-screen world, and helps keep the viewer as part of the action.

Apart from a few trailers as the beginning of the disc, there are unfortunately no bonus features included.

God Only Knows is available now, to purchase, in South Africa.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb

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