6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 2.8 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A twisted honeymoon road trip about a young couple on their way to Niagara Falls. Silas (James Franco) is a moody petty-thief. He marries his parole officer's niece, Camille (Sienna Miller), believing that he can use the romantic honeymoon to escape to Canada.
Starring: James Franco, Sienna Miller, David Carradine, Scott Glenn, Ed LauterRomance | 100% |
Comedy | 52% |
Drama | 10% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Judging from the cover of the Blu-ray case, you’d probably assume Camille is a light-hearted romance film about a gorgeous couple. In fact, the only thing that looks slightly out of place in the generic photo of the two young actors is the strange color of Sienna Miller’s hair (how many girls do you see walking around with bright reddish/pink hair). Now that I’ve had the opportunity to sit through the film and formulate my feelings on the actual plot, I can safely say this is one story that shouldn’t be judged based solely on the cover. Depending on the amount of time you have on your hands, I’d suggest you complete a brief internet search for the promotional posters used to market Camille. One poster in particular uses the actual photo on the cover of the Blu-ray, but throws in a clever twist that’s absent from the cover I’m holding in my hands. Accurately marketing a film is a crucial element in meeting the expectations of viewers (Adventureland is a perfect example of what not to do), and in that regard the packaging for Camille entirely missed the mark. Rather than go into a lengthy explanation to back up my opinion, I’d simply encourage you to read the synopsis in the next section, while keeping the cover artwork fresh in your mind.
It's almost impossible to grab a screenshot where she's not talking.
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 19Mbps), Camille offers a vivid presentation that rarely fails to impress. One of the first things you'll likely notice as you browse the screenshots throughout this review, is the bold color palette incorporated into the cinematography. From the deep red of Camille's wig, to the eerie pastel hues of Cowboy Bob's painted horses, the color spectrum matches the over-the-top nature of the storyline. Fine object detail is equally impressive, possessing a wealth of clarity that exceeds the proficiency of an average Blu-ray release. Judging from the fine texturing on the surface of Scott Glen's aging face, or the precision in revealing each blade of grass as Silas ran across an open field, it's readily apparent this is a solid reproduction of high-quality source material. As much as I enjoyed most aspects of the transfer, I wasn't entirely pleased with contrast levels during a handful of darker scenes (toward the end of the film). For instance, watch for the scene with Silas and Camille dancing at the fair. During that segment, black levels are extremely strong, but the weak contrast results in a noticeable loss of shadow detail. Aside from that one minor complaint that only shows up in approximately 1% of the full runtime, this is a thoroughly enjoyable visual experience.
The lossless audio track on the disc didn't generate the same level of excitement in comparison with the strong visual presentation, but still stands as a serviceable experience. Aside from one or two intense sequences (the shootout in the motel and the motorcycle accident), this is a dialogue-heavy track that relies on the softer elements to create an immersive experience. This doesn't mean the audio mix avoids your rear speakers or lacks surround separation, it simply means you have to actively listen for the dynamics you'd readily notice in a more rousing mix. After you give the audio a closer inspection, you'll begin to appreciate the sound design to a greater extent, noticing the distant crashing water of Niagara Falls, or the crickets/frogs of the surrounding countryside at night. Regarding the volume balance of the track, you'll initially want to turn up the volume a touch higher than you're accustomed to, but once you do that, there's not much to complain about. The music, effects and dialogue are each given appropriate weight through the majority of the runtime, but there were a couple of moments when I felt the dialogue seemed a bit lower than it should have been. Taken as a whole, the audio portion of the technical presentation is slightly above average, but not something you'll turn on as demonstration material for your guests.
The only extra included on the disc is the original theatrical trailer presented in 1080p with DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio.
I don't always watch a film twice in order to complete a review, but felt compelled to give Camille a second spin before putting my thoughts together. In retrospect, that turned out to be a good idea, since I enjoyed the film a bit more on the second viewing. Once I knew how preposterous the idea of the plot was going to be, it allowed me to enjoy the unfolding storyline without a critical eye on whether or not everything fit together nicely. If you're hoping for answers to your questions, or something profound, there's a good chance this will fail to meet your expectations. However, if you're simply interested in tagging along for a journey into the unexplainable, strap in for a solid 90-minute adventure.
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