6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The true-life story of boxer-turned-priest, Father Stuart Long, whose journey from self-destruction to redemption inspired countless people along the way.
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, Jacki Weaver, Teresa Ruiz, Aaron MotenDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Portuguese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48 kHz, 16-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Cantonese, Korean, Thai
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Father Stu tells the true story of Stuart Long, a one-time boxer who found faith and turned in his boxing gloves for Rosary beads. The story of a man finding faith and turning to the ministry is not particularly novel, but where the film finds its voice, and its purpose, is in Long's sudden onset of a rare muscular disorder that threatens to destroy his journey into ministry. The film is capably assembled and acted even if it's missing a certain spiritual depth and sense of movement within the audience as Long hears the call, answers it, and struggles to hold to his faith in light of a debilitating and deadly diagnosis.
Sony's Blu-ray release of Father Stu looks just about as good as anyone could want from a new release film. The picture is crystal clear, revealing intricate detailing across the board, including faces most prominently which reveal pores, pits, wrinkles, lines, facial hair, and other details with A-grade modern clarity and intimacy. Location details -- everything from a hospital room to a church sanctuary -- offer resplendent definition and fine-point attention to detail. Colors are expressive and accurate. The palette is naturally inclined with no pushes to alter natural temperatures or contrast. Primaries are vivid, skin tones are healthy, blacks are deep, and whites are crisp. Noise is next to nonexistent and there are no other source issues of note. There are no encode problems, either.
Father Stu features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is very good with a robust opening in the boxing ring. The listener is immediately pulled into the environment, experiencing the onslaught of surround content, hard hits, and robust immersive engagement, revealing the track's energy and vigor. However, much of the rest of the film takes a more dialogue heavy and sonically reserved approach, favoring dialogue and light ambience and music rather than heavy-hitting sonic thunder. Still, balance and clarity are held and the sense of general realism and immersion are constant. Dialogue is clear, well prioritized, and center focused for the duration.
This Blu-ray release of Father Stu includes deleted scenes and a bevy of micro featurette. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with
purchase. This
release ships with an embossed slipcover.
This is not a traditional Christian film. It's R-rated and explores some challenging content amidst a fairly steady barrage of language. Perhaps it is because of the film's push away from more traditional Christian cinema that it struggles. The film tells a story but never relays a true sense of the spiritual might behind it. It's a good watch, and Wahlberg is solid in an unorthodox (for him) role, but the film could have been much better were it just as concerned with the internal spiritual growth and undertones as it is the external character progression and overtones. Sony's Blu-ray offers scant extras with solid video and audio. Worth a look.
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