7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Dan, a dejected record-label executive in the midst of a midlife crisis, forms a bond with a beautiful and talented female singer/songwriter who is new to Manhattan and previously dated a now-famous musician.
Starring: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Hailee Steinfeld, Adam Levine, James CordenRomance | 100% |
Music | 40% |
Drama | 29% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
If music is the voice of the soul, then Begin Again represents the megaphone projecting it out into the world. A simple yet heartfelt affair, the film captures the essence of life through music, its binding ties that push several journeys forward to personal satisfaction, satisfaction that's more complete in the gruff yet gratifying real world than it is in the externally prim and proper yet internally cutthroat corporate world. The picture follows a talented but mostly invisible singer/songwriter and a washed up alcoholic record label executive, both of whom find themselves on the wrong ends of personal and public success, pushed aside when dollar signs cannot be seen in the more raw, unprocessed, from-the-heart musical wares they peddle. It's not so much a film about individuality versus the prepackaged business world as it is just about individuality, the process of self discovery, the importance of self confidence, and the ebbs and flows of life in the greater world and what individuals make of themselves in light of who they are versus what the world says they should be in order to find that unfulfilling "success" that world pushes everyone towards.
Doing it right.
Begin Again looks gorgeous on Blu-ray. Anchor Bay's 1080p transfer offers a strikingly clear canvas that reveals pitch-perfect clarity and super-fine details throughout. Facial and clothing lines appear naturally complex and border on appearing filmic, even considering the HD video source. Definition extends beyond the obvious; the transfer reveals with crisp, lifelike definition wood grains, clean lines in well appointed offices, street level city dynamics, and even liquor bottle labels as seen in a few shots. Colors are equally satisfying, appearing naturally vibrant and nuanced across every surface, from well worn city shades to bright nighttime illuminated signage. Flesh tones are only ever pushed to a slight warmth when influenced by surrounding lighting to do so, and black levels are gorgeously inky and pure. There's no noise of which to speak, no banding, no blockiness, nothing to interfere with a beautiful 1080p presentation.
Begin Again is a film built around music, so it's imperative that the soundtrack be up to the challenge of bring it to life. Fortunately, Anchor Bay's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack does just that. Music is beautifully dynamic yet importantly nuanced. It's big and spacious yet reveals intimate details throughout the range, from crisply defined highs to balanced yet potent lows. Listeners will no doubt appreciate the immersive, natural accuracy that brings several key moments to life and that practically transform the soundstage into various New York locales where the makeshift band performs. There's some quality city and office ambient dynamics at play throughout, with the stage brought to impressive life with basic city din, passing traffic, pedestrian chatter, and construction outside and shuffling employees and other basic office sounds inside. Dialogue is firmly delivered, enjoying pinpoint center channel accuracy and drifting about for a more naturally dynamic echoing sensation in a few key moments. Overall, this is a terrific soundtrack that perfectly suits the material.
Begin Again contains a featurette and several music videos. Also included in the case is a UV digital copy voucher.
It's not surprising that Begin Again works as well as it does. It's a sincere, heartfelt picture about reality versus illusion, about being oneself in the world rather than becoming what the world says one should be, about challenging the status quo and daring to believe that there's more to life than crude structure and soul-draining trends. It's smartly written, wonderfully performed, and effortlessly directed. The music is catchy, too. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Begin Again features striking video and audio. A few supplements are included. Highly recommended.
2007
The Double-Shot Edition
2000
2011
Includes "Him", "Her", and "Them" Cuts
2014
10th Anniversary Edition
2006
30th Anniversary Edition
1989
2014
2009
Director's Cut | Special Edition
2006
2014
2014
1988
1988
1986
2013
Young Man of Music / Warner Archive Collection
1950
Warner Archive Collection
1955
1978
2015
2000