Product Details

• Actors: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds
• Directors: Daniel Espinosa
• Format: Color, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (DTS 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed: French, Spanish
• Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Universal
• DVD Release Date: June 5, 2012
• Digital Copy Expiration Date: April 30, 2015 (Click here for more information)
• Run Time: 230 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (440 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B005LAIGSC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,116 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #77 in Movies & TV > Blu-ray > Mystery & Thrillers
• Learn more about "Safe House (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy + UltraViolet)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The first hint that Safe House will be a notch above the typical thriller comes from the list of supporting actors: Brendan Gleeson, Vera Farmiga, Sam Shepard, Rubén Blades--that's a smart cast. Then the movie starts quietly: Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) holding his girlfriend's hand, Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) having a drink with an old friend… then that friend gives Frost a microchip and Safe House takes off, accelerating with every scene as legendary rogue agent Frost ends up in the hands of newbie Weston, who's just supposed to watch the safe house where prisoners are held for interrogation. But now Weston is racing across Cape Town and Johannesburg, pursued by ruthless killers, his loyalties tested and manipulated by the infinitely charming Frost. Director Daniel Espinosa skillfully orchestrates jolting action sequences and distills quieter scenes down to their mesmerizing essence. Washington and Reynolds both give their characters emotional complexity and a sense of actual thought going on behind their charismatic movie-star eyes. The plot has its clichés (legendary rogue agent, crucial microchip, CIA corruption and whatnot), but this cast and director make Safe House a genuinely gripping thriller. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

Tobin Frost (Oscarr winner Denzel Washington), one of the CIA's most dangerous traitors, resurfaces in South Africa after eluding capture for almost a decade. During his interrogation, the safe house he's being held in is attacked by brutal mercenaries forcing rookie agent, Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) to take the infamous Frost on the run. As the masterful manipulator toys with his reluctant prot‚g‚, shaking the young operative's morality and idealism, the unlikely allies must fight to stay alive long enough to uncover who wants them dead. Packed with intense action and thrilling suspense, Safe House takes you on a deadly ride through a covert world where no one and no place is ever safe.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 107 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Entertaining February 27, 2012

By John Robie

Format:DVD

When the title of a movie is Safe House, one can assume that this CIA safe house in South Africa is any but safe for its intended guest, Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) a rogue CIA agent. Daniel Espinosa keeps the movie moving at a good clip with smart cinematography. Denzel Washington is believable and classy. Ryan Reynolds provides a good supporting role as a CIA safe house keeper. Overall, one of the best thriller action movies in the past year.

If you are interested in other great CIA movies, please check out Body of Lies(Leonardo Dicaprio), The Recruit(Al Pacino with Colin Farrell), and Spy Game(Robert Redford with Brad Pitt).

138 of 160 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Redneck Review May 22, 2012

By Robert Logue

Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase

These are how my reviews will go from here on.

Acting: A+

Action: A+

Plot: A+

Ending: B

Sex Scenes: None

Language: Moderate

Violence: A+ and alot of it

Worth a rental or Purchase: A+

Hope you enjoy the movie.

75 of 89 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars YOU'VE DONE A FINE JOB. WE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE February 19, 2012

By Michael TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Blu-ray

The action/drama/mystery film opens with a quick character build up of the multifaceted CIA agent Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds). He operates a safe house with nobody in it. He wants a European field assignment, but lacks department seniority.

The movie switches to Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington) obtaining an embarrassing electronic file from the MI6 in South Africa. "Frost", because he is cold. Denzel uses his expected savvy to escape. He is a rouge super agent who free lances, buying and selling information. In order to escape the bad guys, Tobin surrenders to the CIA. Now the questions are: Was this his original plan? What is on the file?

Tobin is taken to our aforesaid safe house for intense interrogation.

I loved the opening of the interrogation scene. The interrogator says, "I'm here to advise you of your rights. You're being held under national security order 600 which means you have none."

Frost is too important of a person and the top secret safe house comes under attack. The young low level highly trained Matt Weston is now on the run with a man who is a master manipulator of people. To our list of unanswered questions we now add, "Who is the mole?"

Ryan and Washington give us excellent performances. It had elements of the Bourne series that made this story interesting, but it doesn't quite measure up to that film. Cliche ending. I would say if you are a fan of the trilogy, check this one out.

