Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Columbus Blu-ray Movie Review

Building something out of nothing.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III April 5, 2019

Perhaps best known as a short-form video essayist with multiple contributions to Criterion Collection releases, Korean-American filmmaker Kogonada made his full-length directorial debut in 2017 with the quiet and meditative drama Columbus. This is a subtly confident, lyrical, and understated production, the kind that might instantly remind film buffs of Yasujiro Ozu’s work or even Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy: it drifts along with a slow-burning pace, is dominated by long static shots and beautifully-framed artistic compositions, and features a pair of three-dimensional characters who have met during a crossroads in their separate lives. If you’ve got enough patience and settle in on the right day, films like Columbus will stick in your mind for days afterwards, if not a little longer.

Taking place around the small title city in Indiana, Columbus primarily focuses on those two drifting souls who meet by chance one afternoon: Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), a part-time college librarian who lives with her single mother; and Jin (John Cho), who works as a translator in Korea but is in town to visit his comatose father. Even ignoring the obvious age difference, they’re at much different points in life. Casey’s a lifetime local with a love for architecture, but she’s so invested in caring for her mother Maria (Michelle Forbes) -- a recovering drug addict who now works for a cleaning company -- that her own ambitions are pushed far into the background. Jin, on the other hand, resents his distant father and makes every excuse to avoid the hospital. He's not even sure if he wants his dad to get better.

After their initial meeting, prompted by a shared smoking habit which they’re hopelessly trying to break, Casey and Jin attempt to find a common ground somewhere between their opposite perspectives. The relationship doesn’t veer towards romantic, which seems to extend to other ones in their lives: Casey’s got an admirer in bookish Gabriel (Rory Culkin), a Master's graduate who works with her at the library, while Jin harbors his own unrequited feelings for Eleanor (Parker Posey), her father’s dedicated personal assistant. Rather than follow an impulse, they simply try to connect against the backdrop of beautiful landscapes and unusual buildings, but it’s not always an effortless task.

Instead of huge revelations, dramatic twists, and soap-opera theatrics, Columbus takes the grown-up route and treats audiences to a patient, methodical look at human relationships framed neatly within an usually picturesque urban setting. Cinematographer Elisha Christian’s artful compositions sell themselves with the help of Columbus, Indiana’s real-life stunning Modernist architecture and even some digital sweetening that gives the film a gauzy, ethereal atmosphere. It’s further enhanced by the instrumental music of post-rock group Hammock, which complements many scenes and, in some cases, even replaces dialogue altogether. These elements combine to give Columbus more of an “experience” vibe than a traditional narrative flow, although it works as a straightforward character study too. While many of the supporting characters feel slightly underwritten, Kogonada’s debut film is certainly strong enough as a two-person show supported by strong visuals and confident direction from start to finish. Whether you’ve followed the director’s video essays or are completely new to his work, Columbus is certainly worth a watch.

Despite the director’s ongoing relationship with Criterion, Columbus makes its long-awaited debut on Region A Blu-ray courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories. It’s a solid disc overall with an excellent A/V presentation and several short but enjoyable bonus features, although the reclusive Kogonada doesn’t appear on camera during any of them.

Columbus Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Columbus is a stunning exercise in widescreen framing and Oscilloscope's solid 1080p transfer supports its visual ambitions nicely. The compositions are excellent with a great amount of depth and fine detail, from near-perfectly symmetrical shots to more expressive ones involving mirrors and windows, as well as layered interior scenes shot through multiple doorways. Colors fare extremely well despite the film's largely muted and somber palette, with streaky background light and complementary production design that gives otherwise plain backdrops a lot of visual interest. Columbus is clearly composed with its subject matter in mind: architecture is highlighted beautifully and often framed as the focal point of many scenes, almost forcing your eyes to wander during the more dialogue-heavy moments. It evokes a kind of drifting, relaxed atmosphere that serves its story well, even if many sequences tend to bleed together as a result. Black levels and contrast aren't especially deep but there's no crush or blooming to be found anywhere, which would normally flatten out most scenes if not for the interesting color combinations and layered backgrounds described above. No obvious digital issues were spotted including compression artifacts, color banding, noise reduction, or excessive noise, rounding out Columbus' visual presentation nicely.

Columbus Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Similarly, the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix is equally effective but doesn't draw as much attention to itself. This is a largely front-loaded affair and heavy on the dialogue, with occasional channel separation and panning effects during a handful of conversations and establishing shots. Rear channels are usually reserved for weather-related events, echoes in larger rooms, and the sparse soundtrack by Nashville ambient post-punk band Hammock. No obvious sync issues or other defects are present, with the overall track offering a solid dynamic range and well-balanced volume levels. Not exactly a demo disc by design, but this 5.1 mix serves its purpose when needed and easily supports the film's subtle but inviting atmosphere. Just be sure and visit the setup menu first: a separate DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track is selected by default, which is fine in its own right but obviously delivers a less involving experience.

Optional English SDH subtitles have been included during the main feature only, which are perfectly legible and placed within the 1:85:1 frame (see screenshot #19 for an example). A few stray lines of Korean dialogue are translated via forced subtitles as well.

Columbus Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Oscilloscope Laboratories presents Columbus as their 100th Blu-ray release; like others in their back catalogue, it's available as a limited edition Digipak from their official store (sold out as of this writing, unfortunately) or in a standard Blu-ray keepcase from other online outlets like Amazon. The latter was sent for review purposes and includes identical exterior artwork and no inserts or slipcover. Both versions have the same assortment of bonus features.

• Selected Scene Audio Commentary with Actors John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson (37:15 total) - Both lead actors share their personal on-set memories and what it was like to work with each other and the first-time director. Highlighted scenes include "Being Seen", "Deborah Berke", "My Favorite Building", "Dance", "Casual Scene", and "Ending", and are included in the order in which they appear during the film.

• Deleted Scenes Reel (8:37 total, 1080p) - These short, unnamed scenes are presented without color correction or audio mixing. There aren't any huge revelations or big character moments, but they're worth a once-over and, if nothing else, provide a raw A/V contrast with the finished production. I quite like the "haunted movie theater" scene, though...unlike most of these, it easily could've been left in.

• Columbus Story (7:16, 1080p) - This short film by director Kogonada provides a brief, abstract overview of the film's development, but not in any traditional sense. It's more of an ethereal piece about Columbus' architecture and history, spliced together with a few scenes being filmed and what appear to be several scraps of unused footage. It's narrated by actress Katie Honaker and, like the film itself, features original music by Hammock. Very similar in tone to his video essays that have appeared on Criterion releases.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:08, 1080p) - Captures the film's spirit perfectly, along with obligatory quotes.

Columbus Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Korean-American filmmaker Kogonada's feature-length debut Columbus is a confident and enjoyable production with three-dimensional lead characters, excellent cinematography, and a slow-burning pace that suits its intimate story well. Those familiar with Yasujiro Ozu's work or Richard Linklater's Before Trilogy should find a lot to like here, although it works slightly better as an "experience" film than a straightforward narrative. The lead and supporting performances are usually excellent, despite the latter not getting nearly as much screen time. Oscilloscope Laboratories' Blu-ray provides a solid amount of support including an outstanding A/V presentation and a few short but worthwhile bonus features. It's available for streaming on Hulu, but Columbus is a recommended purchase for established fans.