5.5 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.1 |
When her 14-year-old son drowns in a lake, a faithful mother prays for him to come back from the brink of death and be healed.
Starring: Chrissy Metz, Josh Lucas, Topher Grace, Mike Colter, Marcel RuizBiography | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
There’s a question that regularly occurs to me when I watch supposedly “inspirational” films that feature some kind of purported “miracle” that (typically) saves someone at death’s door: what about the ones who don’t make it? Are we to presume that some Divinity picks and chooses whom to save, whom to help, and whom to simply let languish in whatever private hell they may be experiencing? What kind of a Deity is that, some, especially those not granted any healing, might well ask. It’s an obviously hoary metaphysical quandary, but as ultimately “feel good” as many of this ilk of film admittedly can be, it’s a niggling, upsetting aspect that tends to bother me quite profoundly at times. And so it's definitely to Breakthrough's credit that it (ultimately) gets around to addressing this very issue, namely the seemingly random way that Whoever is in charge of reality doles out salvation to some but not others. While that may be one of the, well, saving graces of the film, it may not be enough to totally lift Breakthrough out of the template it seems more than willing to follow, though fans of this sort of often "Dove approved" entertainment will almost certainly find this an uplifting viewing experience.
Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080p Blu-ray.
Breakthrough is presented on 4K UHD courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with a 2160p transfer in 2.39:1. This is another
Arri Alexa Mini shot feature, but I have not been able to turn up one verifiable datapoint as to whether or not the DI was finished at 2K
or 4K (if anyone has such information, forward it to me in a PM). This is a rather impressive looking 4K presentation, especially within the context of
what I mentioned in our Breakthrough Blu-ray review,
namely that the film doesn't really offer much of what might be termed "wow" visuals. But the uptick in detail and fine detail levels in this presentation
is very noticeable and brings a new precision to all sorts of textures. I frankly didn't see a ton of difference in the palette in terms of any "HDR assist",
but the entire gamut of tones here pops very nicely throughout. There are arguably some new highlights in the prevalent uses of blue, but this didn't
strike me as offering a hugely different viewing experience in terms of overall color. Shadow detail looks at least marginally better is several dimly lit
scenes, as in some shrouded hospital and church material scattered throughout the story.
Breakthrough features a nicely immersive (no pun intended, considering the watery grave John almost wasn't able to escape from) DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. There is consistent engagement of the surround channels throughout this presentation, including in elements like the hustle and bustle of John's school environment, or even in the more subdued setting of the hospital room(s) where beeping machines surround the comatose boy. The Contemporary Christian pieces at the church reverberate with considerable authority, and the actual underscore is often nicely splayed, giving a bed of sound to support the drama. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout this well done track.
The 4K UHD disc offers only the Audio Commentary by DeVon Franklin and Roxann Dawson that is also included on the 1080p Blu-ray. For a full listing of the other supplements available on that disc, please see our Breakthrough Blu-ray review.
Some science fiction fans may remember director Roxann Dawson from her days as B'elanna Torres on Star Trek: Voyager, and some may feel like Breakthrough could have used a bit more of B'elanna's proclivity toward unvarnished, unfiltered truth telling. This is an undeniably moving film, and it at least has the temerity to ask a few troubling questions along the way, but when it's a foregone conclusion that this particular family has their "happily ever after" (even if that ending is an accurate rendering of real life), some of you may still be wondering, as I was, about those (not to pun too eschatologically) left behind. Technical merits are first rate and a number of the supplements very interesting. At least for a target audience interested in "uplifting" fare, Breakthrough comes Recommended.
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