7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Two academic superstars and best friends who, on the eve of their high school graduation, realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.
Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams (II), Jason Sudeikis, Lisa KudrowComing of age | 100% |
Comedy | 15% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Booksmart poses a simple question and attempts to answer it to the best of its "one night of out-of-their-element mayhem" ability: what is balance in life? Can balance be found -- even achieved -- with a single action? And what does balance look like? Is it the same for everyone, or is it different for everyone? First-time Director Olivia Wilde and a team of writers explore how a sudden shift in mindset can have longstanding repercussions -- for the better, for the worse -- for anyone who dares to step out of their comfort zone. But never mind the more contemplative side of things. Booksmart, at its core, celebrates contemporary culture, cramming in enough ideology within the prism of modern society to fill a college class on the subject. It blazes forward with an eye to having a ton of fun around its periphery while exploring those questions of drive and purpose and balance through a very pointed and focused lens.
Booksmart was digitally photographed but arrives on Blu-ray with a fairly healthy looking image that resembles film. It's sharp and nicely detailed in every location: around school, at parties, in bedrooms, even in the back of several cars in low light. Take a look at an exterior eating area in chapter two, and a yellow table in particular, where all of the wear and grime is sharply visible. Skin details are precise, showcasing every hair, freckle, and pore with commanding clarity. Clothing is likewise sharp and complimentary of all of the various materials seen throughout the film. Colors are impressively well saturated. Contrast appears boosted slightly for effect but the palette is richly vibrant and alive in every shot. Skin tones are healthy and black levels never push too flat. A moderate amount of noise is unsurprisingly, and expectedly, visible in low light but no other source eyesores or encode artifacts are readily evident. This is a very nice 1080p transfer from 20th Century Fox.
Booksmart features a learned DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track explodes with incredible bass and stage saturation in the opening moments. Music throughout is ace, offering impressive low end response and seamless stage engagement from every active channel. Music is absolutely the driving, dominant force throughout the track. Other elements are impressive, but none rise to this level. Popping fireworks in chapter eight offer wide stage engagement and potent punch, clear even above heavy-hitting music. Various party and other environmental din is perfectly balanced and integrated. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and housed in a front-center position.
Booksmart contains a well-rounded collection of extra content, including a commentary track, deleted scenes, a making-of, two featurettes, a
still gallery, and a trailer. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release
ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
Booksmart won't win any awards for creativity, but it's a passably agreeable little romp through one night of lifted inhibitions and shifted focuses for two girls on the cusp of graduation and on the verge of self discovery. Fox's Blu-ray delivers high end video and audio along with a nice assortment of extra content. Recommended.
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