Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Breakthrough Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 15, 2019

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.

Breakthrough is based on a “true life” book called The Impossible written (with a little help) by a Missouri woman named Joyce Smith, portrayed in this film by Chrissy Metz (This Is Us). Lest anyone think that the book was a “contrived true story”, a la, say, Go Ask Alice, this contemporary news article would seem to put any such qualms to rest. Having not read the original source book, I can’t authoritatively state how closely events in the film mirror the book, but in this case, very few if any of the names seem to have been changed to protect the innocent and/or the guilty (in a metaphysically Christian sense). Joyce and her husband John (Josh Lucas) are adoptive parents to a Guatemalan boy named John (Marcel Ruiz), and the family seems unabashedly devout in some early vignettes, even if that underlying faith hasn’t helped John to totally matriculate into his "new" culture.

The first part of Breakthrough rather efficiently details the dynamics of the Smith family, including John’s turmoil about being adopted and who his biological parents may be. That said, there’s still something of a disconnect here, for it’s obvious that John, while troubled, is surrounded by a loving family and perhaps even more importantly by quite a few friends, something that may undercut the film’s supposed emphasis on his “isolation”. There is also some introductory material given vis a vis the megachurch the Smiths attend — it’s one of those huge auditorium sized facilities where the music ministry is on the “Hillsong” side of things (that’s a contemporary Christian music style), and where you might expect someone like Michael W. Smith or the Baloches to drop by for a jam session. The music may be cookin’, but Joyce still has problems with the hip and happening new pastor, Jason Noble (Topher Grace), who might be a tad ecumenical for Joyce. (Kind of amazingly, for those who think a Pastor named Noble is simply too on the nose, that contemporary article linked above mentions the "real life" pastor, whose name is indeed Jason Noble.)

Everything changes, of course, when John and two of his buddies decide to disregard some warnings and go to play on a frozen lake. All three boys catapult through the thinning ice, and with a quick response by a rescue team which includes Tommy Shine (Mike Colter), the two friends are pulled from the frigid waters. Unfortunately, John isn’t initially discovered and is presumed dead, until a “small, still voice” suggests to Tommy that he take one more look around underwater. John is discovered, but he’s been submerged for a lethal 15 minutes, and he has no pulse. Immediate resuscitative efforts are made and continue at a nearby hospital, but the outlook is dire.

It's here that Breakthrough may become unbearably mawkish for some more curmudgeonly types, with Joyce, obviously distraught, begging heaven for some kind of miracle. When John's pulse suddenly "jump starts", it's an undeniably moving moment, but it just seems ridiculously contrived nonetheless. That's the first step of several "miracles" that accrue, as the Smiths, along with the help of a team of concerned doctors (including Dennis Haysbert, emanating the same calm authority that makes him the perfect Allstate pitchman), while various sidebars play out, including a deepening trust between Joyce and Pastor Noble.

The Smiths' journey of faith may be the ostensible focus of the film, but some may feel the slightly pushed aside story involving Tommy Shine may actually be the more emotionally resonating. (I haven't been able to verify if there was a "real life" Tommy Shine, at least with that name.) That aspect, along with at least a passing reference to those who feel their prayers have never been answered, gives Breakthrough some unexpected depth. I still think the film should have had the complete courage of its convictions, and emphasized those "left out" of seeming saving grace in its closing moments, but that would have deprived the film of its seemingly necessary happy ending.

Breakthrough Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Breakthrough is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p 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). Despite a lack of what might be called "wow" visuals, this is a consistently impressive looking transfer that offers abundant detail levels in everything from the pill on some of the sweaters Joyce wears to the texturing of bricks at the church. The palette is often skewed toward blues (perhaps a subliminal reference to John's favorite color), and primaries do tend to pop very vividly throughout this presentation. Shadow detail is above average if not particularly deep in some of the interior church scenes during worship where the lights are lowered. The underwater footage is understandably murky looking. As usual, Fox has provided a Blu-ray without any compression anomalies of note.

Breakthrough Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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.

Breakthrough Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Tapestry of Miracles: Making Breakthrough (1080p; 25:31) is a decent EPK with several good interviews (including some of the real life people involved) and lots of behind the scenes footage.


• "Carry My Soul" Paul Wickham Deleted Scene (1080p; 3:41) features optional commentary by DeVon Franklin and Roxann Dawson.


• Trapped in Icy Waters (1080p; 6:05) features the real life kids and others (like rescue personnel and doctors) involved in the horrifying fall through the ice. The portentous narration doesn't help this otherwise fascinating piece.


• Audio Commentary by DeVon Franklin and Roxann Dawson


• Gallery (1080p; 2:33) features either an Auto Advance or a Manual Advance option. The timing is for the Auto Advance option.


• Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 2:03)

Breakthrough Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.