Multiple chase scenes, torture, killings, shoot outs, minor "roof top" jumping, car wreaks without explosions.

1 f-Bomb, no sex, no nudity. Rated R for violence.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Safe Bet May 24, 2012

By AELee

Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase

The acting was well done. Denzel is as good as always. Ryan Reynolds did a fabulous job. The two characters actually worked well together. The action was better than most films. For once in a film someone fired a shot in public and the police showed up also. The plot was not as tight as it could have been; but it worked. Not much of a thriller. This really was an all around good film and worth the price. I will recommend it.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars it's good March 11, 2012

By J. R. Baillie

Format:Blu-ray

I thought it was good even if most professional reviewers hated it. Very exciting movie. I left the theatre saying it was better than the Bourne movies. The script is pretty tight and the acting is good.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Safe Movie May 22, 2012

By DFAyer

Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase

It was a good movie but not great. Much was made of Frost as the ultra spook in the beginning of the movie and that was where this movie goes awry. It devolved quickly into an action film rather than a thriller. I expected the plot to utilize his psychological skills; pitting him against the CIA; but instead it became one long chase seen with no real surprises. Safe movie, guaranteed payday with Washington as lead, but disappointing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable July 28, 2012

By N. Perz

Format:DVD

2.5 stars.

Odds are, you've probably figured out the plot before the movie starts. The story is chiche and been re-hashed in many other movies. What saves the movie is Denzel Washington (could be be any more awesome? I don't think so). Take him out, however, and this DVD is a waste of plastic.

Still, if you are not picky about plot and like seeing car chases and explosions, then I'm sure you'll love this...

Not recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I love the casting, but the movie is unremarkable July 14, 2012

By Steven Aldersley

Format:Blu-ray

I almost went to see Safe House in the theater, and barely resisted the urge to blind-buy the Blu-ray, and I'm glad that I waited. After borrowing the movie from a friend, I know that I saved myself $20.

It's not that Safe House is terrible, it's just formulaic, mediocre, and badly-written.

The basic story is built around Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds), who looks after a safe house in Cape Town, South Africa. The job involves a lot of sitting around, but he springs into action when he learns that Tobin Frost (Denzel Washington), a rogue CIA agent, has been captured, and will be delivered into his custody. When a recovery team, led by Agent Kiefer (Robert Patrick), is attacked and defeated, Weston is left to bring Frost in himself.

Weston is ambitious and wants to work at a more high profile location, but he's young and unproven in the eyes of his bosses. We are shown how he is regarded during an exchange involving his superiors, Barlow (Brendan Gleeson) and Linklater (Vera Farmiga), at HQ.

Imagine you were given the chance to write the screenplay. How would you make it stand out from previous entries in the genre? We have seen this subject handled well in the Bourne series, and reasonably well in Salt. Safe House doesn't belong in the same class.

What's wrong with the movie? The excellent cast is virtually ignored. Instead of establishing the characters and giving them depth, we are given very little background information. The front cover promises an adrenaline rush, and that's all that we are given. If you love action movies and don't care about the plot, Safe House delivers. But if you want to know why these events are occurring, it's not exactly an important part of the mix.... There's a lot of gunfire, but meaningful dialogue is at a minimum.

If I had the pleasure of directing actors like Washington, Farmiga and Gleeson, I would make use of their abilities. Washington doesn't put a foot wrong, he's just given nothing to work with. Farmiga's screen time is extremely limited, but remember how effective she was in a similar role in The Departed? Gleeson is one of a kind and excelled in movies such as In Bruges and The Guard, but his character has no depth in Safe House. I see this as a wasted opportunity.

In the Bourne movies, we see how Jason Bourne meets his girlfriend, and how that relationship becomes meaningful. When she is threatened, we feel his pain and we react. Weston's girlfriend in Safe House may as well have been a cardboard cutout, and as a result, we feel nothing when he examines their relationship.

Safe House focuses on the action element. You'll see shootouts, car chases, explosions and people running. You might even understand why all this is happening, even though it's just a by-the-numbers screenplay. The movie grossed over $200 million and you won't scream for your money back, but I wouldn't bother buying the Blu-ray unless you are an action junkie. I love the cast, but against my expectations, I'm severely disappointed by the end result. Watch Bourne again instead, or watch Anton Corbijn's, The American, as that actually has some fresh ideas. Read more ›