At Middleton Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

At Middleton Blu-ray Movie Review

In your Blu-ray collection.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 12, 2014

"The college experience." It's a phrase that conjures up a wide variety of thoughts and reactions, from "education" to "partying," from "freedom" to "future." It can be influenced by any number of factors, whether one chooses an out-of-the-way private school or an overflowing state school. Is the school better know for athletics or academics? Is it known for a robust social life, high tuition, or even poor parking options? Sexual experimentation and "hooking up" have been and are quickly becoming, respectively, an accepted part of the "experience," too. A few people even still go to earn the famous "Mrs." degree. College means a great many things to a great many people, but usually those people fall into the 17-22 age range. Sure, there are always a handful of nontraditional students going back for a degree in their thirties, forties, even fifties and older, but generally it's the younger, traditionally aged crowd that's most concerned with the "experience" beyond earning a degree. At Middleton takes a novel approach to "the college experience," following two adults accompanying their children on a daylong college tour who meet and experience much of what college has to offer -- and discover more about who they are and what they feel for one another -- on one magical day around a beautiful campus inside of which is a literal world of possibilities.

What do you see in that couple?

George Hartman (Andy Garcia) is a traditional, somewhat uptight parent accompanying his son Conrad (Spencer Lofranco) on a trip to Middleton college for an overview tour and visit. Middleton is George's first choice, not Conrad's, and the two clash on everything else, too, from wardrobe to music. At the same time, Edit Martin (Vera Farmiga), a somewhat anxious and opinionated mother, is accompanying her daughter Audrey (Taissa Farmiga, sister of co-star Vera Farmiga) on the same trip. Audrey's gung-ho for Middleton and ready to wow her would-be advisor, but Edith isn't too keen on the whole Middleton idea. George and Audrey meet at the visitor parking lot, where she criticizes his parking. The two become separated from the tour and find one another oddly alluring, despite their initial misgivings. They abandon the tour -- and their children -- altogether in favor of their own college tour, a quest that opens their hearts, souls, and deepest desires that are revealed in one another's company and with the help of several Middleton students and faculty along the way.

Though At Middleton may push away some traditional viewers considering its focus on a budding romantic coupling between two married adults, it's certainly far less risqué than many other similar themed films and pushes almost no other boundaries. It is, in fact, a rather cheery film on its surface, a bubbly, pleasing excursion that's significantly more open for interpretation than most movies of its kind. It's a film that's more about exploring the heart and soul rather than it is physical attraction, focusing on the search for meaning, deep desires, and fulfillment from the inside out, not the outside in. The picture makes smart use of its surroundings in bringing those ideas to the surface, in tugging them out from the clouded boundaries of the mind, heart, and soul and exposing them through a series of shared experiences around campus.

At Middleton pushes certain college stereotypes but they serve the purpose of not merely advancing the story but getting the most out of it, of developing the characters and uncovering the human emotions and responses that are influenced by both the togetherness and the various college experiences -- from sitting in on a drama class to smoking a little dope in a dormitory -- that unfold throughout the day. George and Edith's tour helps them find the deeper truths that they have long held back and refused to explore, metaphorically paralleling their adventure that takes them away from the superficial realities of the typical guided tour that's carefully planned and scripted and towards the realities that exist where the tour never goes and, conversely, where their hearts and minds never travel. It's an extremely smart juxtaposition that's handled very well with every moment of playfulness countered by their growing understanding of their own shrouded humanities.

The cast is excellent and displays a deep understanding of the film's broad themes and deeper metaphors alike. Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga display excellent chemistry both romantically and friendly, beginning as playful adversaries and developing as their story -- and their time together -- unfolds. Both show deep command of superficially fun and sometimes even flamboyant characters but also, and more importantly, the inner people and truths that are explored through the course of their own makeshift tour. While they both adhere to some basic Romantic Comedy character principles and qualities, they're at their most comfortable and best in several dramatically satisfying scenes that build the characters, not linearly advance the plot. Likewise, Taissa Farmiga and Spencer Lofranco are wonderful as they, too, evolve through the course of the day, discovering a happy medium between their conflicting ways with their parents, their preconceived notions about college life -- and Middleton in particular -- one another, and themselves.

At Middleton Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

At Middleton features a stunning high definition transfer. Anchor Bay's 1080p image is nothing less than exemplary, providing pinpoint details and gorgeous colors in, literally, every scene. Image clarity achieves a level of precision that ranks it with the very best the format has to offer. Details are meticulous and precise. Fine skin and clothing textures are only the beginning. Blades of grass and brick façades around campus, small interior accents, and even individual strands of hair are displayed with about as much accuracy as Blu-ray's 1080p resolution allows. Colors are just as impressive, if not a bit more so. Lush greens abound and dazzle in every exterior scene. Campus buildings, clothing, and all variety of shades jump off the screen with exhilarating natural presentation. Black levels are wonderfully deep and flesh tones never stray from the norm. The image is free of any sort of eyesore, save for a very slight hint of shimmering in the drama class sequence. It's insignificant but noticeable yet not quite enough to mar the score of an otherwise picture-perfect Blu-ray presentation.

At Middleton Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

At Middleton features a pleasing, satisfying, and naturally enveloping Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. As one might expect considering the film's content, this is a dialogue-heavy listen that relies primarily on ambient sound effects to fill in the gaps. The spoken word comes through clearly and naturally from the center-front portion of the listening area. Surrounding sound effects are frequently a pleasure to hear. Chirping birds, chatty students, and a distant ringing bell set the scene in several early moments upon tour's start. Some other, better pronounced and front-and-center sound elements include a whirring film projector in chapter nine and naturally reverberating dialogue inside a cathedral in chapter five. Though not much of an aggressive presentation, listeners will enjoy the sense of realistic immersion in nearly very scene.

At Middleton Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

At Middleton contains three extras, including an audio commentary track.

• Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Adam Rodgers, Writer/Producer Glenn German, and Producer/Actor Andy Garcia deliver a solid, informative, entertaining, and well-spoken commentary that covers a wide range of typical topics -- shooting locales, costumes, acting, the story, script polishing, and music -- as well as plenty of anecdotes from the shoot. Fans will enjoy this one a good bit.
• Outtake Reel (HD, 11:09).
• Music Video (HD, DD 2.0, 4:25): "There was a Day" -- Vocal and Lyrics by Andy Garcia, Music by Arturo Sandoval and Andy Garcia, Arrangement by Arturo Sandoval: music set to a collection of stills from the film.

At Middleton Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

At Middleton is a charming and heartfelt film that's not so much about adultery -- or anything too scandalous -- but instead self-discovery. The film leaves much to the imagination and thrives on ambiguity -- at least in certain elements and contexts -- but offers a well-structured paralleling journey of college life and personal exploration in the company of another. It's wonderfully acted and beautifully photographed, ranking as one of 2013's must-see films. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of At Middleton features jaw-dropping video, solid audio, and a few supplements. Highly recommended.