6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.2 |
Working in a Boston homeless shelter, Nick Flynn re-encounters his father, a con man and self-proclaimed poet. Sensing trouble in his own life, Nick wrestles with the notion of reaching out yet again to his dad.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Paul Dano, Julianne Moore, Olivia Thirlby, Eddie RouseDrama | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Becoming Flynn would have been a more fitting title for Being Flynn, a slouched, indulgent award hopeful that attempts to tell the story of a struggling son, long estranged from his father, who begins stumbling down a path similar to the one that lured dear ol' dad from his family years before. With competing, oft-times dueling narrators in tow -- both of whom are unreliable and, worse, unlikable -- Flynn retreads ground covered in dozens of better, more honest films, and does so without truly examining the difficulties of fatherhood, the trials of being raised by a single parent (much less an emotionally haggard mother), or the depths of loss, addiction or abandonment. Writer/director Paul Weitz, working off of playwright Nick Flynn's superior memoir, "Another Bullshit Night in Suck City," has trouble connecting with the material at all, wallowing in self-important diary-of-a-writer dreck and never really getting a firm grasp on Nick, his father, their estrangement or the poignancy of their unlikely reunion. If it weren't for Robert De Niro's sharp, salient performance, Being Flynn wouldn't warrant much attention at all.
"America has produced only three classic writers: Mark Twain, J.D. Salinger and me."
Dismal and subdued as its colors often are, heavy as its shadows may be, Being Flynn's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer is true to Weitz and director of photography Declan Quinn's intentions. Primaries lack punch as well, crush and poor delineation are factors, and contrast is a bit dim, but, again, every degree of faithfulness goes a long way. Thankfully, skintones are relatively lifelike and black levels are deep. Detail is decidedly decent too, with clean edges, well-resolved textures, and a fine veneer of grain that rests gently atop the image. Not every shot is created equal, of course, and softness plays a role on occasion. A filmic role, but a role all the same. That said, artifacting, banding and other significant anomalies are held at bay. Being Flynn may hang its hat on purposefully unremarkable cinematography, but its 1080p video presentation is on point.
Being Flynn is a quiet, somber father-son drama that doesn't boast much sonic oomph or lossless kick. Still, Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track stays true to the film's down on its luck sound design. Dialogue is clear, intelligible and nicely prioritized, and narration, be it by way of Dano or De Niro, lords confidently over the soundscape. The LFE channel and rear speakers are undeniably restrained, guarded even, but Jonathan's antics in the homeless shelter, Nick's descent into drug addiction, and other choice scenes give each channel the opportunity to increase its presence and value. When the Flynns venture out onto the streets, the soundfield becomes dramatically more immersive, enveloping the listener in the business and urgency of the city. It's light and unobtrusive, sure, but it's also quite convincing. And while directionality still isn't daring, it does become more commendable, as do channel pans and dynamics. All that said, Being Flynn is an unexpectedly buttoned up drama from beginning to end and rarely indulges in the misdeeds and misbehavior of its competing protagonists. Fortunately, Universal's lossless track handles it all in stride, leaving very little to complain about.
The only extra to be had is "The Heart of Being Flynn" (HD, 6 minutes), a much too short behind-the-scenes EPK that features little more than quick-hit interviews with key members of the cast and crew.
Being Flynn is one of the more disappointing films I've seen all year, if only because my expectations were set so high. After a series of mediocre performances, De Niro finally delivers the goods, but Weitz's script and De Niro's co-stars fail to elevate the material. Universal's Blu-ray release isn't an utter failure, though. With a spot on video transfer and a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, Being Flynn is at least worth renting, if only to see how wide the gap between De Niro and Dano extends.
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