Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Better Luck Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie Review

The brilliant debut of writer-director Justin Lin (F9: The Fast Saga).

Better Luck Tomorrow is the critically-acclaimed debut from writer-director Justin Lin (director of the Fast and Furious franchise). A knock-out hit at Sundance Film Festival and a gem which the great Roger Ebert described as a “disturbing and skillfully-told parable about growing up in today's America" in his four-star review of the film. One of the best films of the 2000's, Better Luck Tomorrow is an outstanding achievement of independent cinema.

Ben Manibag (Parry Shen) appears to be a model student: a high school student with a high GPA and aspirations for attending a upper-class college after his graduation. Yet Ben also has a dark side as he accompanies his buddies Virgil Hu (Jason Tobin) and Han (Sung Kang) on petty thefts while he lives a materialistic double-life (trying to distract himself from the pressures of growing up). When suave and cool popular-girl Stephanie Vandergosh (Karin Anna Cheung) becomes his lab partner, something rather unexpected happens: Ben starts to have a crush on Stephanie and an unexpected romance begins to blossom beneath the surface. Can Ben overcome the petty realities of his troubled youth and find a future with Stephanie?

The performances in Better Luck Tomorrow are outstanding and nuanced. Parry Shen is first-rate in the leading role and delivers a performance that carries the entire production. Shen showcases both the innocence and frustration of youth with his complex role. Jason Tobin delivers a strong supporting performance as the rebellious friend of Ben. Tobin's part is darker and disturbing (with the actor bringing the character to life).

Then there's the brilliance of Karin Anna Cheung: she imbues her performance with her charms, grace, and vitality for life. Fans of the Fast and Furious franchise will surely also take note of the supporting role of Sung Kang as Han (playing the same character as in the Fast and Furious series). The ensemble is terrific.

The Sundance break-out hit arrives on Blu-ray for the first tine.

The production design and art direction by Han Yoo Jung (Scorched, Love) are impressive for a low-budget film. Better Luck Tomorrow has a scope and scale that is far more expansive than a typical independent production. There is a lot to appreciate here and Jung helps the filmmaking to soar. Exceptional costumes by Sandi Lieu (Getting Out, American Gun) also help explore each of the characters in the film.

One of the best elements of Better Luck Tomorrow is the music by Michael Gonzales (2 Broke Girls, Black-ish) and Tobin Mori (Subrosa, Book of Rules). The original score is beautiful to listen to and imbues each scene with a unique sense of character. The song selections are excellent also (with a standout piece from DJ Shadow making one of the film's later scenes a masterful sequence).

The cinematography by Patrice Lucien Cochet (The Water Ghost, Explicit Ills) feels perfect for the filmmaking. The visual element of Better Luck Tomorrow is top-notch throughout. Well-lit and as stylistic as each scene requires, Cochet provides the film with unique magic. Serene.

The screenplay by director Justin Lin and co-screenwriters Ernesto Foronda (Sunset Stories) and Fabian Marquez (Johnny Flynton) helps Better Luck Tomorrow find the perfect balance between suspense, drama, and romance. At the heart of the story is the romance between Ben and Stephanie: there is something magical about these sequences (such as the majesty of the school dance between them). The story also explores the joys of youth – and the horrors of youthful rebellion. A brilliant screenplay.

Justin Lin (Fast and Furious, F9: The Fast Saga) edited and directed the independent hit. Better Luck Tomorrow rewards audiences with brilliant filmmaking at every turn: it is the work of an undeniably audacious filmmaker who has a complete understanding of the craft of filmmaking. Few films explore Asian youths in America better than this gem. A masterpiece.

Better Luck Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Universal, Better Luck Tomorrow is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The scan is somewhat dated looking and doesn't appear to have been sourced from a new remaster. Even despite lacking a 4K restoration or remaster, Better Luck Tomorrow is a beautiful looking film and the scan is adequate throughout the presentation. There is little in the way of print wear and the picture-quality certainly benefits from being upgraded to high-definition. The encoding is strong and there were no issues with compression artifacts. A pleasing upgrade.

Better Luck Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound. The lossless audio presentation is impressive. Dialogue was consistently crisp and clear throughout. The music score and soundtrack selections are beautifully presented as well. The entire audio presentation excels and there were no glaring issues to report.

Optional English and English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing) subtitles are provided.

Better Luck Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release is light on supplements (and includes no making-of or behind-the-scenes featurettes) but it does include the following:

Audio Commentary by Director/Co-Writer Justin Lin and Co-writers Ernesto M. Foronda & Fabian Marquez

Better Luck Tomorrow Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

When I contemplate about the best independent films ever made, Better Luck Tomorrow goes towards the top of my favorites list. Roger Ebert had it right: Better Luck Tomorrow is a great film. First time filmmaker Justin Lin (Fast and Furious, F9: The Fast Saga) created an independent gem that shows Asian American youth in a way that is rarely explored in American cinema. A must-see masterpiece. Highly recommended.