Ambition Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

Ambition Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 6, 2019

While primarily known as the founder of New Line Cinema, Robert Shaye has taken a few stabs at film direction over the years, helming 1990’s “Book of Love” and 2007’s “The Last Mimzy.” Shaye hasn’t found much success behind the camera, and his streak continues with “Ambition.” Looking to generate his own take on Hitchcockian suspense, Shaye doesn’t have the visual chops, writing, or acting to best support whatever nail-biting reactions he’s looking to conjure. “Ambition” isn’t frightening, and it doesn’t even want to be, registering more as a Freeform Network original where bland young characters deal with modest challenges to their sanity.

Katherine Hughes stars as Jude, an aspiring concert violinist caught up in dangerous psychological games when she begins obsessing over the death of a violin prodigy, also making a connection to her neighbor’s roommate, Dave (Giles Matthey), who’s not the lovable young man he appears to be. Entanglements should emerge during “Ambition,” but the writing is stuck in casual mode, going the cutesy route with movie quoting games and dull encounters with painfully flat actors. There’s more melodrama than creeping terror in “Ambition,” which finds its one and only point of horror in a 15- second-long cameo from Lyn Shaye, who appears as a demented homeless woman happy to terrorize Jude as she walks home after practice. And that’s it for frights.

Ambition Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation showcases limited cinematographic achievements with inviting clarity. The digital look of the feature is preserved, with crisp details throughout, handling defined facial surfaces and household decoration. Costuming is fibrous. Colors are bright and true, with secure primaries, best with concert and domestic lighting. Skintones are natural. Delineation is agreeable with some mild solidification encountered along the way.

Ambition Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The active 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix really brings the picture to life at times, with loud sound effects generating necessary tension. Atmospherics are active as well, capturing changes in weather and echoed interiors. Surrounds enjoy some panning and separation effects as well. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, detailing all performances. Scoring cues and violin performances are sharp, with appealing instrumentation and position, dominating the track when necessary. Low-end has some punch with scenes of violence.

Ambition Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Trailer (1:23, HD) is included.

Ambition Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Scoring efforts from Wlad Marhulets are appreciable, as he works hard to sell the thriller mood, but Shaye doesn't deliver anywhere else, keeping momentum and dramatic power out of the feature's grasp. "Ambition" doesn't offer anything novel to explore, and the limited scope of the film wears on the viewer, forced to watch one-dimensional characters deal with a paper-thin mystery of identity and threat.