6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.4 |
Three key moments, all of them sensual, define Ana's life. Her carnal search sways between reality and colored fantasies becoming more and more oppressive. A black laced hand prevents her from screaming. The wind lifts her dress and caresses her thighs. A razor blade brushes her skin, where will this chaotic and carnivorous journey leave her?
Starring: Marie Bos, Harry Cleven, Delphine Brual, Jean-Michel Vovk, Bernard MarbaixForeign | 100% |
Horror | 85% |
Drama | 28% |
Psychological thriller | 20% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: LPCM 2.0
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani's "Amer" (2009) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Anchor Bay-UK. The supplemental features on the disc include: four short films - "Catharsis" (2000); "Chambre jaune" (Yellow Room) (2002); "La fin de notre amour" (The End of Our Love) (2003); "L'Etrange portrait de la dame en jaune" (The Strange Portrait of the Lady in Yellow) (2004); teaser; and original theatrical trailer. The disc also arrives with an exclusive poster. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
Ana
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani's Amer arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Anchor Bay-UK.
This is a strong high-definition transfer. Fine object detail is pleasing, clarity impressive, and color-reproduction very good. The various close-ups, in particular, look fantastic in 1080p - the image conveys wonderful depth and tightness. Edge-enhancement is not a serious issue of concern; neither is macroblocking. I also did not see any traces of heavy noise reduction, though sporadic minor corrections have been applied (most notably during the first segment). The grain structure is intact, and blown through a digital projector Amer conveys a strong organic look. Lastly, I noticed a few compression artifacts popping up here and there, but the overall quality of the high-definition transfer is indeed very good. For the record, I did not see any damage marks, cuts, or stains to report in this review. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).
There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and French LPCM 2.0. For the record, Anchor Bay-UK have provided optional English subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
The French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is very impressive. It won't test the muscles of your audio system, but it will impress you with its wide range of nuanced dynamics and effective surrounds (the sound design is indeed very good). There is little dialog in the film, but the few lines that are uttered are clear, stable, and exceptionally easy to follow. For the record, I did not detect any disturbing pops, cracks, hissings, or dropouts to report in this review.
It is only February, but I have already seen a good number of excellent films that have been released on Blu-ray in 2011, and without a shadow of a doubt Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani's Amer is my favorite. This is a strange, overwhelmingly beautiful and indescribably original film that makes me feel good about the future of Cinema. The Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of Anchor Bay-UK, looks and sounds very good. It is, however, Region-B "locked". For those who like to challenge themselves - VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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