6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A reimagining of the life and times of Blaze Foley, the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas Outlaw Music movement.
Starring: Ben Dickey, Alia Shawkat, Sam Rockwell, Wyatt Russell, Steve ZahnDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Ethan Hawke wanted to make a movie about a country singer who isn’t widely known. The subject’s name is Blaze Foley, and a portion of his life and times is recreated for “Blaze,” which is co-written by his ex-wife, Sybil, giving the production a potential level of authenticity as it explores a deeply flawed man with special musical gift. Hawke takes the blessing and runs with it, delivering a picture that’s not precisely a bio-pic, but a tone poem to a man who lived a very insular and problematic life.
Favoring an intense digital look to the feature, Hawke goes moody for "Blaze," with the AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation favoring a very yellow look to represent the time period and tone of country music. More direct hues are found with bar lighting and costuming, while greenery is satisfactory. Skintones remain natural. Delineation is sometime challenging, as cinematography favors darkness (one scene is merely lit with cigarette lighter), but frame information remains. Detail is good, with a fresh study of facial surfaces and bar inhabitants. Small towns and interior decorations are also textured. Some mild banding is periodically detected.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA track stays in a musical mood, with soundtrack selections and live performances sharply defined, with warm instrumentation. Dialogue exchanges aren't problematic, supporting rambling dialogue and hushed offerings of tenderness. Surrounds are primarily employed to push out music, but some separation is enjoyed during recording sessions and stage prep. Low-end maintains percussive presence.
"Blaze" remains close to Hawke's obsession with poetry, often carrying without direction to simply experience days inside Foley's burning mind. The production aims to capture complexity of spirit and psychological turbulence, and it succeeds. However, for those without an appreciation for country music or Texas barroom living, "Blaze" can be an extremely difficult sit.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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