5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Video store clerk Ed agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a tv network.
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Sally Kirkland, Martin LandauComedy | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH, French
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
EDtv may share a common theme with the commonly perceived-to-be-superior The Truman Show, but the films take different approaches to their depictions of 24/7 voyeurism. In The Truman Show, Jim Carey's character has no idea that he's under surveillance, that an artificial life with artificial boundaries has been carefully constructed around him since his birth. In EDtv, Matthew McConaughey's character unwittingly auditions for a reality television show and is always aware that his daily actions and life's dramas are being captured on video, and usually from multiple angles. Both films were unquestionably ahead of their time, beating the reality television surge of the 21st century and certainly getting out in front of today's instant celebrity world where everyone has a camera and anyone can publish their comings and goings for the world to watch on a number of different platforms. EDtv is more a popcorn movie to Truman's more humorously thought-provoking and slyly dark approach. Both are viable in their own right, with this film lighter and more straightforward but, perhaps, a little more broadly accessible, too.
EDtv doesn't look particularly good on HDTV. Universal's 1080p Blu-ray presentation sees the movie benefit from the basic uptick in resolution the format affords, offering a more stable and detailed image over DVD, but it's not at all attractive. Grain often appears frozen in place. The image further appears soft, jagged at times, and one will often feel like they're watching the movie through a fine layer of meshing. Detail and sharpness clearly suffer. A few scenes reveal almost-honest complexity and organic neutrality but mostly this is a soft, dull picture which also translates to its assortment of bland colors. The palette appears worn down and lacking any sort of tangible vibrancy. Speckles and debris are mild but common. Black levels are not ideal. At least it's not hopelessly smoothed over and plastic-textured like some of Universal's most notoriously bad catalogue transfers, but it's a disappointing release and an unpleasant viewing experience.
EDtv's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack offers a satisfying sonic attack that makes good, regular use of every speaker at its disposal. A TV promo at film's start bombards the stage with activity flowing from every speaker. Big depth and positive reverberation define the scene. Barroom atmospherics filter into the back and underneath dialogue. Rolling thunder and falling rain pleasantly accent a key scene. Cheering crowds draw the listener into the masses. Of course, clarity isn't precise and lifelike, but it's close enough, and the sheer level of activity is certainly enjoyable. Music plays with adequate width and detail. Dialogue drives most of the movie, and it's presented without problem in terms of clarity, positioning, and prioritization.
EDtv contains several vintage supplements. No top menu is included. All extras must be accessed in-film via the pop-up menu.
EDtv is certainly not as "good" as The Truman Show in terms of dramatic construction and thematic purpose, but it's a fun film in its own right and in its similar, yet in many ways very disparate, approach. It's lighter fare to be sure, more grounded, more in-the-moment. It also boasts a fine cast and quality direction from veteran Ron Howard. Universal's Blu-ray does contain plenty of vintage supplements and a quality audio track, but video is less than ideal, to be polite. It's hard to recommend for that reason.
2015
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2011
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2006
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