6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In the competitive world of modern agriculture, ambitious Henry Whipple wants his rebellious son Dean to help expand his family's farming empire. However, Dean has his sights set on becoming a professional race car driver. When a high-stakes investigation into their business is exposed, father and son are pushed into an unexpected crisis that threatens the family's entire livelihood.
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Zac Efron, Kim Dickens, Heather Graham, Clancy BrownDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The rather broad, stereotypical view of the American midwest is of wholesomeness, of good people holding the moral high ground, of honest dealings, close families, and closer convictions. The region is widely thought of as a holdover of simpler times, of deals sealed by handshakes, of life lived at a slower pace, an oasis away from the big city problems and the bad the people who do bad things. Director Ramin Bahrani's (Goodbye Solo) At Any Price offers a different perspective that shows another side of country living, one in which corruption, bad dealings, cheating the system, wounded families, extramarital affairs, lying, conniving, and the thirst for the acquisition of power and wealth define one family and the community around them. It's power brandished not by the pen wielded from the high-rise but rather from the tractor in rows of sprawling crops or in the race car on dirt-laden tracks. It's a fascinating contrast that shatters preconceived notions with the end goal, it would seem, of showing that geographical boundaries and features -- and certainly not stereotypes -- do not and cannot fundamentally shape a man into a preconceived image, that the lust for more does not disappear at state or county lines, that beyond the wholesome exterior lies a shady, sometimes even fully dark, interior, but one not without hope for and the possibility of something better.
Not pleased.
At Any Price looks fantastic on Blu-ray. The image is clean as a whistle and brilliantly colored. Details are crisp and superbly defined, and neither an inch of the screen nor a frame of the movie looks in any way soft. The HD video image reveals complex details with ease through its abundance of clarity. Stalks in the field, the textures of an old racer, pebbly terrain, clothing lines, and facial features are perfectly defined in every shot and under any lighting condition. The color palette is as extraordinary as the detailing. Green stalks look incredible. Rarely has color appeared so deep and accurate as it does here. Likewise, the colors on race cars, the varied hues of clothing, and interior accents look incredible. Black levels are rich and accurate, and flesh tones appear natural. There's a small bit of shimmering on distant background objects in a few shots, but the transfer is otherwise perfect in every regard. It doesn't get much better than this.
At Any Price features a rather Drama-basic but typically Sony-proficient DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Generally, the track is rather gentle, with light music and ambience. The former plays smoothly and with natural spacing, superior clarity, and balanced low end support, while the latter richly but usually subtly envelops the stage in the natural Iowa sound effects. Things ramp up a bit with a gunshot, shattering glass, and a blaring alarm in one early scene. Car engine rumbles realistically rattle the stage, and the sounds of zipping cars, flying dirt from the track, and crunching metallic bodies help pull the audience from the couch and into the passenger's side of the race car. Dialogue comes through firmly and clearly from the center.
At Any Price contains an audio commentary, a question and answer session, and rehearsal footage.
At Any Price works on every level. It tells a dynamic, evolving story that ditches convention and aims instead for a more palatably realistic and dramatically satisfying arc, building on two flawed characters, their broken relationship, and the crises that may bring them back together. It's beautifully directed, smartly written, and expertly acted, making it easily one of the finest films of 2012. Sony's Blu-ray release of At Any Price delivers stunning video and superb audio. Several good supplements are included. Very highly recommended.
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